Gavin D., a fifth-grade student from Kempton, was named a winner of Pennsylvania-based Reach Cyber Charter School’s 2024 Winter STEM Challenge.

Reach Cyber Charter School integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning into all aspects of its curriculum for students across Pennsylvania - inside virtual classrooms, on field trips, during after school activities, and even during winter break, according to the news release.

The Winter STEM Challenge allows students to put their skills and creativity to the test.

“Here at Reach Cyber, we’re always creating an environment where students can apply what they learn in their classes in a way that’s fun and practical,” Danielle Leibig, STEM camp manager at Reach Cyber Charter School said. “The Winter STEM Challenge has become a staple for Reach Cyber families.

“It reinforces hands-on learning while encouraging students to discover their maximum potential for creativity and imagination.”

The theme of Reach Cyber’s 2024 Winter STEM Challenge was Cardboard Creations.

Using only cardboard materials, Reach Cyber students were instructed to create and submit projects that fit into one of four categories: Tiny but Mighty, a creation that fits in a hand; Bigger the Better, any creation larger than a hand; Structured to Function, created to be practical and usable; and Watch Me Move, creations that use energy to move.

The challenge also included a Family/Group category, allowing multiple students in multiple grade levels at Reach Cyber to submit a creation as a team, as well as a Faculty category for staff to participate.

Gavin’s snowman earned the top spot for the fifth-grade level.

Other challenge submissions included a snowball marble maze, video game scene recreation, carnival, wagon, Skee-Ball Lane, fireplace and more.