The future is female–and Eva Haylett is here to build it.
The Licking Heights fifth grader won first place at the regional level of the Block Kids national building competition during the 2023-24 school year. From there, Haylett earned second place at the national level. She was honored during this year’s Block Kids competition at Broad Peak Elementary on Oct. 9.
The Block Kids Building Program is a national competition that introduces K-6 students to the world of construction careers. The competition is sponsored by the Education Foundation of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). To earn a spot as a national finalist like Haylett, students must win at both the local and regional competition level.
During a Block Kids local competition, students must create something construction-related without guidance from an adult. They may use approved materials including interlocking micro-sized blocks, a small stone, 12 inches of string, foil and construction paper. Students have between 40 minutes to an hour to complete their project, and must present their creation to competition judges.
Students who win at the local level then advance to the regional level, where photos are submitted of their original project for judgement. If selected as a regional winner, photos of the student’s project are then sent to the national competition.
This is the first time Licking Heights has ever had a student finish in the top three at the national level. Haylett earned a cash award and a tablet as her prize from Block Kids.
Licking Heights hosts local Block Kids competitions each school year at Broad Peak Elementary. The events are sponsored by NAWIC Columbus, Chapter #86, with chapter volunteers coordinating and managing the competition for hundreds of students.
“Eva is kind, intelligent and creative. She won multiple awards during her time at Broad Peak,” says Brian Wilkinson, principal of Broad Peak Elementary. “Eva is the first student from our district to place at the national level, earning second overall in the competition. When we talk about going higher at Licking Heights, Eva exemplifies that.”
While Eva is the first Heights student to place at the national level, Licking Heights has a proud history of Block Kids success. Prior to Eva, current sixth grade student Keeley Shamell advanced to the national level of Block Kids during the 2022-23 school year.