“Hashtag Pandas” — Olivia Bates, Myles Martin, Julia Martin and Gabrielle Warren.

EASLEY — On March 2, Pickens County students competed in the third annual Fifth Grade JetToy Challenge. The JetToy Challenge is part of a fifth-grade curriculum that blends science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) lessons.

The winning team was the “Hashtag Pandas” from Forest Acres Elementary, whose members are Olivia Bates, Myles Martin, Julia Martin and Gabrielle Warren. The second-place team was the “Yates’ Greats” from Chastain Road Elementary, whose members are Halle Johnson, Gabbie Juan, Hannah Lauber and Cadence Lollis. The third-place team was the “Pink Panthers,” also from Forest Acres Elementary, whose members are Brissa Torres, Bryce Edwards, Elise James and Aalijah Kelly.

“Yates’ Greats” — Halle Johnson, Gabbie Juan, Hannah Lauber and Cadence Lollis.

The competition also includes an award for design, which went to the “Green Lightning” team from Crosswell Elementary School, whose members are Joshua Mendez, Seth Boyles and Gabriel Adams.

In the JetToy Challenge, a fictitious toy company asks students to provide a variety of interesting designs for a new line of balloon-powered vehicles that will appeal to other children. The vehicles are made from inexpensive, common materials. Working in design teams, students build and test model JetToys using different nozzles. Then, they collect and analyze data to understand the effect of nozzle size on the performance of the toys.

“Pink Panthers” — Brissa Torres, Bryce Edwards and Elise James (not pictured: Aalijah Kelly).

The project teaches students basic engineering principles through the fun of competition, and students compete in accuracy, time, distance, weight and design.

The winning team has earned a spot in the International JetToy Competition in Detroit this year. The top two teams will compete in a regional competition against students from Anderson and Oconee counties, and the top two teams from that competition will also earn a spot in the international competition, which means Pickens County has the chance to send two teams to Detroit.