RE Log Spring 2023

36 Ransom Everglades LOG SPRING 2023 Student News High Marks Math students excel in national math contests Seven RE students – the most in school history – each posted top scores nationally on the annual American Mathematics Competition examinations for 10th or 12th graders and advanced to the next stage of the major scholastic math competition. Six upper schoolers and one middle schooler – Victoria Paraoulaki de Miranda ’24, Maya Shaked ’24, Minnie Zhou ’24, Andrew Gedde ’25, Solon Sun ’25, Gabriel Karsenti ’26 and Joshie Khohayting ’28 – qualified to take the Feb. 7 American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). The record number of qualifiers was a source of tremendous pride for RE’s upper school math team coach Karen Key and middle school coach Jessica Merrick. “This is the first time we have had this many qualifiers, and a true testament to our department’s amazing work to ensure we are creating flexible, creative, thoughtful mathematicians,” Key said. In other news, RE’s middle school math team won first place in the 2023 Mathcounts championship at Miami Dade College as five RE students finished in the top 10 individually: Khohayting (2nd), Daniel Li ’28 (3rd), Ella Wang ’27 (4th), Maxie Wu ’28 (5th) and Alex Tevelow ’28 (7th). The team was led by Merrick and assistant coach Ed Lally. Out of This World NASA selects student experiment for high-altitude balloon launch For the second straight year, NASA selected a science experiment proposed by a team of Ransom Everglades students for a launch on a NASA-sponsored craft. After last year’s project won a ride on a rocket, this year’s team of Annabella Miki ’25, Chloe Alfonso ’24, Connor Alfonso ’26, Derrick Ma ’24, Dieter Manstein ’25 and Nelson Manstein ’26 learned that their proposed experiment measuring the impact of ultraviolet light on DNA will be tested aboard a high-altitude balloon sponsored by NASA. NASA and Future Engineers jointly announced January 12 that the team of RE students was among 60 from around the nation, and only two from Florida, that will receive $1,500 to build their proposed project over the next four months. Part of the NASA TechRise Student Challenge, the experiment will be carried by a NASA-sponsored commercial balloon to an altitude of 70,000 feet, where it will float for at least four hours. During the ascent, flight and descent, the students’ proposed experiment will determine how the duration and intensity of ultraviolet light affects the DNA mutation rate that is often experienced during space travel. The students who proposed the complex experiment – which requires knowledge of chemistry, physics, engineering and math – are tasked with building it and inserting it into a 4x4x8 inch box for the launch (on a date to be determined) by May 6. “We are so proud of students who have collaborated on this novel project to address a significant issue related to space travel,” Interim Head of School Rachel Rodriguez said. “They devised an ingenious plan to understand the effects of ultraviolet light at high altitudes, and we are so excited they now have the opportunity and support to pursue the design and testing of their work. We cannot wait until launch day!”