A group of enterprising middle school students from across Henry County took part recently in an event that allowed them to compete for impressive prizes while also learning about the water industry.

A regional qualifier for the Georgia Model Water Tower Competition was hosted recently by the Henry County Water Authority at its Tussahaw Water Treatment Plant. Students submitted functioning model water towers which were graded and judged by HCWA staff, with the winner advancing to the state competition next spring.

Here is a rundown of the winners:

First Place – the “Aquatica” water tower by Trinity Yates, Diana Guaderrama, and Maya Bailey, students of Dawn Parker at Hampton Middle School.

Second Place – the “Mr. Jaws” water tower by Auden Ing, a student of Misty Givens at Woodland Middle School.

Third Place – “The Adams Ale” water tower by Serenity Guth and Hannah Ramos, students of Dawn Parker at Hampton Middle School.

Best Presentation/Judge’s Award – the “Disco Inferno” water tower by Essence Bobo, a student of Dawn Parker at Hampton Middle School.

Best Engineering Design – the “Plummer Twins” water tower by Yamiina and Yazmin Plummer, students of Misty Givens at Woodland Middle School.

Most Artistic – the “Up” water tower by Carter Ivey, a student of Christy Collier at Locust Grove Middle School.

Prizes included $300 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third place. The creators of the “Aquatic” and “Mr. Jaws” towers will compete in the spring against winners from eight other regions at the finals of the Georgia Model Water Tower Competition in Buford.

This is the 10th anniversary of the event (although it was postponed the last two years due to the pandemic) and the first time regional winners will compete for best model water tower in the state.

According to its organizers, the Georgia Model Water Tower Competition was founded to provide information to young students about water resources engineering, infrastructure, water treatment, and conservation, in hopes that some will become future water professionals. The event’s mission statement is: “From today’s youth come tomorrow’s leaders – let’s lead some to the water profession.”

The Henry County, Georgia Model Water Tower Competition also increased awareness among local students, teachers, and parents, about the role the HCWA plays in the community and the value of clean, safe, and affordable drinking water. 

In addition to going through the judging process, students participating in the local competition enjoyed a tour of the Tussahaw Plant, activities reflecting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) curricula they are studying in school, as well as “Meter Madness,” which challenges students to assemble a standard residential water meter while being timed for speed and accuracy.

“Henry County Schools is committed to expanding STEM opportunities across the district, and the Model Water Tower Competition provides such an opportunity for middle school students to engage in STEM learning,” said Kaneice Bembry, Coordinator of STEM/Science for Henry County Schools. “Building the towers and designing solutions to problems inspire and encourage interest in science and other STEM-related subjects and careers. In addition, engaging students in engineering design and introducing them to water professions makes them aware of the importance of reliable drinking water and the STEM opportunities available in the water industry.”

The Georgia Model Water Tower Competition challenges middle school students to design and build water towers with specific size and height requirements, just as water professionals do within the industry. The student model water towers are judged based on three criteria – structural efficiency, hydraulic efficiency, and design ingenuity. In addition, participating students complete interviews with a panel of industry professionals to answer questions about their science project. 

The model water towers may be designed and constructed from any materials. However, students are rewarded for using creative designs and recycled materials, such as everyday household items. The year, the HCWA received help from Colby Still and Scott McCrary of Consolidated Pipe, who served as sponsors of the event by donating supplies for use during the Competition.