Somis, Camarillo schools take top spots in engineering competiton
Middle school students built 'missile' from household items as part of conest hosted by Navy

Port Hueneme Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center has announced the winners of its 2008 National Engineers Week Competition.

Mesa Union School in Somis took first place and Las Colinas Middle School in Camarillo won second.

This year's competition pitted 14 middle schools in a contest to build a "missile" from household objects such as foil, water bottles and Popsicle sticks. The winning missile, Mesa Union School's "Mesa Noodle" won top honors for its presentation, creativity and accuracy.

The annual competition was developed to help students with an aptitude for math and science discover the world of engineering.

Each school's team consisted of five students, a math or science teacher and a PHD NSWC engineer.

Participating schools were Anacapa Middle School, Charles F. Blackstock Junior High School, De Anza Middle School, E.O. Green Junior High School, John C. Fremont Intermediate School, Las Colinas Middle School, Los Primeros Structured School, Mesa Union School, Ocean View Junior High School, Richard B. Haydock Intermediate School, Rio Del Valle Junior High School, Rio Vista Middle School, R.J. Frank Middle School, and Santa Rosa Technology Middle School.

PHD NSWC is the Navy's premier in-service engineering and logistics center and has been in existence for more than 40 years.

For more information, call the Command Communications Office at (805) 228-6150.