Brevard Public Schools proudly announces the success of student teams at the Future Problem Solvers International Competition hosted at Indiana University. Less than 7% of all Future Problem Solving students worldwide even qualify to compete. To qualify, students must first place at a state or affiliate level in one of four different components: Global Issues Problem Solving, Scenario Performance, Scenario Writing, or Community Problem Solving. At the Future Problem Solvers 2024 International Conference, 1,263 champion problem solvers from 12 countries and 242 different schools/groups competed from June 5-9, 2024.
Students actively engaged with the issues and challenges around the topic of Air Quality; where competitors had to research and incorporate how the quality of air, a globally shared resource essential for human health and prosperity, will impact us all in the future. Good air quality enables animal and plant health, ecosystem balance, and environmental stability. Poor air quality is a major threat to health, food supplies, and infrastructure.
Students from Brevard County traveled to Indiana University in Bloomington for the International Competition, which commenced on June 6th and concluded with an Awards Ceremony on June 9th. Each student, coach, and chaperone had to secure funds for travel, housing, and registration expenses. Michelle Marshall, Space Coast representative to the Florida Future Problem Solvers Board, expressed pride in the students' dedication throughout the year to develop skills necessary for success in the program.
"I am proud to be one of the more than 220 evaluators and volunteers that traveled to Indiana to support this amazing program and am overjoyed at how well the Space Coast performed at the international level," Marshall said.
The following Brevard County students achieved notable success at the international competition:
West Melbourne School for Science - Lily Sharma - Junior Division Global Issues Problem Solving Individual - 1st place
West Shore Jr./Sr High School - Alex, Tiffany, Aneeqa, Janani, Sophia, Talia, and Nikita - Middle Division Community Problem Solving Team - 2nd Place
West Melbourne School for Science - Shravani Venkatesh - Junior Division Scenario Performer - 3rd place
Satellite High - Akiva Bengoa - Senior Division Multi-Affiliate Global Issues Competitor - 3rd place
Founded in 1974 by Dr. E. Paul Torrance, Future Problem Solving (FPS) proudly celebrates 50 years of placing close to a million young people at the core of a dynamic, purposeful learning experience. Each year K-12 students around the world participate in a variety of topic-based challenges designed to empower curious youth to become future changemakers. Future Problem Solvers learn how to think, not what to think. Future Problem Solving’s evidence-based approach to inspiring young people ensures the skills our students learn stay with them for life. FPS programs help create a world where all young people are future ready, develop their own voices and have the confidence to use them. The core values of FPS embody a belief in the importance of lifelong learning and the principles of 21st Century Learning through the 5Cs; critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration and caring.
For more information about Future Problem Solving and its impact, visit www.fpspi.org.
For media inquiries, please contact:
[Ryan Dufrain] [Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources] [321-633-1000 ext. 11200] [dufrain.ryan@brevardschools.org]