When the rides had come to a complete stop, and the final results were tallied, three 5th grade students from Muskegon Heights’ Math & Science Academy found themselves at the top of the leader board, beating out all 142 teams that had come to participate in the 17th annual Middle School Amusement Park Physics Day state-wide competition.  On Wednesday, May 14, 2008, over 1,000 students from 21 schools throughout Michigan participated in the 1-day event at Michigan's Adventure Cedar Fair Park.

Actually two other Math & Science Academy teams helped the Muskegon Heights students run away with the Amusement Park Physics competition this year.  While 5th graders Antwan Moore, Kenny Pegues, and Shanell Sullivan claimed top honors, 2 other teams tied for 2nd place.  Sixth grade students Tenisha Kitchen, Sydney Sanders, and Ebony Williamson anchored one Academy team that shared 2nd place honors with their fellow Academy students.  A second team made up of Rameka Pollard [6th grader] and Tre’von Kitchen [7th grader] also shared the 2nd place spotlight.

For Rameka Pollard and Sydney Sanders, grabbing one of the top 3 spots must come naturally, as this is the 2nd year in a row that these two ladies have earned 2nd place honors.

Each student, under the guidance of their coaches, Academy math teacher Mrs. Jennifer Bouwman and Program Facilitator Ms. Cynthia Smith, made their own "accelerometer" to detect and measure the "g-forces" of several roller coasters.  They also constructed and used "altimeters" to measure angles, and then put their trigonometry skills to the test to solve height problems by using the length of their own pace.  
Officials from the Muskegon Area Math & Science Center compared the student calculations to the actual measurements to determine the percent error.  The top scoring teams were those with the least percent error.  The Math & Science Academy’s 1st place team had only a 4% margin of error, while the teams tied for 2nd place had only a 5% error overall.  

Prior to their experience in the park, coaches Bouwman and Smith taught their students how to measure distance, time, angles, and acceleration using a few basic trigonometry and physics concepts.  Then they moved outside the classroom to solve problems similar to those they knew they would encounter in the amusement park.  They measured the height of various objects around the Academy, like flagpoles, chimneys, and telephone poles.  They even calculated the speed of Ms. Smith’s jeep as she drove down the street!

Along with the Math & Science Academy, the following schools brought teams to participate in this year's Middle School Amusement Park Physics Day:  Bay City Public Schools, St. Ann School (Gaylord Diocese), Godwin Heights Public Schools, Immaculate Heart of Mary (Grand Rapids Diocese), Hamilton Community Schools, Haslett Public Schools, Hesperia Community Schools, Manistee Catholic Central Schools, Montague Area Public Schools, Muskegon Heights Middle School, Muskegon Public Schools, Muskegon Technical Academy, Oakridge Public Schools, Orchard View Schools, Spring Lake Public Schools, St. John's Lutheran School (Grand Haven), St. Thomas School (Grand Rapids), and Whitehall District Schools.