The 2024 Laager Schools Design and Laager Schools Science competition was held in the Sandbaai Hall near Hermanus last Saturday.
The competitors got to showcase their hard work and incredible creations to the public, and the Hermanus Schools did exceptionally well.
The science and design competitions are run by Laager Rooibos in partnership with The Creative Space, and TDL Advertising and the Western Cape Education Department.
Commenting on the drive behind these contests, Laager Marketing Manager Candice Sessions said: “Our youth have such incredible potential in the science and art sectors, and we wanted to provide a platform, not only to support the development in these two subject areas – with a particular focus on South Africa’s Rooibos tea – but to give them an audience as well.
“We’d like to congratulate all the participants on their hard work, dedication, and innovation, and we encourage them to continue breaking barriers throughout their educational careers.”
For the Laager Schools Design competition, learners were encouraged to think of ways to creatively reflect the Laager colours and logo, which would then be displayed in 2D visual communication designs and 3D product designs. The competition, which started with three schools in 2022, welcomed nine schools in 2024, with 42 learners displaying their inspired ideas at the event.
Two schools from Hermanus participated in the Laager Schools Science competition: Hawston Secondary School and Northcliff House College. The competitors, in Grade 9, were tasked with finding innovative ways to recycle Laager Rooibos tea for home or garden use. They were given funding for testing equipment, a refurbished Wendy House for a science laboratory and extra classes to attend, all of which were overseen by Nicola Mackenzie, a science teacher. The children embraced the task of finding sustainable and eco-friendly solutions for reusing this healthy product.
In the Science Research Competition Vision Nemulodi from Northcliff House College came first while Jaco van Staden and Leyra Jacob from Hermanus High School came first and third in the Handmade Design Category.
The judges – Taylum Meyer (Local Life), Jeandre Marinier (Professional artist and well-known mural artist), Frieda Loyd (the Tourism Bureau) and Lindsay Leppan (TDL Advertising) – were tasked with assessing each project and selecting the final winners in each category.
Each entrant received a certificate of participation, with the winners earning Gold, Silver and Bronze Prizes and Design materials from PNA.
