Coventry Students Excel at Future Problem Solving State Bowl
Students from Coventry Public Schools demonstrated outstanding creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking at the Future Problem Solving (FPS) State Bowl held on Saturday, March 28, at North Haven High School.
Led by Marybeth Murdoch, teacher and FPS Coach, a dedicated group of students from Coventry High School (CHS) and Capt. Nathan Hale Middle School (CNH) participated in the event, joining more than 40 teams from across the state.
Participants spent weeks preparing through research, team-building activities, and problem-solving exercises centered on this year’s theme of surveillance in the future. At the competition, teams showcased their innovative solutions through skits and written booklets, reflecting both analytical thinking and creative expression.
Coventry students earned multiple top honors:
• Clarissa Hand received 1st Place in the Art Component for her piece, “The Impact of Space on Discoveries.”
• Faith Bingaman, Lillian Pascino, and Taylor Wierzbicki earned 1st Place in the Middle Division Skit Competition.
• Nora Bagley, Vera Eakins, and Annabelle Williams captured 1st Place in the “Zippy” Junior Division Booklet Competition.
Other student participants included:
Grade 6: Olivia Bellantoni, Willow Gentile, Samantha Hoboth, Cecily Kowza, Ellasyn Svoboda, Clara Tougas, and Drew Weber
Grade 7: Nora Bagley, Vera Eakins, Clarissa Hand, Megan Irmscher, William Korzon, Katelyn Michel, Hunter Welintukonis, Annabelle Williams, and Natalia Zadrozny
Grade 8: Maria Bachiochi, Faith Bingaman, Grace Hendrickson, Emmaline Morin, Ethan Napolitano, Lillian Pascino, Ryan Schumacher, and Taylor Wierzbicki
CHS: Mia Belsito, Savannah Blood, and Arianna Krach
Throughout the event, students embraced a spirit of creativity and positivity. Many incorporated the quote from the video game character Andrew Ryan (Bioshock): “We all make choices in life, but in the end… our choices make us.” This sentiment reflected the tone of the day, as students celebrated not only their accomplishments but also the learning and growth that brought them to the state level.
The Coventry team’s success highlights the district’s strong commitment to fostering critical thinking, innovation, and student collaboration.
This information was provided by Capt. Nathan Hale Middle School. For more information, please contact Marybeth Murdoch at mmurdoch@coventryct.org.