Two Beloit KidWind Teams Advance to National Competition
The winners of last weekend’s Kansas KidWind State Finals are now gearing up for their next challenge – the National KidWind Challenge scheduled for May 14th through May 17th in Boulder, Colorado.
To qualify for the national competition, teams first had to capture one of the top two spots in their age division during regional competitions, then win one of the top three spots in their age group at the State Finals.
The Goblins from Beloit High School placed 1st in the 9th through 12th grade division at the State Finals. Team Members are Jayce Offutt, Jackson Cheney, Luke Cheney, Charlie Burke, and Jayc Darnall. Coaches for the team are Grant Deneke and Christie Fouts.
The Beloit Junior/Senior High School team, Los Girasoles Ventosos, which means "The Windy Sunflowers," placed 3rd in the 4th through 8th grade division at the State Finals. Team Members are Tripp Stillwell, Brylee LePon, and Rilee Lundine. Their coach is Christie Fouts.
To prepare for competition in the KidWind Challenge, team members work together to design, build and test a wind turbine using the materials of their choice. At each level of competition (regional, state and national), turbines are put to the test in a 48" × 48" wind tunnel at a wind speed of approximately 3.5-5 m/s (meters per second). Scoring is based on turbine performance and efficiency, a knowledge quiz, an instant challenge, and a presentation to judges where the team explains its design process.
Last year, three Kansas teams earned honors at the National KidWind Challenge.
KidWind is an Energy Education Event from the Kansas Corporation Commission and K-State Engineering Extension made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The goal is to help students learn key concepts around science, technology, engineering, and math in fun and engaging ways. The KidWind program actively engages students. It teaches not only STEM skills, but also promotes teamwork, problem solving and public speaking.