In the first Mission War of the school year, Summit Academy Middle School – Akron students, school staff members and SAM staff members competed in a nut-stacking contest on August 20.
Weekly Mission Wars were conceived by Summit Academy Middle School –
Akron Community Culture Coordinator Tom Fausnight last year. Fausnight designed the program to create a structured educational setting that brings together three students (one each from grades six, seven and eight), middle school staff members and administration team members for competitions that spark challenge, enjoyment and an opportunity to get to know each other.
“Mission Wars promote camaraderie and team building across the grade levels in our school, and it’s a fun way for kids to remember they are kids and can have a good time and that everyone has value,” says Principal Crystal Yingling. She adds that the program, now in its second year, also
helps students realize the positive and distinctive qualities they and each of their classmates have.
Behavior Specialist Stephanie Barnes say the Mission Wars foster healthy competition. “The students are learning different skills, including good sportsmanship,” she says.
Before the first competition of the school year, Fausnight advised the students to 
compete fairly. He also informed them, as Principal Yingling expressed, that they may discover hidden abilities they did not know they have.
As students Aiden, Gabe, José and Pierce took their turns at stacking the nuts in the August match, Barnes joined Fausnight to facilitate the competition as classmates quietly cheered them on.