November 16, 2019

AIA New Jersey Members Serve as Jurors for the AIA Staten Island Spaghetti Marshmallow Competition

On Tuesday, November 12, 2019, AIA NJ President Elect Steven Lazarus, AIA, K-12 Committee Co-Chair Joseph David, AIA and Equity in Architecture Chair Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, served as jurors for the 9th Annual AIA Staten Island Spaghetti Marshmallow Competition. Over 160 students registered, double last year’s participation, which was double the year before! The competition was divided into two categories: Elementary (grades 2-5) and Middle School (grades 6-8). 

Each category received awards for first, second and third place, honorable mention, and a single, overall winner for Best In Show. 

The Staten Island Technical High School provided the space and a snack bar for the event. Participants were encouraged to bring in packaged food donations for the local food bank. Every contestant received an AIA Staten Island Backpack. Winners were presented gift certificates, LEGO or Young Architect Gift Sets provided by AIA Queens, Pella Windows and AIA Staten Island all under the management of event chair, Jeffrey Geary, AIA.

Steve, Joe and Stacey were not only thrilled to participate, but also excited and energized by the creativity and enthusiasm of the children of Staten Island. Most of all, the three were floored by the vast variety and level of complication achieved with the simple, readily available and inexpensive building materials. Stacey and Steve have already hosted one AIA NJ K-12 event based on the success of the AIA Staten Island event, and Joe has recently assigned spaghetti and marshmallows as the study model construction materials for an upcoming AIA NJ Design Competition at Tenafly High School. This request for volunteers has certainly lit a spark for AIA NJ! A huge THANK YOU to AIA Staten Island for asking us to participate.  

By Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, AIA NJ Advocacy Consultant | Posted in AIA-NJ News | Tagged: #JosephEDavidAIA, #StaceyRuhleKlieschAIA, #StevenBLazarusAIA, AIA New Jersey, AIA Staten Island, JeffreyGearyAIA, Pella, PellaWindowsandDoors, Spaghetti and Marshmallow | Comments (0)