Challenging the Imagination

New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC) works with the Paterson School District to operate the Garrett Morgan Academy (GMA), a technology and transportation high school that houses 100 students. GMA promotes opportunities for the students to explore and develop their skills and interests in the technology and transportation fields. Two of these opportunities include a pre-high school program sponsored by Rutgers called the Summer Transportation Institute, and a regional competition called the Philadelphia Regional Destination ImagiNation Construction Challenge.

In February, seven students competed against fifteen other teams from throughout the tri-state area in the Destination ImgaiNation Construction Challenge. Participants were asked to build scale models of roadway structures, design cutting-edge construction vehicles and machines, and design a presentation which displayed the advantages, statistics and dangers of roadway travel. The students had been researching this topic for over a month and studied roadway infrastructure in the Summer Transportation Institute. All the preparation paid off when the panel of judges awarded the GMA team 3rd place.

Although the accolades were welcomed, the students walked away with much more than trophies. “Its always a given that the kids will gain knowledge and skills from these projects, but what never ceases to amaze me is the way they touch each others lives through learning and teamwork,” says Mr. David Gelman, the Education Program Coordinator for GMA. The female team captain told Mr. Gelman, “I was encouraged by the support I received from the boys in the group when I was named the team leader. I learned what it was like to earn respect through hard work.”