After spending a few weeks working hard on their project for Coach Kia Dixon’s Math Models class, her students got to have a little fun and put their project to the test Tuesday afternoon at Vernon College for “Boat Race Day 2025.” The class project was to build a cardboard boat that would stay afloat, and students were put into teams to bring their boat entry to life.
The Vernon College indoor pool area was packed as 18 teams took a turn putting their entry in the water. Some entries never made it off the starting line, while a couple of others made it through three races before sinking, and one never sank.
The builders for the winning boat “Wetdreamers” were Garrett Munson, David Albineda, Evan Martinez, and Ta’darian Johnson. The entry “Blackout” which was built by Aaliyah Moralez, Audelia Moralez, Audree Scott, and Elaina Escobar took second place, and third went to Mylee Greening, Emmy Ware and Spencer Moore entry “The Great Emleencer.”
This is the third year for Coach Dixon’s Math Models classes to build cardboard boats and the event has gotten more popular each year, with 56 students participating.
The name of the boats and the students who made them included:
1st Place -- Wetdreamers - Garrett Munson, David Albineda, Evan Martinez, and Ta'darian Johnson
2nd Place -- Blackout - Aaliyah Moralez, Audelia Moralez, Audree Scott, and Elaina Escobar
3rd Place -- The Great Emleencer - Mylee Greening, Emmy Ware, and Spencer Moore
SS Floatation - Jacob Brown, Hannah Jones, Lyric Thompson
O'l Realiable - Ragan Jones, Beronica Reyes, Nicholas Baird
Queen Mary - Briley Widing, Marianna Ortega, Hailey Morrison
Dr. Pepper - Da'shawn Butler, Joseph Menendez, Zachary Sanchez
Phineas & Ferb - Jonathan Gonzales, Ellie Sanchez, Manny Ochoa
NVT - Ej Gates & Jermaine Kendricks
Spongebob - Alexa Avitia & Kylee Lane
The WildKrats - Tru Gipson & Soula Johnson
Pinkalicious - Chloe Diekmann, Jesaida Hernandez, Nayeli Calvillo, and Layla Smith
Loaded Diaper - Ethan Wilkinson, Christian Gallegos, Hudson Seville, and Conner Moore
BBM - Jamari Chance, Ty Scott, Kaydn Whiteside, and Sabriyah Dickerson
The Krusty Krab - Melina Ramirez, Aaron Clemente, and Jacie Parkhill
The Platypus - Nadia Gaines, Melanie Serrato, and Josslynn Huerta
Epic - Jaycelynn Feltman, Mia Escobedo, and Santiago Ramos
Strawberry Shortcake - Sabrina Boatman, Jaidee Cordero, and Daniela Rojas
Other than the top three finishers, these boats – SS Floatation, Dr Pepper, Pinkalicious, and BBM – made it at least one lap in the pool – down and back. Boats making down, but not back included The Platypus, and Phineas and Ferb. The rest of the boats sank immediately.