Four students from Merrick Avenue Middle School have advanced to the final round of the SAAWA BrightMinds Sparkle Competition, a contest open to middle school students across Long Island. 

Ethan Cohen, Isaac Tetenbaum, Nolan Auyeung, and Lucas Katz, whose innovative project, “Reusing 67 Tires for Construction,” earned high praise from the BrightMinds Sparkle competition committee.  

Their work stood out for its strong environmental focus and thoughtful application of sustainability and climate-conscious design principles. 

“Based on the quality, relevance, and originality of their submission, the team was selected to advance to the final round of the competition,” noted their advisor/teacher, Christina Corwin. “Judges provided feedback and encouraged the students to refine and enhance their original design, which they will resubmit later this month.” 

The final round of judging is scheduled for Jan. 30. 

The BrightMinds Sparkle Competition recognizes student innovation and problem-solving in real-world contexts. Winners of the final round will be eligible for cash prizes and scholarship awards totaling $2,000.