June 25, 2012 - Aberdeen, Md. - U.S. Army officials are excited to announce the National Winning Team in 6th grade for the Tenth Annual eCYBERMISSION Competition. Judges chose these students out of thousands nationwide for their creative application of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and use of research and experimentation to help solve a problem in their community.

eCYBERMISSION is a web-based, STEM competition free for students in grades six through nine. Sponsored by the U.S. Army, eCYBERMISSION promotes teamwork and creativity as a way to encourage students to become more involved in STEM education.

The Sun Sensors team, from George J. Mitchell Elementary School in Little Egg Harbor, N.J., was one of 16 Finalist Teams from across the country invited to Leesburg, Va., to compete for the National Title in their grade at the 2012 National Judging and Educational Event (NJ&EE). The students presented their eCYBERMISSION project to a panel of National Judges and were announced as a National Winning Team at the Awards Luncheon on June 22.

About the Sun Sensors

Team "Sun Sensors" investigated claims made by sunglass manufacturers that sunglasses block high energy blue and UV wavelengths of light, therefore preventing damage to our eyes. The team designed and conducted three experiments that tested the effect of sunglasses on the spectrum of visible light, determined if UV waves pass through lenses, and quantified its results using a UV light source, Vernier UVA and UVB sensors, and Logger Pro software. Based on the analysis of the data they collected, the students discovered that the lens samples affected the brightness, color bands and width of the visible light spectrum while blocking the harmful UV wavelengths of light. As members of its community spend a great deal of time outside, the team recommends that everyone wear sunglasses to protect their eyes and prevent damage.

"This team has demonstrated excellence in applying STEM to solve a problem it sees in its community," said Dale A. Ormond, Director of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command. "On behalf of the U.S. Army, I'm proud to congratulate these students for their efforts and for their interest in making a difference through science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

About eCYBERMISSION

eCYBERMISSION is a free, web-based, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition for students in grades six through nine. Sponsored by the U.S. Army and managed by RDECOM, eCYBERMISSION is designed to share the importance of STEM education with the leaders of tomorrow and encourage them to understand the real-life applications of these subjects. Students compete for state and national awards by working in teams to identify a problem in their community and using scientific inquiry to propose a solution. eCYBERMISSION is an Army Educational Outreach Program (www.usaeop.com).

About RDECOM

RDECOM is the Army's primary source for integrated research, development and engineering capabilities that empower, unburden and protect the Warfighter to enable the dominance of the Army. RDECOM provides the full spectrum of basic research, development, engineering and analysis of Warfighter systems, from concept to capability. RDECOM is headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., with laboratories and research and development centers throughout the country and representatives throughout the world. For more information on RDECOM, visit www.army.mil/rdecom.

For more information, please visit www.ecybermission.com or contact eCYBERMISSION Mission Control at 1-866-GO-CYBER (462-9237) or via e-mail at missioncontrol@ecybermission.com.