Quinn Erskine, a senior at Allen D. Nease High School, took first place and the grand prize at the Florida Region II American Water Works Association (AWWA) competition on Monday, Oct. 23, at the University of North Florida.
Erskine, representing Nease, competed against students across Nassau, Duval, Clay, St. Johns and Putnam counties in the 11th Annual Model Water Tower Competition. The competition requires students to use engineering and science skills to design and build an efficient, yet artistic and unique, water tower. The models are judged on four categories including cost efficiency, hydraulic efficiency, structural efficiency and design ingenuity. Grand prizes were awarded to the top overall models based on the lowest accumulated score in each division.
In addition to winning the overall grand prize, Erskine claimed the Design Ingenuity Award for craftsmanship and artistic merit. His tower had a “Lord of the Rings” theme.
