Boat Building in Islip

For the second consecutive year, the Islip High School Science Olympiad Team competed in and won the Freeport/Baldwin Elks Cardboard Boat Regatta. After their victory last year, the team was placed in the Adult Division, where they beat two dozen other teams.

The challenge of the design was to build a human-powered boat made from corrugated cardboard and duct tape which is capable of completing one trip around a 200-yard course with people inside it. The purpose of the race is to give students the opportunity to put theory into practice, based on the principles of water displacement, buoyancy, and floation.

“The students learn to solve problems, figure out how to get things built, and at the same time have great fun doing it,” said Science Olympiad coach Ken Phalen. “I am very proud of their accomplishment and how they all worked together.”

The project was a true community effort: the team received assistance from Loews in the form of cardboard, Pat's Carpet on Saxon Ave. donated carpet tubing, and the Islip Elks Lodge members that donated $100 to cover the cost of entry fees and purchase some additional supplies.

Due to the community support and a high degree of interest from the students, Islip was able to field two teams in the competition. Congratulations to the following students: Mike Phalen, Will Barsalona, Dave Uher, Eric Purchaki, Elyssa Sapia, Lauren Hallal, Kiersten Lavery, Samantha Rodriguez, Nicole Needrith, Dan Eichner, Kevin Dinh. Karen Gambina, and Sonia Niazi
 

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