Sequim Gazette staff

Dozens of Sequim-area elementary- and middle school-aged students turned out for the Sequim Education Foundation’s annual Engineering Challenge Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Boys & Girls Club in Sequim.

The challenge demanded participants create a trebuchet to launch either small clay balls into concentric rings or other missiles to knock down a target.

Melissa Copeland won her third Engineering Challenge in as many years with her effort. The eighth-grader scored 3,192 points to win Challenge II designed for middle school-aged youths. Seventh-graders Stephanie Grow (1,841) and Beau Bernsten (925.3) were second and third, respectively.

“(The hardest part was) trying to figure out how to get it accurate,” Copeland said.

“I did a lot or research. I started really early and started looking at youtube videos (for ideas).”

Fifth-grader Flora Walchenbach won Challenge I, designed for elementary-aged youths, with 36,270 points. Fourth-grader Brianna Jack (17,275 points) was second, and fourth-grader Nathan Whittle (16,330) was third; all three are students at Helen Haller Elementary.

First place winners won $1,000 scholarships from the education foundation, while second place finishers earned $750 in scholarships and third place finishers won $500 scholarships.