Toshiba gives Yori ’29, Sarah ’29 honorable mentions
This is the third consecutive year USN Lower Schoolers were recognized in the world’s largest K-12 STEM competition.
By Juanita I.C. Traughber, Communications Director
Toshiba has given Sarah Ajang ’29 and Yori Crozier ’29 honorable mentions in its 28th annual ExploraVision competition for their smartphone app to help curb school violence. The app they call HeLp Me! would use algorithms to evaluate students’ answers to questions and alert school administrators of students in need of intervention.
“The goal is to assist school officials like teachers, principals, etc. to address the issue early before the bullying gets out of hand and someone gets seriously hurt. School officials are then in a better position to assist the victim and help curb the perpetrator's behavior if the issues are addressed earlier,” Sarah and Yori wrote in their 12-page submission into the world’s largest K-12 STEM competition.
The girls are in Third Grade Teacher Barbara Voehler’s class. Their idea came from hearing a true story about a boy who recently emigrated from Sudan and was being teased because he does not speak English well. USN parent Anna Nyanda Dau said the students have reached out to Google and vendors recommended by Toshiba to create their app.
In 2019, Eesha Nachnani ’28 and Anisha Nachnani '32 were among national winners of the ExploraVision competition for their proposal of a solar-powered, GPS-operated fish drone that would ingest plastic polluting oceans and convert the waste into biodegradable products. They earned an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. In 2018, Eesha proposed a genetically-engineered chlorophyll cell could negate the effects of carbon dioxide. She donated the prize laptop to USN, and it was shared with a High School student in need.
USN Peabody Players present "The Addams Family: School Edition" on Thursday, November 19 through Sunday, November 22 in Durnan Auditorium. Click here for tickets. This musical is appropriate for K-12 audiences.
Join USNA on Saturday, January 30, for all the nostalgia, none of the teenage drama. This adult-only concert will feature USN's faculty house band, The K-12 Situation, with proceeds benefiting the school. Click here for tickets.
High School students traveled to Murfreesboro last weekend for the Model UN conference last weekend, which provided opportunities for leadership and collaboration across grade levels. They had the highest number of resolutions per capita in the General Assembly, had the highest-ranking resolution presented to any committee, and earned awards for Outstanding Statesperson & Outstanding Resolution.
With trail names like Megawatt, Electric Avenue, High Voltage and Livewire, the mountain bike team knew it was time to pedal out some extra watts for their NICA/TICL State Championships at Raccoon Mountain, and survive the technical trails above Chattanooga full of boulder gardens, rock drops and sandy rubble.
Winged Deer Park and trails in Johnson City hosted our 4th race on Sunday October 11th, and despite a bit of hurricane outwash winds and showers - and reduced team numbers due to fall break and distance from Nashville - our racers utilized all available skills and speed which helped “wing" Sophomore Claire Dehner to a 4th place podium spot, our first podium appearance and medal for the season.
Tiger golfers have officially qualified for the region tournament, and our other teams are not far behind. Volleyball sits near the top of the district, finishing up regular season play next week with Senior Night. Girls soccer continues to hold first place in the district after another 9-0 win, and our cross country runners are chasing after some school records. To round it all out, our mountain bike team traveled to Oakfield to continue to improve on their times for the season. There’s plenty more where that came from- so be sure to come out to the River Campus, Sperling Gym, or out on the road to cheer on our Tigers before their seasons end.
USN Mission: University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.