STEM Club and Science Quiz Bowl held their second annual pumpkin trebuchet launch in the field by the M&A Building during lunch and activity Nov. 2. Students launched some pumpkins that were decorated during STA’s pumpkin carving/decorating contest Oct. 30. The trebuchet was built from scratch by last year’s STEM Club partnering with Science Quiz Bowl, and some improvements have been made on it since.

Science teacher Terry Conner, one of STEM Club and Science Quiz Bowl’s moderators, claims the project began last year because students were interested in engineering. They wanted a hands-on activity through which they could not only learn how to build the contraption, but also how to use their problem solving skills to improve and fix aspects of the trebuchet.

Sophomore Annabelle Cusumano said she enjoys being in STEM Club because “[w]e get to do a ton of cool projects” like glass blowing, shrinky dinks, and “chucking pumpkins;” she also claims she has learned a lot from being in the club.

Besides the pumpkin throw, the STEM Club and Science Quiz Bowl continue printing their final two 3D designs celebrating STA’s 150th year. One of the designs is white and circular and reads “Super Star” with a star in the middle, while the other is rectangular and comes in either black or yellow and reads “STA 1866-2016” with a star on the end. The pieces will be given out as key chains at STA’s Open House Nov. 8.