Toddy Thomas Middle School from Fortuna, California won the 2018 Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition with their piezoelectric project titled “Small Steps, Big Difference.” Sponsored by the Mineta Transportation Institute, the Garrett Morgan Competition fosters student interest in transportation-related careers. Using the MTI Teacher’s Guide, and guided by their sponsor, Caltrans District 1, Toddy Thomas presented a project that would harness the energy of the human step to power their school bus.
Students participated via video conference sites at the US Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C. and at Caltrans District Offices. Students heard from transportation leaders including US Department of Transportation Secretary (ret.) Norman Y. Mineta, USDOT Deputy Secretary Jeffrey Rosen, Caltrans Deputy Director of Administration Cris Rojas, APTA Senior Director of Educational Services Joseph Niegoski, and AASHTO Director of Engineering and Technical Services King Gee.
Secretary Mineta offered the students words of wisdom regarding the importance of their name and reputation while Deputy Secretary Rosen spoke about the humble beginnings of Garrett Morgan, reminding students that a difficult past does not define one’s success in the future. MTI Executive Director, Dr. Karen Philbrick reminded students that the transportation industry needs individuals from a variety of educational backgrounds.
Students from the Toddy Thomas team will travel to San Jose June 23rd to receive their award at the MTI Annual Award and Convocation Celebration Banquet. The banquet is attended by national and state transportation leaders, Secretary Mineta, Caltrans officials, and transportation industry executives who come to celebrate the success of students during all phases of their transportation career education.
The Toddy Thomas team, led by their teacher Ms. Rachel Gallani, was commended for its ingenuity in creating a living lab out of their school to collect the necessary data that their piezoelectric project required. Additionally the team was recognized by the judges for their knowledgeable responses during the question and answer portion of the competition.
In second place, and also presenting a piezoelectric project, was Frick Impact Academy in Oakland, California who were sponsored by Caltrans District 4 and led by their teacher, Ms. Charlotte Kishi. Their project, “Piezo Power: Sustainable Urban Development,” focused on a high traffic area along Foothill Blvd. in Oakland. The students proposed piezoelectric walkways that would harness the power of pedestrians while keeping in mind public safety.
“I am so impressed with the middle school students in MTI’s 2018 competition, they exemplify the innovative thinking needed to lead the transportation systems of the 21st century” said Secretary Norman Mineta, capturing the sentiment of several of the transportation professionals in the room.
