Sophomores win PennDOT innovation challenge

Lauren Pinheiro Staff Reporter

At the end of January, sophomores Faizaan Siddique and Drew Hunter submitted a proposal to solve a truck parking transportation problem to the PennDOT innovation challenge. Their proposal of a truck oasis and creation of the app TruckPark PA landed the team the first place spot in PennDOT’s Engineering District 6. The duo competed against four other teams from three different schools in District 6, which contains Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware and Philadelphia Counties. Each year, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation releases a real-world challenge for students in grades 9-12 to solve. The challenge for 2023 — released this past October — was to find a way for commercial truck drivers to park along Pennsylvania freight corridors that connect truck transport across the nation. Hunter and Siddique created their solution over the course of two months and conducted research to perfect their proposal.

“First, we started to give ideas and do research in the area, and we landed on the Lebanon County area for us to do our design. Faizaan wanted to base this off the Illinois Tollway oasis. Also, we added an application of a truck parking app where (truck drivers) can reserve spots,” Hunter said.

The challenge consisted of two stages. First, the team created a truck oasis plan for commercial vehicles. A truck oasis would provide a designated rest area with gas stations, restrooms, food and parking options. Additionally, the TruckPark PA app allowed fatigued drivers to book parking spots in these oases.

“I am experienced with app development, so I did the app and visuals because I am also good at drawing. Drew also made sure everything was smooth,” Siddique said.

With Siddique and Hunter’s proposal displaying a complete, innovative and well-planned proposal, the two moved onto the second stage of the challenge.

Stage two took place in February which allowed the duo to present an expanded version of their proposal to District 6 PennDOT executives and other department heads. After an evaluation of their proposal and presentation at the state level, the team obtained the District 6 title for the PennDOT innovation challenge.

The two are continuing on to compete at the statewide competition on April 25. One winning team from each of the 11 transportation districts in Pennsylvania will compete for the state title and $4,000 cash prize. Siddique feels that creating and implementing an innovation with Hunter gave him new experience in the transportation field.

“Competing in the Innovation Challenge was definitely a very fun experience,” Siddique said. “It gave me the opportunity to apply my observations and ideas through a comprehensive and innovative proposal.”

Notably, the Protect Women’s Sports Act (House Bill 972) first proposed in 2021, would prohibit transgender girls from competing in women’s sports. Critics of the legislation feel that these bills discriminate against trans athletes, as a large component of sports is belonging and well-being. Banning the participation of trans athletes subjects them to humiliation and ostracisation from their peers, which worsen mental health.

“We need to just protect our community. Students need to start seeing everybody in the community as their obligation, to choose to just be kind, accepting and affirming because the mental health of their peers is much lower than the mental health of our heterosexual cis(gender) normative population,” said Asher Rhodes, a physical education teacher at Conestoga and one of three advisers of the Gender/Sexuality Alliance. “School becomes their safe space, and our students need to open up to that and make that an even safer space for them.”

Censorship of LGBTQ discussion in schools

In October 2022, the Pennsylvania Senate introduced the Parental Bill of Rights Act (House Bill 319), which would limit conversations on sexual orientation and gender identity in certain grades. If passed, the bill would give parents more control over content taught in public schools.

“It’s really upsetting because it’s not doing anything,” said senior Cathryn Cheetham, vice-president of Conestoga’s GSA. “People aren’t being indoctrinated by the schools acknowledging that LGBTQ people exist.”

This bill is one of three major anti-trans bills that have been introduced into the Pennsylvania legislature this year. For example, House Bill 138 extends the statute of limitations for lawsuits from those who received gender affirming treatment as minors. To raise awareness for the surge of anti-LGBTQ legislation, members of the GSA have made infographics and handouts to be passed out to teachers. However, while Cheetham finds the T/E School District to be generally supportive of the LGBTQ community, she does not feel they are always vocal about their support.

“Anytime it was proposed that the school say something about Pride Month, or display a queer flag somewhere in school, it’s been pushed off,” Cheetham said. “I kind of understand that, because there would be people that would be really upset about that.”

If such legislation passes, it will mirror laws already passed in primarily southern states like Florida, Alabama and Tennessee. These bills are sparked by fears that learning about sexual orientation and gender affirming health care could make youth more likely to identify with the LGBTQ community. Biology teacher and GSA adviser Valerie Cunningham emphasizes the importance of protecting LGBTQ topics in curriculums.

“The GSA has been fighting for a long time to be included in a part of the curriculum, to have representation through LGBTQ authors.

It means a lot to the students, and I’m fearful that any progress we have made might go backwards,” Cunningham said.

Though social studies and English courses are most likely to be affected by potential changes, other subjects may be forced to adapt too. Cunningham uses the example of 1970s environmentalist Rachel Carson.

“She was the one that inspired DDT to be banned as a pesticide, and she was gay. That’s important to talk about when we’re learning about her because it was used against her when she was trying to present her scientific concepts,” Cunningham said. “If I can’t talk about that, it takes away a critical piece of her story.” For Cheetham, such fears are all the more reason to get involved.

“The narrative that (legislators) are doing this to protect the children is not doing anything,” Cheetham said. “There’s so many things that could be done that would save a lot more lives than taking away the access that youth have to be able to feel like themselves.”

Greening ’Stoga members push for eco-friendly cutlery

Saktisri Gowrishankar Staff Reporter

Greening ’Stoga Task Force is working to find ways to replace Conestoga cafeteria cutlery with eco-friendly options after a recent survey.

Greening ’Stoga Task Force is a club dedicated to promoting sustainability and environmental awareness. The club posted a schoolwide survey on Schoology on Feb. 27 to determine if students were supportive of replacing cutlery in the cafeteria, using the results as evidence for the necessity of more environmentally friendly choices.

Senior Katie Hymel, club president and leader of the initiative, believes they can make the change.

“In 2019, Greening ’Stoga got rid of (plastic foam) in the cafeteria. It’s been done before, and I know we can do it again,” Hymel said. “I’m hopeful that we will have enough support, and we will put in enough work to make this change possible.”

As of March 28, Food Services Supervisor David Preston found that Conestoga uses 824 pounds of plastic utensils annually. Of the 434 student responses to the survey sent out by Greening ’Stoga, 84% said they were supportive of alternatives to plastic cutlery. The club had similar initiatives in the past, such as removing plastic foam from the cafeteria, putting more recycling bins in the atrium and reducing waste by recycling dried markers and pens. Principal Dr. Amy Meisinger is supportive of the club’s ventures.

“I think any efforts to conserve can only be helpful. You look at what’s happening in grocery stores with plastic bags going to brown bags, and all the things that are happening on a national scale, so I think any effort to turn the tide a little bit is certainly helpful,” Meisinger said.

The plan to replace utensils in the cafeteria is in its early stages, but Greening ’Stoga hopes to implement it at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. The club is considering biodegradable materials, such as bamboo, as an alternative to plastic. Hymel and other club members are working with district administrators, namely Preston, to create a plan of action.

Environmental science teacher and Greening ’Stoga adviser Kevin Strogen believes this collaboration is crucial in the club’s projects.

“You always need a partnership. You always need to work with administrators and those who make the decisions, in the cafeteria or the school, to achieve these goals we have,” Strogen said. Increasing attention to climate change and pollution made communities more environmentally conscious. Students can help reduce our community’s impact by recycling, making eco-friendly choices and spreading awareness.

“Every generation, in some ways, makes better and better decisions—environmentally, at least,” Strogen said. “I think (that) at a young age, it’s important to be aware of these issues and try to enact change because I think (the next generation has) a lot more power than (they) think (they) do.”

Cutlery qualm: Freshman Arohi Nepal reaches for a spoon in a cafeteria checkout line. Greening ’Stoga released a survey in February to see if students would be supportive of replacing the plastic cutlery in the cafeteria.