Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

My youngest granddaughter, Lily, was in the 8th grade and decided to personally enter her school’s science fair. She chose the subject of experimenting and building tests to determining what was the best material for a parachute. She chose silk, cotton cloth, aluminum foil and paper. Since her school was in the city of Austin, the judge was an engineering professor from the University of Texas. This was serious business to her, and not just any random volcano spewing out smoke and shaving lather.

She went about the entire affair completely independent, built the test parachutes and then live tests by dropping each out of her families second story home and measuring the time each took to descend. Now, she was quite serious about running enough test flights on each material so the data would be statistically relevant. All these numbers were crunched and illustrated on her
poster boards to demonstrate her use of scientific and mathematical skills.

At the final judging, parents were not allowed to be in the area where the students displayed their entries. The University professor spend an extra ordinary time asking Lilly technical questions about her entry. Chris, her father could see them talking from a distance and the engineering Professor was quite thorough in his cross examination of Lilly about her methods and conclusions. However, apparently, she won her case because he awarded her first place and a blue ribbon for her work. Just Sayin…RJS

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

That’s pretty cool RJS, did engineering become her vocation?

DCGravity Loc: Fairfax, VA (by way of Cleveland OH)

That's outstanding, Robert! Kudos to Lily!

Apollo Loc: Grand Lake, Ok

Congratulations to Lilly! Love stories like this and wish more kids were interested in STEM!

BCKliche Loc: Suffolk, VA

Wow, that's great! I'll bet you are a proud Grandpa! Wish you had pictures to share.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Lily is still in H.S., will graduate soon. I am not sure she had decided her field or major. She isn't worried about making a final selection. Just Sayin....RJS

Jer Loc: N. Illinois 🇺🇸

Great story RJ. I’m guessing that the silk won.
Please tell us.
🇺🇸

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Congrats Lily!

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Oh! yes silk won. What is still amazing to me is her little brother (6'2") Ike has played soccer all his grade school and junior high career.

The H.S. football coach was desperate for a kicker and asked Ike to try out. Ike kicked field goals for 20, 30, and 40 yards with no sweat. So he is lettering in football as well as soccer. The only scary part is when he has to punt. Just Sayin...RJS

Jer Loc: N. Illinois 🇺🇸

Thanks for your follow up. I guessed silk because parachutes used to be made of silk long ago. Remember the saying, “Hit the silk”?
Good for Ike. Hopefully he will keep his uniform clean by never hitting the turf.

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

That's a great story RJ. Happy she won and good for your kicking grandson. All good stuff.

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

Very cool Robert congrats to Lilly an your grandson. College football needs field goal kickers and punters 👍

E.pa.al Loc: Martin's Creek

great story RJS,a big congrats to Lily

Passingbye Loc: Reidsville NC

That's impressive Lilly Congratulations!

HosChap Loc: Deland, FL

2nd generation apple didn’t fall far from the tree!