Being one of the best in the nation was the goal each of the 58 middle school teams and 24 high school teams set out to achieve while competing at the 2019 National KidWind Challenge in Houston last week. Over the course of the two-day event, students were tested on their knowledge of renewable energy, their design and problem solving prowess, and their wind turbines’ energy output by a panel of wind industry professionals. These judges determined which teams were the best of the best. The highest-scoring teams are:
Middle School Age Division (Grades 4-8)
1. Gone with the Wind from Tabb Middle School in Yorktown, Va.
2. Zephyr from Glasgow Middle School in Lincolnia, Va.
3. Breezy Bees from Darlington Elementary-Middle School in Darlington, Wis.
4. SC Winnders from Sand Creek Middle School from Albany, N.Y.
5. The Single Bladies from Darlington Elementary-Middle School in Darlington, Wis.
High School Age Division (Grades 9-12)
1. Breezy Buffoons from Lake Pleasant Central School in Speculator, N.Y.
2. Full Throttle from Henley High School in Klamath Falls, Ore.
3. Silver Bullet from Coachella Valley High School in Thermal, Calif.
4. Fox Works from Fox Chapel Area High School in Pittsburgh, Pa.
5. Oxford AirSharks from Oxford High School in Oxford, Kan.
Team scores were based on their performance of four tasks. Teams tested their wind turbine’s performance and energy output in the KidWind wind tunnel. They then presented their design choices, challenges, and successes to the judges. To further test their knowledge and skill, teams completed a wind and renewable energy quiz, as well as an “Instant Challenge” during which teams had 30 minutes to complete a surprise activity to test their problem-solving, team work, and engineering skills. Each of the five top-performing teams in each age division received $250 in prize money and bragging rights.
For more information about the KidWind Challenge, visit: kidwindchallenge.org.
