The third place team with a 28-inch tower was, from left, A’Knowledje’ Goram, Jah’Erious Montgomery, and Mario Portillo-Velasquez.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Students in Robbie Pitts’ 8th grade Technology and Engineering classes at C.A. Gray Junior High School participated in a Marshmallow Challenge created by Tom Wujec to foster a sense of team unity.

Pitts’ students used the challenge as an introduction to the Engineering Design Process. Students were given three opportunities to build the tallest freestanding tower in 18 minutes that could hold a regular sized marshmallow at the top without crashing down when time ran out.


Out of 45 teams of two to three students, three teams topped the challenge off with tower heights of 28 inches, 29.5 inches, and 33 inches. 


The first place team with a 33-inch tower was Ashley Roberts and William Boetcher.

The second place team with a 29.5-inch tower was Cayden Parker, Jonathan Powell, and Christopher Williams.

The third place team with a 28-inch tower was A’Knowledje’ Goram, Jah’Erious Montgomery, and Mario Portillo-Velasquez.