Student Innovators Show off Ingenuity at MIX
The third annual Milken Innovators Expo (MIX) was held on Friday, March 17. It was the culmination of the Middle School X-Learning program, the interdisciplinary design process employed by students to connect their learning to their interests, address real world problems, engage in action, and cultivate their problem-solving skills. Nearly 200 students showcased their X-Projects, which are year-long passion projects reflecting their work on the four stages of the X-Learning process: identification, exploration, purposeful play, and connection.
Charlie Mahoney, X-STREAM Teacher and MIX advisor, commented, “The X-Projects are a great opportunity for students to share their creative innovations, deeply research a wide variety of subject matter, and engage in authentic cross curricular learning."
Projects were judged on criteria such as quality of research, quality of presentation, following the correct inquiry process, and the “wow” factor. The day featured student presentations, “TED-talk” style lectures, and interactive exhibits. Glasses that correct colorblindness, a USB for Alzheimer’s patients containing all their info, and a 3D printer built from scratch, were among the many innovative projects showcased.
Award-winning composer Inon Zur and “The New York Times” best-selling author Jennifer Kushell were the keynote speakers.
Middle School Assistant Principal Chris Scarlata noted,"This year's MIX was the best so far in terms of innovation, creativity, and variety of projects."
Students who were recognized for their projects include:
Unique Innovation
Eden Arbiv & Rocky Reisz (Glasses to help with Color Blindness)
Dean Kossoff (Real Estate Drone Photography Business)
Working Above and Beyond
Annabella Zarnegin & Lily Hiekali (Built a 3D Printer)
Gabriella Bekhrad (Built and Coded a Small Robot)
Extraordinary Presentation or TEDTalk
Jonnie Mills (Design/Built his own Skis)
Eden Sweet (Whaling Timeline and Awareness)
Dylan Shabbouei (Android to iPhone charger)
Outstanding Design
Grant Kaplan (Built his own ergonomic chair)
Stefan Gerber & Marcus Scheer (Designed and built an array of projectile launching devices)
Exceptional Research
Arielle Meisel (Researched Mathematics and Fibonacci in Music Theory)
Oliver Salvaterra (Pitt Hopkins Exoskeleton)
Mason Shurman (Pizzicato Energy Harvester with a TENS system - Pain relief through electric shock)
Distinguished Positive Influence
Dylan Seidel (Providing Help to the Poor in Guatemala)
Amelia Marengo (Study of Sleep Deprivation in Teens)
Sarah Lande (Campaign for Reduction of Air Pollution)
Eden Arbiv & Rocky Reisz (Glasses to help with Color Blindness)
Dean Kossoff (Real Estate Drone Photography Business)
Working Above and Beyond
Annabella Zarnegin & Lily Hiekali (Built a 3D Printer)
Gabriella Bekhrad (Built and Coded a Small Robot)
Extraordinary Presentation or TEDTalk
Jonnie Mills (Design/Built his own Skis)
Eden Sweet (Whaling Timeline and Awareness)
Dylan Shabbouei (Android to iPhone charger)
Outstanding Design
Grant Kaplan (Built his own ergonomic chair)
Stefan Gerber & Marcus Scheer (Designed and built an array of projectile launching devices)
Exceptional Research
Arielle Meisel (Researched Mathematics and Fibonacci in Music Theory)
Oliver Salvaterra (Pitt Hopkins Exoskeleton)
Mason Shurman (Pizzicato Energy Harvester with a TENS system - Pain relief through electric shock)
Distinguished Positive Influence
Dylan Seidel (Providing Help to the Poor in Guatemala)
Amelia Marengo (Study of Sleep Deprivation in Teens)
Sarah Lande (Campaign for Reduction of Air Pollution)
At Milken Community School, we think education is more than what you know. Our School, founded on Jewish values, is about who our children can become and how they can help others become who they might be. Because the world our children will create tomorrow is born in the School we build today, our mission is to educate our children so they can surpass us.
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