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FMS strong at Appalachian contest

April 26, 2018 by Staff Reports

Farragut Middle School winners at the Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair included, from left, Irene Mamontov, Emma Tarditi, Kavita Bodin-Krishen, Olivia Spradling, and Ridhima Singh. Not pictured are Kate Cho and Eyrin Kim.

Seven Farragut Middle School girls reigned victorious at the 2018 Regional Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair, held March 27-29 at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus.

The 67th Annual SASEF event featured school-level champion projects from junior high and high schools from Knox and 22 surrounding counties.

Ridhima Singh; Emma Tarditi and her project partner and cousin, Kavita Bodin-Krishen; Olivia Spradling; Irene Mamontov; Kate Cho; and Eyrin Kim all won awards in the Fair’s Junior Division.

Ridhima, the lone eighth grader in the group, won first place overall and was Grand Champion of the Junior Division with her project titled: “Impact of Urbanization on the Intensity of Flooding.”

She received a trophy for the honor and $250.

Manneschmidt is ‘Mr. Mentor’

April 26, 2018 by Michelle Hollenhead

Farragut FIRST 3140 Robotics team mentor Eric Manneschmidt, left, won the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award at the Smoky Mountain Regional Robotics competition held in March at Thompson Boling Arena. Team member Patience Simes, right, who won the Dean’s List Award at the same competition, nominated Manneschmidt for the honor.

Eric Manneschmidt of Farragut has put his heart and soul into mentoring area robotics students, but said his real joy comes from the students themselves.

It is only fitting that long-time robotics team mentor was honored last month in the name of one of the originators of the FIRST Robotics competition program, and he was nominated by one of the students he mentors.

Manneschmidt, who has worked with area robotics teams and competitions since 2001, won the Woody Flowers Finalist Award at Smoky Mountain Regional FIRST Robotics competition held in March in Thompson-Boling Arena.

The award is named for FIRST co-founder Dr. Woodie Flowers, who was the first to receive it. It is given to “mentors who lead, inspire and empower” the individuals and teams they serve.