Thousands Of Kids Flock To Wind Energy Challenge

Washington Metro K-12 Students Learn About Wind Energy at USA Science & Engineering Festival

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Wind Energy Foundation and the KidWind Project today announced the winners of the KidWind Challenge, a student-oriented wind turbine design contest. In advance of the challenge, KidWind trained 30 teachers and 12 teams in the Washington Metropolitan Area.  Over a period of several months, students designed and constructed their own wind turbines with the goal of creating an efficient, elegant and highly functional device.  Participating teams convened at the second annual USA Science & Engineering Festival held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, April 27 – 29, 2012.   Entries were judged on April 28 according to three main criteria: turbine power performance, turbine construction, and knowledge of wind energy topics.

KidWind Challenge, Washington, D.C., winners included:

Middle School

FIRST PLACE          J. Michael Lunsford Middle School, Chantilly, Va.
SECOND PLACE    Roland Park Elementary Middle School, Baltimore, Md.
THIRD PLACE         Jefferson Middle School, D.C.

High School

FIRST PLACE          National Cathedral School, D.C.
SECOND PLACE    Desert Mirage High School, Thermal, Calif.
THIRD PLACE         Langley High School, McLean, Va.

"We want to congratulate all of the participants for completing the KidWind Challenge," said Darlene Snow, executive director, Wind Energy Foundation. "The excitement level at the USA Science and Engineering Festival was inspiring.  There's no doubt, Washington, D.C. kids love science."

In addition to the KidWind Challenge, tens of thousands of K-12 students ascended on the Washington Convention Center, overwhelming the KidWind booth. Thousands of students assembled their own miniature turbine blades and tested them in a wind tunnel.  

"We were overwhelmed by their interest in wind energy," said Michael Arquin, KidWind Project Director. "The key is to give them an opportunity to engage with the materials and to learn about energy transformation."

While turbines are judged and prizes are awarded at the KidWind Challenge, the event, at its core, is about learning. "We want to immerse students in the science of how a wind turbine works through the process of design and redesign. Beyond that, the goal is to inspire teachers to include renewable energy in their science activities."

For more information about the KidWind Project, go to www.kidwind.org

For more information about the Wind Energy Foundation, go to www.windenergyfoundation.org

Photos and videos from the event can be viewed at the Foundation's website.

ABOUT WIND ENERGY FOUNDATION
The Wind Energy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising public awareness of wind as a clean, domestic energy source through communication, research and education.

ABOUT KIDWIND PROJECT
The KidWind Project works to build a more responsible future by engaging minds with educational resources and opportunities that explore clean energy science.

CONTACT:
Sean Collins
202-580-6440
[email protected]

SOURCE Wind Energy Foundation