Two Beloit Teams to Compete in Kansas KidWind State Finals in Salina This Saturday

Two teams from Beloit Junior High School will travel to Salina on Saturday, April 13th with their sights set on winning a state title in the Kansas KidWind Challenge.

The Beloit Breeze Club and 4 Wind Guys, both from Beloit Junior High School, have qualified for the Kansas KidWind Challenge.  To qualify for the event, each team placed first or second in their age division at one of six regional competitions held throughout the state.  Saturday's competition will determine the top two teams in each age bracket that will represent Kansas in the World KidWind Challenge in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The state finals will be held at the Temple, 336 S. Santa Fe Ave in Salina beginning at 8 am.  The event is free and open to the public.  Area educators are encouraged to attend to find out more about KidWind and see the fun, excitement and learning firsthand.  KidWind is gaining momentum across the state with 84 teams from 50 schools competing this year.

To prepare for the KidWind competition, team members work together to design, build and test a wind turbine using the materials of their choice.  Each team's turbine will be put to the test in a 48" × 48" wind tunnel at a wind speed of approximately 3.0 meters/second (6.7 miles/hour).  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.

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.