Rising to the challenge: Sunburst, Montana students win Samsung contest, $140K for school

Tim Tharp was there May 13.

As the nine vehicles collided together in a blowing alkali-induced whiteout on Interstate 15 just outside Sunburst, the school district’s superintendent and trained emergency responder was there when the collision injured students and killed the school district’s speech pathologist.

"I was there when Laura Jo (McKamey) died," Tharp said.

Fast forward to March 25, and Tharp was there — along with the entire Sunburst Elementary and Middle School http://www.sunburstschools.net/Domain/9 student body — to congratulate and surprise a group of five eighth-grade students who won a national award and $140,000 in technology for their school based on research and solutions they’ve come up with that will hopefully prevent another tragedy like that of May 13.

"This is the real deal," Tharp said. "Our kids didn’t put together a fluff project. It’s life and death."

Written by
Kristen Cates
Tribune Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20140325/NEWS01/303250016/Rising-challenge-Sunburst-students-win-Samsung-contest-140K-school?nclick_check=1