Bloomington 8th graders place in state mapping competition
Josiah Brecheisen and Steven Koutroupas
Olson Middle School 8th grade students Josiah Brecheisen and Steven Koutroupas earned top prizes in the 2025 Minnesota Student Digital Mapping Competition, a statewide contest that challenges middle and high school students to solve real-world problems using maps, data, and digital storytelling.
Brecheisen won the middle school division with his project, “,” winning a prize of $200, and Koutroupas placed 2nd with his project, “,” winning $150.
Students were tasked with creating interactive web maps, and winning projects were selected based on originality, research quality, map design, and storytelling impact.
Oak Grove Middle’s Dustin Nguyen and Gavin Romness, and Olson’s Jeremy Clark earned honorable mentions for their entries. All five students are enrolled in Dimensions Academy, a district gifted and talented program.