BOISE - Teams from 19 western Idaho schools, libraries, and after-school programs showed off their solutions to some transportation-related problems Saturday at the FabSLAM Showcase, held in the Boise State University computer science building in downtown Boise.
The teams competed in a regional 3-D design and fabrication competition conducted by the Idaho STEM Action Center.
"We wanted to personalize that we wanted kids to think locally about what challenges they're facing, and how they can be empowered to solve those challenges," said Erica Compton of the Idaho STEM Action Center. "We really try to involve them in real-world challenges that they can look at and they can think about and, like I said, feel empowered to make a change."
"RUGG3D GRLZ," a team from Basin Elementary in Idaho City, won first place for their project, called H2GO. It's a beverage holder that can attach to anything.
Team members are Jocelyn Caward, Ashlyn Temple, Mary Plumleem, and mentor Rebekha Lulu.
RUGG3D GRLZ won $500 to continue 3-D design and fabrication instruction at their school.
The second-place team also hails from Idaho City.
"R3DNECKS," a group of Idaho City Middle School students, made Lyfekanister, a modular canister holding a survival tool kit for cars and small airplanes. It contains a first aid kit, paracord, matches, flint and steel for starting a fire, water, food, a compass, arrowheads, fishing flies and line, and a traction belt to help get a car unstuck.
R3DNECKS members are Lance Caward, Zion Dougherty, Trey Martiny, and mentor Brian Hunkicke.
The team wins $300 to continue 3-D design and fabrication instruction at their school.
Winning third place was "Let's PLA" from Emmett Middle School.
Let's PLA developed the Green Light Project -- solar-powered lights for embedding in roads so drivers can see lane dividing lines at night or in other low-visibility conditions such as rain, snow, or fog.
Let's PLA members are Marie Rich, Mary Thompsen, Brady Low, Quinlen Smith, Ezequiel Ayala, and mentor Melissa Hamilton.
They won $200 for 3-D design and fabrication instruction at their school.
The STEM Action Center is hosting FabSLAM showcases during the month of March for northern and eastern Idaho.