CANTON Their challenge: Design a fleet of luxury planes and create a plan for a series of trips around the globe and even to another galaxy.
That was the lofty goal for more than 350 students taking part in this year's Northeast Ohio Genius Project, an innovative program that teaches art and science.
On Thursday night, judges at the Canton Museum of Art determined that Crestview Middle School students Andrew Bucey, Emily Downey, Lillian Urmson, Grace Auer and Owen Bacon had accomplished the challenge with first-place flair.
Students from Canton Local's Faircrest Memorial Middle School — Logan Zerby, Kaden Dickinson, Kay Kohl and Polly Murphy — were second; followed by Jaida Lilley, Sydnie Wilson, Nadia Jowers, Josh Franz and Emmy Davis from Oakwood Middle School in third.
Judges also gave special awards for Best Branding, Best Flying Machine and Best Art Piece.
The ArtsinStark program started in 2015 as the Genius Project and has grown to 70 teams from six counties: Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage, Stark, Summit, and Tuscarawas.