November 6 was a big day for twenty Richard T. Stank Middle School students, as they traveled to Broome-Tioga BOCES to square off with their peers from neighboring school districts in the 2019 Engineering Day Rube Goldberg contest. RTS fielded five teams - four members per team - with the challenge to build a Rube Goldberg type device that uses a number of different energy and material transfers toward the final task of ringing a bell.
Judging was based on a number of factors:
- Number and complexity of steps to complete the machine
- Reliability of the machine (task completed without outside help)
- Successful completion of the machine's ultimate purpose: the ringing of the bell
The students also had to submit a neat one-page document explaining to the judges the "energy changes" in their machines. Seventy-five teams from 15 school districts took part in the competition. While RTS teams did not place, students agreed it was a unique learning experience. The RTS teams were coached by Technology Teachers Mr. Taylor and Mr. Rezucha.