2021 Student Engineering & Creativity Convention (SECC)

Are you interested in

  • Exploring the fundamental math and physics concepts through a DIY project and playing a “Marble Machine”?

  • Programming a Raspberry Pi and making your own plotter machine or any machine you can think of?

  • Hearing from STEM professionals on cool engineering topics?


The CIE/USA-DFW (www.cie-dfw.org) and the Share & Grow Association (www.sharegrow.org) proudly host the 2021 Student Engineering & Creativity Convention (SECC).

This STEM event supports the 2021 National Discover-E Engineers Week between February 21-27. The annual SECC programs provide a platform for students with similar interests to get to know one another and share ideas, to interact with academic faculties and industry professionals. Our goal is to bring the excitement to the youth through vibrant experience of SECC workshops and competition, which enable students from K-12 to expand their knowledge, test and showcase their innovative ideas and designs.

Event Registration

Workshop 1 for both Divisions (Sat. 2/6/2021, 2–4 PM, CST)

Workshop 2, for Division B only (Sat. 2/27/2021, 2–3 PM, CST)

Competition Registration (Due Sat. 3/13/2021)

Project Submission (Due Tue. 3/23/2021)

Competition Day (Sun. 3/28/2021, 1-4 PM, CST)

Competition Categories

Students currently enrolled in grades K to 12th in fall 2020 are eligible to participate.

There are two competition divisions as listed below:

  • Division-A:
    “Marble Machine” — Grades K to 5th (elementary school students).

  • Division-B:
    “Build Your Own Plotter Machine” — Grades 6th to 12th (middle and high school students)

Timeline and Procedures

  • Workshops will be provided with renowned experts in the engineering fields and experienced students to demo the projects (including competition projects) and to inspire participants with new ideas and techniques to solve challenges.

  • Contestants will need to submit their project beforehand (Due on March 16, 2021), including an engineering documentation page and a detailed video explanation/demonstration. Then on the competition day (March 28, 2021), contestants will show to the judges through live camera the effectiveness of their design. The final score will be calculated through both the online submission and the live demonstration.

Division A_ Video Guideline

Awards and Certificates

Workshop Fun Activities Winner: Amazon E-gift cards

Competition Award: Top 3 Winners will receive the following awards:

  • Cash awards:

  1. Division-A (K-5th):
    Group 1 (K-2nd): 1st place: $50 2nd place: $30 3rd place: $20
    Group 2 (3rd-5th): 1st place: $50 2nd place: $30 3rd place: $20
    All Grade: 3 Creativity Awards, $20 each

  2. Division-B (6-12th):
    Plotter Machine: 1st place: $150 2nd place: $100 3rd place: $50
    Creative Project: 1st place: $150 2nd place: $100 3rd place: $50

  • Trophy: The winners of each division will also receive a trophy at the event award ceremony, presented by the corporate sponsors.

  • Recognition: Award recipients will be recognized on both websites and in the eNewsletters of the CIE/USA-DFW and the Share & Grow Association, local news media and social media, and a showcase at CIE/USA-DFW Annual Convention in August 2021.

Top 40% Winners will receive honorable mention awards and medals.

All contestants will receive E-certificates for participation.

The number of winners is subject to change based on number of contestants.

Registration and fees

Both individual and team registrations are accepted. Students are encouraged to form a team to learn teamwork skills and share responsibilities and costs.

  • SECC workshops: FREE

  • SECC Competition: $10 per team, Free registration for the SECC Competition teams with parents are CIE members or S&GA members.

To become a CIE member, visit https://www.cie-dfw.org/plan

To become a S&GA member, visit https://www.sharegrow.org

Tool Kits and Purchase Links

  • Division-A (K-5th): Marble Machine (Estimate ~$20)

Popsicle sticks (~$5): Amazon Link

16 oz paper or plastic cups (~$7): Amazon Link

6 mm & 10mm plastic spheres (~$7): Amazon Link

  • Division-B (6th-12th): Build your own Plotter Machine

A Raspberry Pi (~$99): Amazon Link

Three servo motors (~$10): Amazon Link

Accessory kits(~$12): Amazon Link

Project Rules and Details

Division-A (K-5th): Marble Machine

Organizer: Hua Chen from CIE-DFW

Description

Materials and Equipment

Rules, Procedure, and Scoring

Resources

Division-B (6th-12th): Build your own plotter Machine

Organizer: Xincheng Tang from CIE-DFW

Setting up your Raspberry Pi

Project Description