The Huntsville Section participated in the Southeast Regional Future City competition, held in Haleyville, AL, this past January 24, 2004. Seven middle schools from Alabama and Georgia were represented, with 7th and 8th grade students sharing their ideas about a city of the future.

The Future City competition is based on the popular software application, SimCity 3000, and besides creating a futuristic city on their computers, the students were also required to write an essay with abstract, and build a physical model of their cities to bring to the competition.

The essay theme for this year was "Beneficial Uses of Plastic Products or Services in Senior Citizens Lives," and as you might imagine, the kids came up with some interesting ways to assist their elders, with everything from hovering wheelchairs to replacement body parts.

Sonya Hutchinson, Section Chair, Jonus Ben, a local engineer, and Frank Parris, Chair, Educational Activities, participated in the judging, and presented awards at the conclusion of the competition. The overall winners of the competition were:

First Place, Chambers Academy Team, Lafayette, AL, with Jonus Ben, Sonya Hutchinson, & Frank Paris

Second Place, Semmes Middle School Team, Semmes, AL (near Mobile)

Third Place, Discovery Middle School Team, Madison, AL

Our Section also presented the "Best Telecommunications and Power Systems" award to Parks Middle School, from Atlanta, GA, for their "Olivine" city, along with a $250 savings bond to the school.

Parks Middle School Team with Sonya Hutchinson

One of the highlights of the competition had to be the Discovery Middle School presentation of their city, "Panthertown," to the judges - the kids had a short dance routine to introduce their project, certainly adding quite the entertainment value to their creative accomplishments.

As always it was refreshing to see and listen to the creative workings of the students. It's reassuring to know our future leaders are not only bright, and quite serious about their endeavors, but also capable of looking at themselves with some levity, as well!

Frank Paris
Educational Activities Chair