Schools and Education Local Students Win Grand Prize in International Problem Solving Competition

MANATEE COUNTY -- Three students from Southeast High School teamed up with a student from Out-of-Door Academy to top competitors from around the world to claim the ”Grand Champions“ title at the Future Problem Solving Program International competition recently held at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

Mackenzie Yaryura, Sarah Stevens and Meg Rivera – all students at Southeast High – joined with Brittany Wenger of Out-of-Door Academy to win the Grand Champion title in the Community Problem Solving competition, Senior Team division. The team presented a project titled: "Job Preparedness: Providing a Hand Up, Not a Hand Out."

The basis of the project is to provide the people in the community surrounding Southeast High access to free job preparedness classes so they can become competitive job applicants. Courses offered include computer classes, interviewing techniques and resume workshops.

The quartet’s project was judged against other projects submitted by students from across the United States and foreign countries including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Malaysia, Korea, Turkey, England and China.

In addition, another Southeast student, Danny Shevlin, teamed up with three other individuals he did not know before arriving at the competition, to take first place in the Middle Division Global Issues Booklet Alternate competition.

Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) stimulates critical and creative thinking skills, encourages students to develop a vision for the future, and prepares students for leadership roles. FPSPI engages students in creative problem solving within the curriculum and provides competitive opportunities.

Additional individual and team placements from Manatee County at this year’s competition include:

Adult On-Site Global Issues Booklet: 1st place – Deborah Yaryura (Manatee County Coach)

Middle Division Global Issues Booklet Alternate Competition: 1st place – Danny Shevlin (Southeast High); 3rd place – Connor Yaryura (Southeast High).

Senior Division Global Issues Team Booklet: 6th place – Mackenzie Yaryura, Sarah Stevens, Meg Rivera (Southeast High) and Brittany Wenger (ODA)

Middle Division Community Problem Solving: 3rd place - "Kids Helping Kids Fight Hunger" Connor Yaryura, Danny Shevlin, Megan Stevens (Southeast High); Julia Nordhausen (Lakewood Ranch High); Olivia Yaryura, Madeline Kumar, Katie Brooks, and Morgan Lamarc (Nolan Middle).