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Building blocks of creativity
Fort Scott, Kan. -- Creativity, imagination and ingenuity flooded the all-purpose room at Fort Scott Middle School on Monday as sixth grade students scattered throughout the room to participate in the 8th Annual Block Kids competition.
Each of the students was given 100 interlocking blocks and their choice of four other objects. After selecting which items they wanted to use, students were given one hour to build projects which were associated with the construction industry.
The program, which is sponsored by the National Association of Women in Construction chapter in Topeka, introduces children in grades one through six to the construction industry in order to create an awareness of and to promote an interest in future careers in one of the many aspects of the construction industry.
After examining all the Block Kids entries, judges form the local area selected first, second and third place entries and presented them with medals and certificates. The first place winner Kody Chinn-Russell was given a savings bond by Citizens Bank. Austin Woodall received second place in the competition and Jacob Bradbury walked away with the third place medal. Dana Beerbower, Kaitlyn Brown, Erin Thurston, Meredith Hill, Austin Alfaro, Drew Sinn, Matt Wiebelhaus, Sawyer Coffman and Sammi Creamer were all awarded honorable mentions in the competition. Every child who participated in the competition received a participation certificate for their hard work.
The Block Kids program was first introduced in 1989 by the NAWIC and has grown from a few participants to 22,000 children from 137 cities in the United States and Canada who take part in the annual event each year, according to the Construction Innovation Forum, www.cif.org. The Web site said participation in the project helps expose children to the construction field while they are still in the impressionable period of their lives.
"This competition helps youngsters realize that building is an adventure and requires people in many functions to make it all happen. Winning structures are entered in a regional and national competition. Prizes consist of savings bonds to aid with a child's education," the Web site said.