Who killed Kay Daver? That was the question scores of high school and middle school students were trying to figure out last year at Foxcroft's unique interscholastic competition,
Expedition K2M: The STEM Summit. What will the special theme be this year?
Evidently, lots of girls want to know -- both the high school and middle school divisions are completely full! The event is scheduled for Saturday, February 20, with the older students competing in the morning and the younger after lunch. Spectators are welcome.
Organized by our math and science faculty, the day of girls-only, hands-on problem-solving is a highlight of the winter for participants, volunteers and spectators. Once again 44 teams will participate.
In addition to 13 teams from Foxcroft, the Academy of Science (Sterling, VA), Georgetown Visitation (Washington, DC), Highland School (Warrenton, VA), Madeira School (McLean, VA) and Randolph-Macon Academy (Front Royal, VA) are sending teams. Highland took home the school title last year in a snow-depleted field. Two of Foxcroft's individual teams placed first and second.
Defending champion Harmony Middle School from Hamilton, VA, leads a group of 15 middle schools that will field 24 teams. Blue Ridge Middle School (Purcellville, VA), Chesapeake Academy (Irvington, VA), DC Prep (Washington, DC), Grymes Memorial School (Orange, VA), The Hill School (Middleburg), Immanuel Christian School (Springfield, VA), J. Michael Lunsford Middle School (Chantilly, VA), Norwood School (Bethesda, MD), Powhatan School (Boyce, VA), St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School (Washington, DC), St. John's Episcopal (Olney, MD), Trailside Middle School (Ashburn, VA), Village School (Charlottesville, VA) and Washington Episcopal School (Bethesda, MD) complete the field.
Last year’s event, titled “Mystery, Mayhem and Murder on the Mountain,” consisted of challenges designed to help solve the fictional murder of "Kay Daver." Working in groups of four, the participants analyzed a liquid mixture (labeled "stomach contents") to figure out what the victim had eaten and measured the density of different materials to narrow down the murder weapon, among other engaging challenges.
The theme and specific challenges are always a surprise -- and always fun! Perhaps that is why K2M, Inc., a biomedical company which specializes in medical solutions for spinal disorders, is sponsoring the event for the fifth year. Engineers from the company will present one of the challenges and talk to students about careers in STEM fields.