Improvements to a World War II fighter plane design earned Ridgefield students third place at the Sikorsky Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Challenge.
It was the first year Ridgefield High School entered a team of students in the contest, sponsored by the Stratford company.
The challenge required students to compete in four successive contests testing various STEM skills, then in a capstone contest that tested all STEM skills.
The challenge focused on improving the design of the World War II fighter aircraft, the Grumman F4U Corsair. Ten high school teams from western Connecticut competed this year, and the final top three schools were Amity Regional High School in first place, Danbury High School in second and Ridgefield in third. These three will present their results at the Connecticut Innovation Expo, a statewide STEM fair, on May 17 at the Hartford Armory.
Students on the Ridgefield High School team are Adam Rayfield, Ciara Carruthers, D.J. Jancin, Daniel Stucki, Gurumeher Sawhney, Hannah Kim, Isabella Spanos, Jordan Voves, Kent Rapp, Maggie McSpedon, Monika Wiktorzak, Nicholas Carey, and Noelle Farmer. Ridgefield High’s Bryan Holmes and David Waltimyer, both physics and engineering teachers, are the team’s mentors.