Futuristic Project Was a Model of Planning by Eighth-Grade Trio

A CITY CALLED QUARK: Planning and building a model city of the future was more than just fun for three eighth-grade students at Chadwick School on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

For ShaunChandran, 14, Amita Jivrajka, 13, and Alli Henry, 14, their creation, a computer-designed city named Quark, landed them an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington to compete in the national finals of the Future City Competition next week.

The trio began the project in October with the help of their math teacher, Yasuko Morihara, and fine-arts teacher Harry Guffee, said Frances Pullara, director of school alumni and public relations. They spent several weeks designing Quark using SimCity, a simulation computer game that allowed them to experiment with different city layouts. Using their computer design, they built the three-dimensional city with wooden blocks. The model was completed in 30 hours.

The criteria for the contest entry was that the city would exist in the year 2010 and display residential, commercial and industrial areas, power plants (coal and nuclear), roads and power lines. The city had to be energy efficient and had to include a backup energy supply fueled by an alternate energy source. Other considerations were pollution levels, traffic density and cost efficiency. The teams entering the Los Angeles regional competition last month were judged on their design, creativity and presentation.

The winning school in the national competition will receive a $1,000 grant from the Engineering Foundation to be used toward its mathematics or science program, as well as other prizes.

SCIENCE BOWL: Students from San Pedro High School and Narbonne High School in Harbor City will be competing against students from 13 other Los Angeles County schools in the regional National Science Bowl competition in Chatsworth on Feb. 20.

The all-day competition will be in the style of the vintage “College Bowl” academic quiz television program. Subject areas to be covered include computer science, biology, physics, general science, earth science, chemistry, robotics, space travel and mathematics.

The 15 teams are vying for the right to represent the Los Angeles area in the Third Annual National Science Bowl in Washington in April.

The winning team will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington. Each school participating Saturday will receive a $100 prize, and the top three finishers will split an additional $600.

YOUNG LEADER: Kimberly Roman, a junior at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School in Rolling Hills Estates, recently returned from a weeklong National Youth Leadership Forum on Security and Defense in Washington.

The 16-year-old was among 350 students chosen nationwide for their academic achievement and interest in a career in military affairs.

Roman, a member of the Civil Air Patrol for three years, is the cadet commander of her squadron.

Her goals are to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and become a career military officer, she said.