Written by Mr. Mark Gaynor, Director of Technology, S.T.R.E.A.M. PreK3-Grade 8
The 2024-25 St. Peter RC School Future City team, Naval City, has made a remarkable impact in the
Western New York and Southern Ontario region by securing 4th place overall in a highly
competitive environment of public and private schools. This achievement highlights the team's
innovative approach to urban planning and sustainability on a recycled floating aircraft carrier,
demonstrating their ability to address real-world challenges through creative problem-solving.
The team, composed of dedicated students, worked tirelessly to design a futuristic city that not
only meets the needs of its inhabitants but also prioritizes environmental stewardship and
technological integration.
Throughout the competition, the St. Peter Future City team showcased their comprehensive
understanding of self-contained urban systems, incorporating elements such as renewable
energy sources, efficient transportation networks, and green spaces. Their project stood out for
its practicality and visionary concepts, reflecting a deep commitment to creating livable and
sustainable communities. This accomplishment not only underscores the talent and hard work
of the students involved but also serves as an inspiration for future participants, encouraging
them to think critically about the cities of tomorrow.
Written by Miss Kirsten Nelson, 8th grade student
Hello, my name is Kirsten Nelson. I am an 8th Grade student, and led our Future City team this year. Future City is a hands-on cross-curricular program for Middle School students, bringing STEM to life through the Engineering Design Process and project management. Each year, Future City comes up with a different challenge to get students thinking about what it would be like to walk in a city 100 years from now, as well as coming up with a solution to that year’s pressing issue. This year, we were challenged to build a floating city and provide two innovative examples on how the city works and keeps its citizens healthy and safe.
Our solution to the problem was Naval City, a functioning city built from a repurposed Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier. It was designed to combat the issues of climate change. Due to the rising sea levels, islands in the Aegean Sea are sinking, or having their coasts eroded. The idea to make it in the Aegean actually came to me a few weeks earlier, when I was reading an article today about the Greek island of Delos, which may not be around in 150 years. The island is a deep religious spot in Greek Mythology, as it is the birthplace of twin gods Artemis and Apollo.
While we had our rough patches, the team worked well together. We worked in different groups, and Mr. Gaynor and myself worked to keep the team on track. Daniel Johnson and CJ Ambrosia contributed in a major way to writing our presentation, Bridget Mietus, Grace Pacillo, Reese Berrigan, and Vanna Muldoon painted every colorful bit of our model, and Philip Allen and myself worked extensively on measuring out our model. I really couldn’t have gotten as far as I did without the team.
The competition was two weeks ago, on January 25th. The team and I would take breaks to have snacks in the cafeteria, while 2-3 of us would stay in the gym to answer questions from the special award judges passing by constantly. We each made sure to answer questions, and were supportive of each other. One thing I remember clearly was that nobody tried to talk over each other. We all let whoever was talking talk, and if something needed to be added in, we would add it after the speaker finished.
The presenters were myself, Daniel Johnson, and CJ Ambrosia. We each shared the presentation time of 7 minutes equally, and each answered questions given to us by the judges. Getting put in the top five felt insane. I was so incredibly nervous and happy for all of the effort the team put in, and felt that tons of hard work had really paid off. I can remember being backstage with Daniel and CJ, and the three of us pacing up and down a ramp there, saying our lines under our breath so that we would be able to look up more, and providing helpful insight if we forgot something.
In the end, we didn’t get first place, but I couldn’t have been more proud of the work the team put in, and the level of faith they had in me, in Mr. Gaynor, and in each other. It was rough at first to get them all working together on a project not many were as passionate about as I am, but everyone pitched in and did their part. This competition is something that I will forever be grateful for, and I hope that what we learned will continue to impact who we are, and influence the people we may become.
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