North Haven Press Release FPS International Conference 2012

North Haven Students earn Awards at This year’s International Future Problem Solving Individual Competition

Sunday June 10^th 2012 – Indiana University, Bloomington IA - Future Problem Solving International Conference awards.

Two North Haven teams were recognized as top ten senior Division Global Problem Solving teams for 2012. Seniors Evelyn Fisher, Myles Mocarski, Jennifer Royka and John Savenelli placed 2^nd and Sophomores Matt Ennis, Jesse Morrow, Amanda Royka and Meredith Whitcomb placed 7^th out of over 60 other state and affiliate program championship teams from across the United States and ten other countries.

The topic addressed by the students concerned a hypothetical situation (Future Scene) set in the future in which medications for illnesses one has or is genetically predisposed too could be tailored to a person’s genetic makeup through DNA screening. 

This is the 26^th consecutive year a North Haven students have represented Connecticut at the FPS International Conference Problem Solving Competition.

Teacher Tom Marak who coaches the high school teams said, “The Future Problem Solving Program enhances our student’s education through teaching critical thinking, problem solving and methods to analyze complex situations. These students have worked hard to achieve this and we are all very proud of their accomplishments”

These students along with two of their North Haven classmates qualified to represent CT in a variety of competitions at the international conference from Wednesday June 6th – Sunday June 10^th 2012. The best problem solvers from around the world earn the right to participate based on their performance at their state and national conferences. Only 2,100, of the 200,000+ students from Australia, China, Korea, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia, Great Britain, South Africa, Portugal and the United States who participate in the FPS program, earn the right to attend the conference.

All of the North Haven participants did a great job in representing their school and the state of Connecticut. “It is impressive that they understand, and can address the issues regarding critical topics that have current and future global impact such as water quality, genetic testing, healthy living and planning for emergency” commented teacher Paul Castiglione who coaches the North Haven Middle School teams and assisted as a coach and chaperone for the students.

High school junior Haya Awwad, one of the students attending the competition, said, “It was amazing to be able to compete in something I love, especially with all of my friends close at hand. The experience was unforgettable. I hope to qualify again next year and am excited by the possibility of entering the competition after graduating in the new adult division.

High school coach Tom Marak said, “ I am always impressed the abilities, dedication and accomplishments of our teams and students.  They constantly challenge each other to do their best work.  The ideas and creativity they use in addressing these issues should leave us all very optimistic about our future.” The Future Problem Solving Program is a yearlong educational program in which students are challenged to solve problems related to topics of global significance. Students work in teams or as individuals.  They are given a scenario set 20 or more years in the future, from which they use the six-step future problem solving process to analyze the situation, determine potential issues or challenges, choose a problem to solve, brainstorm solutions, evaluate their solutions and develop an action plan to fully explain their best solution. Their work is then evaluated for understanding of the topic and situation, and the development of futurism and creativity of ideas.  The program also has Scenario Writing and Community Problem Solving components.

Costs for this and future year’s International Competitions (including transportation, rooms and food) were over $1,000 per student.  Students and the C.L.A.P.S. parent support group have been raising money to fund the trip.  If you would like to help, please send your contributions to C.L.A.P.S. c/o Tom Marak at North Haven High School 221 Elm Street North Haven CT 06473.  Make checks payable to North Haven High School/C.L.A.P.S.

The following three 2012 IC events were presented live on streaming video this year and may be accessed for the next few weeks through the FPSPI website www.fpspi.org

FPSPI 2012 International Conference Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony 2012 features the attending Affiliate Programs and Countries with the Traditional Flag Ceremony.  After welcome to Indiana University, the conference commences with the presentation of International Scenario Writing, Adult Awards, and recognition of scholarship winners.

2012 Variety Show

The FPSPI Variety Show begins with the presentation of awards to Presentation of Action Plan winning teams.  Next entertainment is varied as participants from various Affiliate Programs join together to sing, dance, and use various talents.  The event concludes with the performance of the FPS Choir.

2012 International Conference Award Ceremony

The FPSPI Slide Show of IC 2012 starts off the Award Ceremony, followed by the 1st place Presentation of Action Plan teams performing their winning skits.  The winning teams and individuals in all components are awarded.  The ceremony ends with the recession of flags.

About the Future Problem Solving Program of Connecticut, Inc.

FPSPofCT, Inc. is a not for profit 501 c 3 educational organization dedicated to preparing Connecticut’s students for the future by teaching them essential problem solving skills.  The challenging materials of the program are designed to help students learn how to think, not what to think.  Future Problem Solving motivates and assists students to develop an active interest in the future, improve written and oral communication skills, work cooperatively, develop research skills while learning about complex social and scientific issues, and think creatively, critically and analytically.  FPSPofCT, Inc. is an affiliate of the International Future Problem Solving Program. 

For more information about the conference, students and/or the FPS Program please contact Tom Marak at North Haven High School (203) 239-1641 or Nancy Wogman Administration Director of the Future Problem Solving Program of CT. Inc. at FPSPofCT@aol.com or visit the FPS web site www.FPSPofCT.org.