Elite Scholars Academy Team Places 3rd in State Model Water Tower Competition
April 22, 2025 – (Morrow, Georgia) – The Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) is proud to share that Hannah Vo and Julie Nguyen, 6th grade students at Elite Scholars Academy in Jonesboro, earned 3rd place at the annual Georgia State-Wide Model Water Tower Competition on April 12.
Vo and Nguyen advanced to the state-wide competition after placing 1st at CCWA’s district Model Water Tower Competition on March 12. Joining them at the state-wide competition was 2nd place district winner Adonis Dial from Adamson Middle School.
Hosted at The Water Tower in Buford, Georgia, the state-wide competition brought together young minds who wowed judges, parents, and professionals alike with their one-of-a-kind model water towers. The event was proudly sponsored by the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) and the Georgia Section of the American Water Works Association (GAWWA), two organizations committed to protecting public health and supporting the future of the water industry.
Students showed off not only their STEM skills but also their artistic flair and passion for sustainability. From a “Watercopter” (yes, a helicopter-shaped tower!) to a dramatic “King Kong Catastrophe” tower climbing a burning building, these young engineers used mostly recycled materials to bring their visions to life.
Participants competed for cash prizes and bragging rights, with towers judged on hydraulic and structural efficiency as well as presentation skills. The competition aims to inspire a new generation of water professionals and raise awareness about the importance of clean, reliable water.
Winners took home:
- $500 for 1st Place
- $400 for 2nd Place
- $300 for 3rd Place
Plus trophies for their schools and special awards for standout designs!
And the winners are…
- 1st Place – “Hidden Among the Trees” by Elijah Atkins, Austin Road Middle School (Henry County)
- 2nd Place – “The Thespians” by Catalina Ottonelli, Lily Kate Weldon, and Goose Norris, Sammy McClure Middle School (Paulding County)
- 3rd Place – “The Bubblegum Drops” by Hannah Vo and Julie Nguyen, Elite Scholars Academy (Clayton County)
Superlative Winners
- Outstanding Presentation – “The Big C” by Jackson White and Lincoln Nguyen, Woodstock Middle School (Cherokee County)
- Most Artistic – “King Kong Catastrophe” by Zixuan “Ivy” Zhao, Hull Middle School (Gwinnett County)
- Structural Excellence – “Nitrogen Monoxide” by Layla Towns, Jazlyn Canseco, Jhoselyn Montoya, and Kylie Bolton, Conyers Middle School (Rockdale County)
- Best Engineering Design – “The Everblue Tower” by Sourabhi Saha, Emma Merrill-Strong, and Rebekah Hudson, Webb Bridge Middle School (Fulton County)
A huge thank you to the sponsors who made the 3rd annual state competition possible.
Platinum Sponsors: AWWA Water Equation, The Water Tower, Consolidated Pipe & Supply, Eco-Tech Inc.
Gold Sponsors: Hazen, Croy Engineering, Garver, Jacobs Engineering, Hach, Infrastructure Systems Management, LLC, Brown & Caldwell, AquaSmart, S&ME, Carollo Engineers, American Tank Maintenance, Xylem, Gallop & Associates
Silver Sponsors: Southeastern Tank, Fortiline Waterworks, City of Dallas
Bronze Sponsors: Coca-Cola Bottling Co., HL Strategy
This year’s competition proved once again that Georgia’s future engineers are brimming with creativity, curiosity, and a passion for problem-solving. We can’t wait to see what they build next year!