Sequim’s Olympic Peninsula Academy placed second at the Northwest “Future City” regional competition in Seattle. A small team of students, grades 6-8, competed against 18 other schools on Jan. 22.

They worked for months developing a computer design, scale model, essay and presentation on their city Spacelatica, which helps paraplegic and quadriplegic people recover completely using robotics and the reduced gravity of space.

Parent mentor Lilli Hardesty said the team would have placed first and gone to nationals in Washington, D.C., but their computer design using the Sim City program placed lower than expected.

“I think they did first-place quality stuff,” Hardesty said.

“Our class went above and beyond with their effort. When it went to presenting to engineers (judges), the nerves got up, but the three presenters did a wonderful job.”

Presenters were Shannon Gordon, 14, Grant Shogren, 14, and Shawn Hardesty, 12.

Garry Wohlgemuth, a local civil engineer, mentored the group.

Hardesty said the school definitely plans to participate again next year.

The Future City competition is a national program sponsored by engineering societies to promote interest in technology and engineering for middle school students.

Olympic Peninsula Academy is a program operated by the Sequim School District to provide instructional support and enrichment for home-schooled students.