News & Events

Dig Into Science Winners Announced!

January 15, 2013

There are not many surprises left in the world anymore. Technology has made it relatively easy to learn about many things that were previously left up to the imagination; infra-red cameras, Google and MRIs are just a few examples. But some talented students in Northern New England this December received a surprise they were not expecting in the least.

S. W. Cole Engineering, Inc. made seven “surprise” presentations across Maine and New Hampshire, students learned Students from the winning class at Monadnock Regional Middle School with teacher Krystal Smith and S. W. Cole representative Andrew Michaud (back row).they were one of seven winners of the company’s second annual Dig Into Science. Announced in September, the contest asked students in Kindergarten through 12th grade in Maine and New Hampshire to create a video in which they explain how science, engineering and technology can be used in new ways to make the world a better place. The prize for each of the seven winners: a $1,000 stipend, to be used to attend or host a science-, technology-, engineering- or math- (STEM) related program. After choosing the winning videos from a pool of 79 (as opposed to last year’s 47), S. W. Cole worked with the principal of each school to make the announcements in front of the winning class as well as other students in the school.

This year’s winners are listed below. Click on the links to watch each video.

Corinna Elementary School Principal Richard Fernald was very happy to hear of the award won by Miss Glazier and her students, and said that participating in programs like “Dig Into Science” prepares students for their careers. “The future for our children includes an immersion into these fields unparalleled with past generations,” Fernald said. “Their future work spaces will not only have a computer but will demand a broad understanding of scientific theory and practice. We are happy to help these young children along this path.”

Monadnock Regional Middle School principal Jed Butterfield said that that the Dig Into Science contest is a great example of the kind of projects the teachers and administrators want their students to work on. “We are very pleased to receive this award as it is representative of our work to provide rigorous and relevant assignments for our students as they learn common core skills,” Butterfield stated. “We congratulate Ms. Smith and her fourth period class for representing Monadnock so well.”

“We were pleased with the response and quite impressed with the enthusiasm, creativity and hard work that all the students put into their videos,” said Bob Chaput, P.E., Senior Vice President at S. W. Cole Engineering, Inc. S. W. Cole Engineering, Inc.’s President, Paul Kohler, P.E., explained that the firm has a long tradition of promoting the engineering and science professions.. “Our founder, Stephen Cole, P.E., has always encouraged our employees to be involved in professional organizations,” he said. “The company has a 30-year history of hiring engineering and science students, part time and seasonally, to gain practical experience, and many of them are still with us. Our hope is that this contest encourages students to consider the engineering and science professions.”

Established in 1979, S. W. Cole Engineering, Inc. is an employee-owned firm of over 85 scientists, engineers, and technicians providing geotechnical engineering, geology, environmental and natural resource consulting, and construction materials testing for projects throughout New England. In addition to the firm’s corporate headquarters in Bangor, Maine, S. W. Cole also has six branch offices throughout Maine (Augusta, Caribou and Gray) and New Hampshire (Keene, Manchester and Somersworth).