Charlotte Marks Takes STEM to the Slopes
When Charlotte Marks puts on her skis this March, she'll be putting a year's worth of work on a Shore independent study project to the test.
The eighth grader and competitive skier spent the past year building her own skis. Charlotte has raced in and won various competitions, including the Devo Championships in Utah, the setting of the 2001 Olympic competitions. She decided to combine her dream of becoming an Olympic mogul skier with her interest in science and engineering through an independent study in Shore's Innovation Lab.
The eighth grader and competitive skier spent the past year building her own skis. Charlotte has raced in and won various competitions, including the Devo Championships in Utah, the setting of the 2001 Olympic competitions. She decided to combine her dream of becoming an Olympic mogul skier with her interest in science and engineering through an independent study in Shore's Innovation Lab.
To kick off her project in the seventh grade, Charlotte visited Ramp Sports, a unique company in Park City, Utah that makes eco-conscious skis. She conducted research online and interviewed Shore faculty members, including Grade 3 teacher Sam Hamlin for his expertise on epoxy. Sam is also helping Charlotte with the graphic on the front of her skis.
This venture is actually Charlotte's second independent study. In sixth grade, when she first became interested in mogul skiing competitions, she studied compression knee injuries associated with mogul versus groomed trail skiing.
Innovation Lab Manager Cam McNall says he acts as an advisor to Charlotte and 14 other students working on independent studies. “They lead the process, from research and planning to building,” he says.
As part of Shore's independent studies program, students are encouraged to approach any faculty member to ask them to mentor and advise on an independent study project. “The independent study program is a unique opportunity for middle school students to delve deeply into a topic of their choice,” says Jill Atkinson, the director of the independent study program.
Charlotte will dip her new skis into fresh powder this Spring Break—and Cam and the other Shore faculty who have helped her can't wait to hear how they perform.
Contributions to the Annual Fund each year support the Innovation Lab and Shore's ability to hire passionate faculty members who inspire. Last year, Shore students completed more than 80 independent study projects, from robotics to fashion design. Give now.
Shore Country Day School’s mission is to provide an education that inspires a love of learning and encourages children to embrace academic challenge. We seek to build character, cultivate creativity, and value diversity as we help our children become healthy, compassionate citizens of the world.
The School admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law, and extends to them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its admissions, scholarships, and loans, and its educational, athletic, and other programs.