Isle of Wight County Schools sent four high school wind teams, three middle school wind teams, two solar high school teams and three middle school solar teams to the KidWind/Solar Challenge State Competition April 12th at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. Each region in Virginia sent their best teams for a total of eight HS KidWind teams, 10 MS KidWind teams, four HS Solar teams and six MS Solar Teams. After an intense day of competition with the best teams in Virginia, three high school wind teams are going to World competition in Phoenix, AZ, May 18-21. No other school system in Virginia has this many teams qualifying for nationals!
The high school and middle school KidWind teams were scored on the electrical output in 30 seconds in the wind tunnel, their presentation and an instant challenge which involved constructing a wind powered car on a budget.
Team Goon Squad won first place with a record-breaking run of producing 196 joules in the wind tunnel. Team members include: Katie Gallahorn, Seneca Register, Andrew Shipman, Sophie Shipman and Vyncent Simpson. The team took home the coveted Gold Turbine Blade trophy and a $300 cash prize.
Team Blown Away won second place and a $200 cash prize. Team members include: Hayden Williams, Draven Munro, Jeremiah Pettaway and Collin Phillips.
Team Wind Storm took a unique route to the World KidWind competition. After getting edged out of a state invitation in the March central Virginia regional competition by the Goon Squad and Wizards of Wind teams, the Wind Storm team put their turbine in the national online challenge competition. With the help of their coach, BreeAnna Frye, Wind Storm uploaded their engineering notebook, data and pictures of their turbine. On the week before Spring Break, they found out they won an invitation to the World KidWind competition! They also traveled to states to participate and practice their presentation in front of judges.