- April 19, 2024
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Grand Champion winners for LINK; Sarah Dance, Kayla Dance, and Ivana Moore. Not pictured: Judy Colindres and Vasthi Malvoisin. Courtesy photo
Bunnell Elementary Project G.R.E.E.N. -- Jermaine Bucknor, Daniel Wolcott, Sean Gilliam, Madelynn Oliva, and Jackson McMillan are all smiles as they won Grand Champion in Orlando. Courtesy photo
The awards kept coming for Flagler Schools at the Future Problem Solvers State Competition in Orlando on April 2. Courtesy photo
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Flagler County students are headed to Michigan State University for the Future Problem Solvers International Competition.
The students brought home 69 awards from the Future Problem Solvers State competition in Orlando on Saturday, April 2. Seventeen of those winners received an invitation to attend the International Conference in East Lansing, Michigan the first week of June.
School Board member, and father of two participants, Andy Dance, was understandably proud of his daughters. He was proud of every Flagler student who participated, but he wouldn't give the students all of the credit.
“It's a combination of great students and the most outstanding teachers who are mentoring these students,” Dance said. “They are selfless and dedicated to these kids, and that is what was shown in these results.”
Two of these teachers, Diane Tomko of Flagler Palm Coast High School, and Jennifer Colindres of Bunnell Elementary were awarded Sunshine Awards. Tomko had a family emergency following the weekend competition and was unavailable for an interview.
“At the beginning of the State competition, nominations are accepted, and both teachers were awarded for their contributions to the students,” Dance said.
“I was really honored,” Jennifer Colindres said. “Everyone there is an outstanding educator.”
Colindres said the students exceeded all of her expectations.
“We worked hard,” she said. “We have a class motto – 'We work hard and we play hard.'”
This will be the second time Colindres is taking students to the International competition.
“I took two kids last year; this year I am taking 20,” Colindres said. “I never imagined that this many of my kids would be invited.”
Dance said the program is a great preparation, not only for college success for the students, but life success as well.
“So many ties to success go back to them being involved in Future Problem Solvers,” he said.
The next challenge will be to ensure that all of the students who worked so hard for this honor get to participate in the International competition in Michigan.
Dance said that means – “It's Flamingo Flocking time.”
“Once again we will have Flamingo Flocking to help raise funds to offset the costs so they all can participate,” Dance said. “It's kind of like a booster club.”
The annual fundraiser allows FPS supporters to flock their friends, family, and neighbor's yards with plastic pink flamingos. How large a flock is up to the donor. A resident could wake up to an even dozen flamingos for $20, or a yard full of 30 flamingos for $40.
You don't like the pink plastic State bird of Florida? There's anti-flocking insurance available for $25 which will protect your yard for a year.
“We are going to have a lot of fundraisers in the next 60 days,” Dance said.
