Last week, students from four Lawrence County school districts took part in Engineering Day at Ironton High School.

The competition, organized by Collins Career Technical Center’s Project Lead the way program, had students take part in design, math, building and other activities related to their studies in the STEM classes.

Teams were each allocated a budget of $1,000 in facsimile cash to purchase materials for each of the competitions. Those who managed their money best were also awarded in a separate competition, with the team with the most leftover cash winning.

Project Lead the Way courses are now in nearly every Lawrence County school district, and give students a chance at hands-on learning in a nontraditional classroom, while learning teamwork and problem solving skills.

Last week’s event gave them a chance to draw on all that they have learned in five years of the program, which begins in eighth grade.

We congratulate Rock Hill High, whose team came in first, as well as Chesapeake, South Point and Ironton, who each won in some of the smaller competitions.

And we commend CCTC for organizing the event, the Robert C. Byrd Institute for serving as judges and Ironton High for allowing use of the school’s campus for the various stations of the day.