Prepared to Innovate When eighth grade student Kaila Kurien ’29 set out to design her science fair project for Legacy middle school’s first ever science fair, she didn’t choose something simple. Instead, she built and programmed a self-driving car robot, using ultrasound sensors to navigate a PVC- pipe track under simulated weather conditions like floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Her persistence paid off. After presenting at Legacy’s science fair, Kaila advanced to Regionals, then State, where she received the Science Museum of Minnesota’s STEM Communication Award and a special invitation from the Raspberry Pi Foundation. At Coolest Projects USA, she earned the Broadcom Coding with Commitment Award— the highest honor of the event. She also presented her work at 3M, sharing alongside professional scientists and engineers. Her teacher, Rebecca Fields, says Kaila’s determination stood out: “She had already earned her grade, but she kept working for months because she was self-driven and wanted to do something bigger.” Fields notes that the process prepared Kaila not just in coding and engineering, but in perseverance, problem-solving, and public speaking. For Kaila, the experience sparked curiosity and confidence: “At first I was nervous just giving the facts, but as I practiced, I grew more comfortable. I learned I could share my project as a real conversation.” Prepared with passion and skill, Kaila exemplifies what it means to be ready for the opportunities ahead.
Students Gain Industry- Standard Experience
Legacy Christian Academy and Becker High School teamed up to take first place in the second annual PACK Challenge competition, sponsored by PepsiCo and held at PACK EXPO International in Chicago. The coalition earned the $9,000 top prize and was named Overall Best in Show for its innovative packaging solution. The PACK Challenge gave students the opportunity to design and build a functional denesting and orientating cup machine, while also creating a fictitious company complete with branding, marketing, and a mission statement. Students gained real-world exposure to industry standards and the chance to collaborate with professionals. For Gabe Horrisberger ’25, the experience was eye-opening. “It was really cool to come up with something from scratch and then build it,” he says. “When we were presenting, I enjoyed talking through the benefits of our machine—it showed me a valid career option I hadn’t seen before.” Students also developed skills beyond engineering. Jenni Bjorn ’27 valued the chance to grow in her communication skills while presenting the marketing plan, while Maverick Werth ’27 deepened his technical knowledge alongside industry mentors. The PACK Challenge proved to be a hands-on bridge between classroom learning and professional application.
Every student, every day
I saw a lot of growth in my scientific presentation skills from the Legacy science fair to presenting my project at professional companies like Raspberry Pi and 3M. You have no idea opportunities like this even exist until you try.
THE STORY EVEN GRABBED THE ATTENTION OF LOCAL KARE11 NEWS!
KAILA KURIEN ’29
10 | LIONS SHARE 2024-2025
LIONS SHARE 2024-2025 | 11
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