Gabriel See builds robot for MIT engineering competition
November 25, 2009
By Christopher Huber
Sammamish resident Gabriel See, 11, is at it again. Now that he’s exhausted all the Advanced-Placement math and science course offerings at Eastlake High School, he’s turned to working with the University of Washington’s bioengineering department.
Although See still takes seventh-grade arts classes at Renaissance School of Arts and Reasoning, he spent much of his summer building, programming and modifying an automated robot that transfers DNA samples, according to the See family.
The project was meant to include a small team of undergraduate students, but Gabriel ended up doing the whole thing himself — with the guidance of seven advisors — said UW post-doctoral fellow and project advisor Sean Sleight. One student joined the team to market the project near the end, he said. Some teams consist of up to 20 people, Sleight said.
“Gabriel is so advanced with math he basically just took over the project and did everything,” Sleight said. “It really was like a one-man team.”
See presented his project via video demonstration — he had the flu — at the International Genetically Engineered Machine Championship Jamboree at MIT Nov. 1. He earned a silver medal in the software category for his modifications to the LEGO-brand robot’s programming.
“The most challenging aspect was to actually position the robot to move to a specific location,” Sleight said. “The other big challenge was the software. He was able to sort of improvise there.”
He said the $700 robot project is something the bioengineering department hopes to potentially sell to a lab that can’t afford more expensive robots.
“His math and robotics skills are at the same level of sophistication as somebody at the undergraduate or graduate level,” Sleight said. “There’s even some mathematics problems that are even beyond me.”
The iGEM competition began in 2003 as a month-long course during MIT’s Independent Activities Period, according to the organization’s Web site. Students designed biological systems to perform certain tasks, such as make a cell blink.
In 2004 the single course grew into a summer competition that involved five teams from around the United States. It grew to 13 teams — some from other countries — in 2005 and eventually 84 international teams participated in 2008.
Projects have entailed creating bacteria that smells like wintergreen to an arsenic biosensor. This year, more than 1,700 participants on 112 teams took part, according to the Web site.
To see Gabriel’s video demonstration visit http://2009.igem.org/Team:Washington-Software/Project.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamsihreview.com.
Sammamish resident Gabriel See, 11, is at it again. Now that he’s exhausted all the Advanced-Placement math and science course offerings at Eastlake High School, he’s turned to working with the University of Washington’s bioengineering department.
Although See still takes seventh-grade arts classes at Renaissance School of Arts and Reasoning, he spent much of his summer building, programming and modifying an automated robot that transfers DNA samples, according to the See family. Read more
Students sponsor auction to help orphans in Africa
November 25, 2009
By Christopher Huber
Students in the Eastlake Invisible Children Club are gearing up for their annual benefit auction. The growing student-led club is increasing its efforts this year to get the word out about its cause: to raise as much money as possible to help displaced children in Uganda, said club president Christian Cook.
Eastlake’s Invisible Children group is planning the silent auction for Dec. 4 or 5, he said, depending on venue availability, and it is seeking donations — items or money.
“You don’t need to donate a large amount to make a big difference,” Cook said in an e-mail to the Review. “Uganda is a very poor country and even a little bit goes a long way over there.”
Although violence in the region has displaced nearly 2 million people, “a better life for these people is closer than most people think,” Cook said.
Eastlake’s fundraising efforts happen year-round, but they are currently working to be the top fundraiser in the Pacific Northwest. One student from the top school earns a trip to Uganda with Invisible Children workers, according to Cook and Invisible Children.
Cook said the Schools for Schools challenge fundraising deadline is Dec. 18.
Eastlake’s Invisible Children’s club began in the 2007-2008 school year as former student Jessica Kowalchuk’s senior project. The idea came up after the whole school watched the Invisible Children documentary. The group only raised about $150 in the first year, but helped raise awareness of the tragedies in northern Uganda. Eastlake students raised approximately $4,300 at a December 2008 benefit auction. Eastlake’s club was one of the top Invisible Children fundraisers in the Pacific Northwest region — about 250 schools, according to organization representative Colleen Dougherty.
Three young filmmakers formed the nonprofit Invisible Children, Inc. in 2005 after receiving an overwhelming response to their film, which documented the lives of night commuters and child soldiers in northern Uganda in 2003.
They formed the organization to give concerned people an opportunity to help the situation, according to the group’s Web site.
Since then, the organization has partnered with schools and communities across the United States and Uganda to raise awareness about the people suffering from the conflict in Uganda and raised money and donated books to help displaced children receive an education.
Invisible Children representatives travel the world to show the motivational film and talk to school audiences about the situation in Uganda. They sponsor benefit concerts, as well.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
Students in the Eastlake Invisible Children Club are gearing up for their annual benefit auction. The growing student-led club is increasing its efforts this year to get the word out about its cause: to raise as much money as possible to help displaced children in Uganda, said club president Christian Cook.
Eastlake’s Invisible Children group is planning the silent auction for Dec. 4 or 5, he said, depending on venue availability, and it is seeking donations — items or money. Read more
2 terrific teachers make school fun
November 25, 2009
By Hugo Fonck
Mr. Lee and Mr. Barone are just two of the many wonderful teachers at Beaver Lake Middle School. I have Mr. Lee for math and Mr. Barone for science. Mr. Lee has been at Beaver Lake since 2001, and Mr. Barone has been there for 11 years.
Mr. Lee loves to give out a fun homework assignment called a Pizzazz. A Pizzazz uses a lot of math calculation to uncover a sentence or answer to a joke. Of course, Mr. Lee gives tests too. But it’s a fun and busy experience. Finally, Mr. Lee is a huge Husky fan, so on Fridays, whoever wears purple to school gets a piece of candy. Mr. Lee told me, “This is not a job, but an adventure!”
For Mr. Barone, he likes to play music at the beginning of class, sometimes it’s boogie, sometimes it’s disco, and it changes a lot. He also likes to decorate our assignments with funny pictures — like for our first test, he put a worried face picture of himself at the top and labeled it “Your first brutal science test!” Mr. Barone’s expectations for his students are to just try to do your best.
“I like both of them, because they are very creative and funny,” said Andrew Evans, one of the many students who has both Mr. Lee and Mr. Barone.
These two teachers are a couple of my favorites because they give out wacky work that teaches us while we still have fun. Go Bulldogs!
Mr. Lee and Mr. Barone are just two of the many wonderful teachers at Beaver Lake Middle School. I have Mr. Lee for math and Mr. Barone for science. Mr. Lee has been at Beaver Lake since 2001, and Mr. Barone has been there for 11 years. Read more
Eastside Catholic play to raise money for Katrina relief
November 25, 2009
Eastside Catholic play to raise money for Katrina relief
Students in the Eastside Catholic drama department have been working on a new style of production this fall. Christianna Mueller and Danielle Southern both of Sammamish, will perform in the play.
“The Katrina Project: Hell and High Water” runs Dec. 3-6 at Lake Washington High School’s Cadle Theater.
The production is based on the real events in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, said drama teacher Leslie Spero. The plot takes people through scenes based on real interviews, collected stories and texts found during the cleanup.
The play follows a variety of characters as they recount their experiences in the devastation.
Performances are at 7 p.m. Dec. 3, 4 and 5 and 3 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6.
Tickets cost $8 at the door and all proceeds and donations go directly to hurricane relief charities, according the school’s Web site.
For more information on hurricane relief charities visit http://www.hurricanekatrinarelief.com/ways_to_help.html.
Students in the Eastside Catholic drama department have been working on a new style of production this fall. Christianna Mueller and Danielle Southern both of Sammamish, will perform in the play.
“The Katrina Project: Hell and High Water” runs Dec. 3-6 at Lake Washington High School’s Cadle Theater.
The production is based on the real events in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, said drama teacher Leslie Spero. The plot takes people through scenes based on real interviews, collected stories and texts found during the cleanup. Read more
Eastlake soccer had a trio of leaders
November 25, 2009
By Christopher Huber
Early in the 2009 girls soccer season, Eastlake head coach Chuck Krieble took the team on a day-hike to Little Mount Si, near North Bend.
During the hours-long trek, the players carried an egg, gently cradling it and carefully passing it around as they walked and talked.
It was a team-building exercise, of course, teaching them to trust each other and to protect a fragile object.
But it came to symbolize the Lady Wolves’ and their difficult, competitive 11-week-long season.
Although its promising bid for a championship ended with a loss in the first round of the state tournament Nov. 10, Eastlake’s three captains, seniors Lindsay Elston, Allie Beahan and Courtney Pixler share credit for reforming the team psyche, on the field and off, according to Krieble.
“We’re not focused on wins or losses, but more on team chemistry,” Beahan said. “Past selfishness and drama, there was none of that this year.”
Not only did the three lead team morale, they also led in the stat book. With seven goals and seven assists on the season, Elston, a midfielder, was named KingCo 4A Player of the Year. And along with midfielder Beahan (10 goals, eight assists) and defender Pixler (one goal, two assists), she made the first-team All-KingCo 4A.
“Other people can make you look really good, too,” said a humble Pixler. “We work well together.”
Elston and Beahan have committed to play ball for the University of Washington in 2010 and Pixler is headed to Alabama.
“None of us are really after the titles,” Elston said. “It’s like a creative outlet for me.”
Krieble said she deserves Player of the Year partly because of her quickness and measured approach to the game.
“Her foot skills are really just amazing. She makes something out of nothing,” he said. “Lindsay is very thoughtful. If I ask a question, I will get Lindsay’s response third. Lindsay has a very intellectual approach to the game.”
Pixler, on the other hand, tends to wear her thoughts on her sleeve, Krieble said.
“Courtney is as polished a defender as we’ve seen in years. She’s kind of the lifeguard,” he said. “She’s the one to get amped up during a game. You ask the hard question, Courtney will give you the hard answer.”
Beahan is somewhat of a mix between Elston and Pixler as a leader and eager midfielder, according to Krieble’s observations.
“Allie is a kind of a Jekyll-and-Hyde sort of player. She is a very sensitive and caring person. She just has a very pleasant, calming, almost gentle disposition,” Krieble said. “But my god, you put her on the field and she just goes through people. She doesn’t shy away from contact one bit. To see those contrasting personas is very unique.”
Krieble described Elston and Beahan’s presence on the field as two friends comparing notes then tackling a problem.
“They’re constantly on and when the two of them are on, it’s like lightning in a bottle,” he said.
In addition to the school season, the girls play for the same Crossfire club team year-round.
“Without soccer, I don’t know what I’d do with my life,” Pixler said. “(On the field) I’m in a completely different world.”
Although this was Eastlake’s fifth consecutive trip to the state tournament, Krieble and the girls attribute the team’s success this year to the renewed sense of cohesiveness.
Krieble said in the end, many of the girls requested to not vote for a 2009 most valuable player.
“We hardly ever had a conversation about player of the game, but we always talked about we, we, we, we, we, we, we,” he said about post-game debriefs.
Though the team was dropped from contention, its shell and vital parts remain strong and the trio said they hope to keep Eastlake going strong after they leave.
Junior midfielder Kelly Morro will take on the role as a captain in 2010, along with Ann Heine and Jami Marzano, Krieble said.
“For the younger players that are coming up onto varsity, it’s really important, for me especially, to make them feel welcome and make them feel like they have a place on the team,” Morro said. “When the girls aren’t comfortable on the team, their best game won’t show.”
As for the egg the girls took to the top of Little Si?
“It probably ended up with an omelet somewhere but it made it up and it made it down,” Krieble said.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
Early in the 2009 girls soccer season, Eastlake head coach Chuck Krieble took the team on a day-hike to Little Mount Si, near North Bend.
During the hours-long trek, the players carried an egg, gently cradling it and carefully passing it around as they walked and talked.
It was a team-building exercise, of course, teaching them to trust each other and to protect a fragile object.
But it came to symbolize the Lady Wolves’ and their difficult, competitive 11-week-long season.
Seniors Courtney Pixler, from left, Lindsay Elston and Allie Beahan each made the first-team All-KingCo 4A. Elston, a UW recruit, is league Player of the Year. Beahan is also headed to play for the Huskies and Pixler plans to play at the University of Alabama. Photo by Christopher Huber
Curtis no contest for Skyline football
November 25, 2009
By Christopher Huber
Scoring early and often has been a hallmark of the Skyline football team as it won its way to state championships in recent years. But its performance in the quarterfinal match at Curtis Nov. 21 gave new meaning to its fervent play.
It was over before Curtis players knew what hit them.
The Spartans scored twice in the first two minutes of the game and led 49-0 at the halftime break. The enormous lead triggered a rule that kept the clock running in the second half. Skyline (10-2) came away with a 49-14 win to advance to the semifinal game against Bothell Nov. 28 at the Tacoma Dome.
“We’re just really excited the way the kids are playing right now,” said Spartans coach Mat Taylor.
Skyline scored 35 points in the first quarter and capitalized on Curtis mistakes, Taylor said. The Spartans’ second score came after it recovered a Curtis fumble. Quarterback Jake Heaps then tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to his favorite receiver, Kasen Williams.
Skyline did not commit any turnovers, Taylor said. Williams finished with 3 catches for 33 yards.
The Spartan defense held Curtis to just 22 yards rushing in the first half and 48 total passing yards.
Running backs Nick Beauchamp and Nick Washburn ran for 16- and 9-yard touchdowns, respectively, in the first half. Tight end Cooper Pelleur caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Heaps to close out the second quarter.
“They brought all kinds of blitzes and our line did a great job picking everything up,” Taylor said of Skyline’s offensive efforts.
Curtis’ Jason Walker scored a 53-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter and Richard Southern punched through for a two-yard touchdown in the fourth.
Washburn finished with 57 yards on seven carries and Beauchamp ran the ball eight times for 51 yards.
Heaps completed 10 of 18 passes for 151 and three touchdowns, all in the first half and Connor Brandt had two catches for 59 yards.
Skyline faces Bothell in a semi-final game in Tacoma. It aims to get even after losing 25-20 to the Cougars in the KingCo 4A championship.
“It’s just really exciting. The kids are having fun and they’re executing,” Taylor said about Skyline peaking at the right time. “The No. 1 thing is we gotta worry about ourselves.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
Scoring early and often has been a hallmark of the Skyline football team as it won its way to state championships in recent years. But its performance in the quarterfinal match at Curtis Nov. 21 gave new meaning to its fervent play.
It was over before Curtis players knew what hit them. Read more
Auditor OK’s city finances
November 24, 2009
By J.B. Wogan
The state Auditor’s Office says the city of Sammamish is meeting its standards for accountability and for managing its budget.
The auditor’s office released two reports, one on accountability and one on the city’s financial statements.
Lyman Howard, the city’s finance director, said the city received compliments from the auditor’s office during its exit interview this year.
Sammamish has had one negative finding in its 10-year existence; the finding came in 2006 after the state changed its reporting standards.
“We weren’t up to our game at that point,” Howard said. “Almost every city had a finding.”
The auditor’s office noted that Sammamish received a finding in 2006 but has since resolved the issue.
The 2009 financial reports focused on aspects of managing and reporting city finances that lead to significant misstatements. It also reviewed how the city notifies the public about public meetings and how the city reports financial action, such as paying personnel or awarding a contract, in public documents.
The auditor’s office reviewed every major city fund and the end-of-the-year fund balance for 2008.
Residents can read a detailed breakdown of the city’s financial statements at www.sao.wa.gov/AuditReports/AuditReportFiles/ar1002495.pdf.
Reporter J.B. Wogan can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com. To comment on this story, visit www.SammamishReview.com.
New: Nov. 24, 3:13 p.m.
The state Auditor’s Office says the city of Sammamish is meeting its standards for accountability and for managing its budget.
The auditor’s office released two reports, one on accountability and one on the city’s financial statements. Read more
Skyline repeats at girls soccer state championship
November 22, 2009
Updated 10:30 a.m. Nov. 25
By Christopher Huber
Overcome with emotion and reeling from what she had helped her team accomplish, Skyline sophomore goalkeeper Tina Vargas wasn’t quite sure what to say after the game was over Nov. 21 at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood.
All she knew was that she had just helped defeat district rival Issaquah in the 4A state championship soccer game. She blocked two of the Eagles’ four penalty kicks — one went over the goal — in a shootout.
“My goal is to make them scared, and I know that when I make them scared that makes me better,” Vargas said. “When they look me in the eye, that’s when I get them intimidated.”
Paired with Vargas’ intimidation factor and its 3-1 shootout margin, the Skyline girls soccer team repeated as the 4A state champion, beating Issaquah 2-1.
“Tina Vargas just was absolutely out of her mind. She is able to go to a place, mentally, that very few players I’ve ever had are able to go to,” said head coach Don Braman. “She is just absolutely dominant in penalty kick situations.”
Junior forward Michelle Bretl scored the winning penalty kick for Skyline.
“To repeat as state champions in this state is absolutely, probably the most difficult challenge I can picture for a high school team,” Braman said as the team celebrated.
Vargas played an integral role in the second half of regulation, too. The teams played to a tie through two overtimes. But diving saves in the 51st and 55th minute held Issaquah at bay.
“I knew that sometime in my high school career I would be able to play in the state championship game. And I knew when I was going to play in that game I was going to give it my all,” Vargas said.
Skyline jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute when senior midfielder Shea O’Donnell snuck the ball past Issaquah keeper Brooke Miller on a breakaway shot.
In the beginning, Skyline controlled the tempo, but Issaquah came out fired up in the second half.
Just five minutes in, forward Kristen Maris, KingCo 4A’s leading scorer, tied the game at 1-1. The senior’s 21st goal of the season came when freshman midfielder Audrey Thomas fed her the ball in the center of the box. Maris fired to the left, just past a diving Vargas.
“She’s been spectacular all year long,” said Issaquah coach Tom Bunnell. “And to do it in the league that we play in … she’s so composed and so crafty.”
Both teams came close in the second, but Issaquah pressed harder on offense. Its defense held Skyline to only a couple of close scoring chances.
“The intensity is amazing between the two teams,” Bunnell said.
Senior goalkeeper Jill Stika held Issaquah scoreless in the first half, continuing her state-tournament shutout streak to eight, Braman said.
“She’s fabulous for us,” he said.
Issaquah and Skyline had split two regular-season meetings, including Issaquah’s 3-1 win in the KingCo championship match Nov. 3.
“Issaquah had really done some damage to us at their place and we really wanted to redeem ourselves,” Braman said.
Issaquah won Class 3A titles in 2004, 2006 and 2007.
Despite the loss, Bunnell said he was satisfied with the team’s success.
“We’ve created something really special,” he said. “And that is the best part about it.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
Overcome with emotion and reeling from what she had helped her team accomplish, Skyline sophomore goalkeeper Tina Vargas wasn’t quite sure what to say after the game was over Nov. 21 at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood.
All she knew was that she had just helped defeat district rival Issaquah in the 4A state championship soccer game. She blocked two of the Eagles’ four penalty kicks — one went over the goal — in a shootout.
The Skyline girls soccer team runs with glee at junior forward Michelle Bretl (far right) after she scored the winning penalty kick for the 4A state championship Nov. 21 against Issaquah. Photo by Greg Farrar
All-league football and volleyball announced
November 21, 2009
New Nov. 21, 2:27 p.m.
Numerous football and volleyball players from the three Sammamish high schools were recently selected to all-league teams.
From the Eastlake volleyball team, Alyssa Charlston earned a spot on the second-team All-KingCo. Mercedes Bass and Claire Salmon were given honorable mention.
Skyline sophomores Maddie Magee and Madison Stoa and senior Olivia Marquardt each were selected to the second-team All-KingCo, and Andrea Chon and Paige Haas earned honorable mention. Read more
Students solve traffic woes
November 20, 2009
New: Nov. 20, 1:14 p.m.
Some visionary engineers took the podium at Sammamish City Hall Nov. 17. But before they could address the City Council, they needed a stool to reach the microphone.
Seven students from Samantha Smith and Rachel Carson elementary schools spoke to the council about a transportation problem in Sammamish, and how to fix it.
Seven Sammamish elementary school students devised a way to solve a citywide transportation problem — too many cars on the road. Those engineers-in-training were Erik Moulton, 9 (back), Jason Morris, 9, Prateek Bhaumik, 9, Justin Tsang, 9, Nicolas Fish, 10, Devin Patel, 9, Andrew Leinweber, 10, (middle) Graham Hanson, 11 (front). Photo by J.b. Wogan
