Lan-Chi Vo a Farnsworth Middle School student, talks about “Vert Avenir,” which she and her schoolmates designed for the annual Future City competition, held this year at Proctor’s Theatre in Schenectady. Vert Avenir placed fifth in Saturday’s competition. The students used Sim City 4, a game simulator to come up with a design; this year’s theme was “Tomorrow’s Transit” and the students had to design ways to move people in and around their cities.

Farnsworth teacher and Future City advisor Tom McGreevy looks at the school’s other entrant, “Shaqueque,” as one of his students and an onlooker check out the futuristic city on the stage before heading up to the judging room. There, Jazlyn Jimenez and Sarah Lindberg overcome some stage fright to make their presentation.

As the judges sit close by, Farnsworth Middle school student Sonal Swain talks about “Vert Avenir.” The challenge, as global urban populations rise and energy and climate change are important issues, was to create quick, reliable, and sustainable transportation systems. More than 40,000 middle school students across the country participated. Seventeen schools, some with more than one team, competed in the Capital District event.

Photographs by Michael Koff