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More than 300 people attended the EnergyWhiz Olympics.
Photo: Nicholas Waters
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The EnergyWhiz Olympics
at Florida Solar Energy Center/University of Central Florida is focused
on ENERGY! When the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) opened its
doors on the morning of May 12, energy was buzzing throughout the
building and spilling out onto the campus. More than 300 students
and teachers, plus parents, friends and other family members, were
anxious for the games to begin. Students from elementary through high
school took part in the alternative fuel competitions, which included
solar car races, hydrogen fuel cell vehicle races and a photovoltaic
design competition called “Energy Innovations.”
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Junior Solar Sprint team members wait to catch their solar-powered cars as they
race to the finish line.
Photo: Sherri Shields |
The Junior Solar Sprint, a model-sized solar car race, was the largest
event with 61 teams. The student-led teams designed and built their
own solar-powered vehicles and then raced them in the competition.
The students from middle schools from across the state, raced their
cars along a yellow 60-foot track set up just outside FSEC’s
main building. Parents and friends sat beneath a shaded tent, providing
support and encouragement for their team. But once the races started,
they were on their feet cheering on their favorites, hoping their
car would be first across the finish line. Each team competed for
awards not only for speed, but also for design, quality of craftsmanship
and innovation, which were judged by engineers.
Eight returning teams that scored highest in the Middle School Science
Bowl held in April participated in the Hands-on Hydrogen competition,
the second part of the Southeast Regional Science Bowl. The finalists
were required to design and build a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to
qualify for the National Science Bowl competition. The top academic
team, Lincoln Middle School from Gainesville, represented the Southeastern
United States in the national competition held in June in Denver.
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High school students prepare to race
their
Hydrogen Sprint cars.
Photo: Sherri Shields |
The High School Hydrogen Sprint competition allows for high school
student teams, most of whom were graduates of the Junior
Solar Sprint, to compete in racing as well. Eleven teams designed
and built alternative-fuel vehicles for the race. Participants also
presented 10-minute lessons on a variety of hydrogen research topics
demonstrating the potential of hydrogen as an alternative fuel source.
In the newest competition, “Energy Innovations,” middle
and high school teams from across Florida developed full-scale
working solar electric designs. The participating schools
were provided with full-size photovoltaic (PV) panels and arrays,
courtesy of BP Solar, and each team created their own working model
of a real-world solar application. Students also created promotional
information, using marketing brochures, advertisements, Web pages
and video documentaries to help their ideas reach consumers. Energy
Innovations encourages students to apply solar energy to real life
problems using science knowledge and engineering skills.
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Energy Innovations is
the newest competition added to the EnergyWhiz Olympics.
The winning team from Gulf Coast Academy of Science and Technology powered their slushy machine with a solar panel.
Photo: Sherri Shields |
“Energy
Innovations is a real-world design competition,” said Susan Schleith,
education coordinator for FSEC. “The program was a collaborative
effort between BP Solar, the Florida Solar Energy Research and Educational
Foundation (FlaSEREF) and the Florida Solar Energy Center. BP donated
more than 15 photovoltaic arrays to FlaSEREF, which collaborated with
FSEC to distribute the systems to schools throughout Florida through
the EnergyWhiz program.”
The EnergyWhiz Olympics is an annual event at FSEC and encourages
schools from across the state to participate each year. FSEC hopes
that by hosting this event, students, parents and teachers will learn
the importance of solar energy and continue to use their newfound
skills in their daily lives.
The EnergyWhiz Olympics is coordinated by staff at the Florida Solar
Energy Center, but its success depends on the time and efforts of
many volunteers. This year’s volunteers included engineers from
United Space Alliance, the Canaveral Council of Technical Societies,
the Florida Solar Energy Center and the Society of Automotive Engineers.
Other volunteers included representatives from Boeing, BP, Brevard
Community College, Florida Solar Energy Research & Education Foundation,
the Florida Solar Energy Center, Harris Corporation, NASA, the National
Energy Foundation, the Space Coast Science Education Alliance, UCF
and ZF Marine.
WINNERS:
Junior Solar Sprint:
Best Design
1st - #33 - Mercurial Tiger, Tuskawilla Montessori Academy,
Oviedo
2nd - #26 - Ra Reaper, St. James Cathedral School, Orlando
3rd - #51 Little Bandit, Lewis Carroll Elementary, Merritt
Island
Most Innovative
1st - #26 - Ra Reaper, St. James Cathedral School, Orlando
2nd - #8 - The Sunburn, Sacred Heart Catholic Homeschool,
Merritt Island
3rd - #33 - Mercurial Tiger, Tuskawilla Montessori Academy,
Oviedo
Race - 6th grade
1st - #34 - The King, Tuskawilla Montessori Academy, Oviedo
2nd - #39 - Eagle 1, Horizon Middle, Kissimmee
3rd - #50 - Da Bomb, Lewis Carroll Elementary, Merritt Island
Race - 7th grade
1st - #13 Solar Roller, Jupiter Middle School of Technology,
Jupiter
2nd - #44 Minutemen III, Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High School, Cocoa
Beach
3rd - #54 Benchwarmers, Gulf Coast Academy of Science and
Technology, Spring Hill
Race - 8th grade
1st - #32 God of War, Tuskawilla Montessori Academy, Oviedo
2nd - #7 Sunny, Warner Christian Academy, Daytona
3rd - #12 Nameless and Shameless, Jupiter Middle School of
Technology, Jupiter
Hands-on Hydrogen
Design
1st - #2 Absent Mindstein, Trinity Preparatory School, Winter
Park
Race
1st - #3 The Challenger, Ronald McNair Magnet Middle School,
Cocoa
2nd - #4 Enigma Tuskawilla Montessori Academy, Oviedo
3rd - #2 Absent Mindstein, Trinity Preparatory School, Winter
Park
Hydrogen Sprint
1st - Overall - Three way tie -
#10 Pink Pandas, Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High School, Cocoa Beach
#7 - Jupiter High School, Jupiter
#3 Catalyst, Lakewood High School, St. Petersburg
2nd Overall - #6 Sparklemotion, Indian River Charter High
School, Vero Beach
3rd Overall - #2 Hydrogen Hotties, Lakewood High School,
St. Petersburg
1st - Vehicle Performance - #3 Lakewood High School, St. Petersburg
1st - Presentation - #10, Pink Pandas - Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High, Cocoa
Beach
1st - Design - #7 - Jupiter High School, Jupiter
Energy Innovations
1st High School - Edgewood Jr/Sr High School, Merritt Island
2nd High School - Manatee Technical Institute, Bradenton
1st Middle School - Gulf Coast Academy of Science and Technology,
Spring Hill
2nd Middle School - Ronald McNair Magnet School, Cocoa
Wow! Award - Gulf Coast Academy of Science and Technology,
Spring Hill