August 2007

Solar Energy! Hydrogen Energy! Kid Energy! 

Aerial photo of the crowd at the race.

More than 300 people attended the EnergyWhiz Olympics.
Photo: Nicholas Waters

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.”

 

Photo of students catching their solar cars as the crowd cheers them on.
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.

Photo of students readying their Hydrogen Sprint cars.
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.

Photo of students wearing hawaiin shirts and leis show off their solar slushy machine.
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