Students’ Bright Ideas Shine at EnergyWhiz Olympics

COCOA, May 11, 2011 – Florida students have creative ideas for solving some of the world’s greatest energy challenges, and their solutions were demonstrated Saturday at the ninth-annual EnergyWhiz Olympics.

More than 900 students throughout Florida converged Saturday, May 7 at the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) in Cocoa to compete in the day-long competition showcasing student projects in alternative fuel technologies.

Events included the Bright House Solar Energy Cookoff, a solar cooker design and cooking contest; the Junior Solar Sprint, model-size solar car races; the High School Hydrogen Sprint and Hands-On-Hydrogen, model-size hydrogen-powered car races; and Energy Innovations, a full-scale solar electric design challenge.

The Bright House Solar Energy Cookoff challenged students to design and build solar cookers, and also cook a recipe of their own creation in their oven. Students’ creative dishes – such as O’Sol Meatballs and Kicken’ Swamp Cabbage – were judged on taste, ingredients and creativity.

One of the most popular events is the Junior Solar Sprint (JSS), where students in grades 6-8 design, construct and race solar-powered vehicles. This hands-on competition encourages scientific know-how, creative thinking, experimentation and teamwork. Awards were given based on vehicle design, quality of craftsmanship, innovation and vehicle speed.

The Hands-On-Hydrogen competition for middle school students, and the Hydrogen (H2) Sprint, a competition for high school students in grades 9-12, challenges students to design, build and race model-sized cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The competitions expose students to hydrogen’s potential as an alternative fuel source. The H2 Sprint provides graduates of the JSS program an opportunity to continue designing and building alternative-fueled vehicles. Student teams not only showcased their skill on the track, but they also demonstrated their understanding of hydrogen in a 10-minute presentation.

The Energy Innovations program is a full-scale solar electric design and marketing challenge for middle and high school students. Each team designed and constructed a product or artistic work fully powered by photovoltaic panels, more commonly known as solar electric panels. Additionally, teams created marketing pieces, such as brochures, fliers, and posters, to promote their innovative product and educate spectators.

“Our event continues to grow each year,” said Susan Schleith, education coordinator at FSEC. “The number of solar cooking teams doubled compared to last year and we had more than 70 solar car entries – a new record. It’s gratifying to see more and more students excited about alternative energy.”

Competition results are listed below. Photos of the award winners are available on our Facebook page at FloridaSolarEnergyCenter, or visit www.fsec.ucf.edu/go/energywhiz for more event photos.

JUNIOR SOLAR SPRINT

6^th Grade Race

1^st Place –
Pine View School (car #62, Last Minute Candy Machine), Osprey

2^nd Place –
Gulf Coast Academy (car #37, Jamacia), Spring Hill

3^rd Place –
Hollywood Christian Academy (car #11, Geiko), Hollywood

7^th Grade Race

1^st Place –
McLane Middle School (car #15, Vibot 2), Brandon

2^nd Place –
Jupiter Middle School (car #28, Robin-Sun), Jupiter

3^rd Place –
Conway Middle School (car #68, Kramer’s Favorite), Orlando

8^th Grade Race

1^st Place –
McLane Middle School (car #14, Vibot 1), Brandon

2^nd Place –
McLane Middle School (car #16, Vibot 3), Brandon

3^rd Place –
Cornerstone Middle School, (car #50, S-Car-Go), Tallahassee

Most Innovative Vehicle Design (overall)

1^st Place –
Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High School (car #13), 7^th grade team, Merritt Island

2^nd Place –
Hollywood Christian Academy (car #12), 7^th grade team, Hollywood

3^rd Place –
Einstein Montessori School (car #48), 8^th grade team, Cocoa

Best Vehicle Design (overall)

1^st Place –
McLane Middle School (car #14), 7^th grade team, Brandon

2^nd Place –
McLane Middle School (car #16), 7^th grade team, Brandon

3^rd Place –
Hollywood Christian Academy (car #12), 7^th grade team, Hollywood

HYDROGEN SPRINT

1^st Place Race –
Edgewood Jr/Sr High (Imperial High Inquisitors), Merritt Island

1^st Place Design –
Edgewood Jr/Sr High (Imperial High Inquisitors), Merritt Island

1^st Place Performance –
Edgewood Jr/Sr High (Race Girls), Merritt Island

Overall Ranking:

1^st Place –
Edgewood Jr/Sr High (Imperial High Inquisitors), Merritt Island

2^nd Place –
Edgewood Jr/Sr High (Race Girls), Merritt Island

3^rd Place –
Edgewood Jr/Sr High (H₂ Fuel Cows), Merritt Island

HANDS-ON-HYDROGEN

1^st Place Design –
Edgewood Jr/Sr High (car #2, The Hula), Merritt Island

1^st Place Overall –
McLain Middle (car #17, H₂ Go), Brandon
2^nd Place Overall –
Andrew Jackson Middle School (car #8, Fred), Titusville

3^rd Place Overall –
Trinity Prepatory (car #1, Brain the Train), Winter Park

BRIGHT HOUSE SOLAR COOKOFF

Elementary School Division

WOW! Award –
Hollywood Christian (#21, Metallic Core), Hollywood

1^st Place Cooker Design –
Fellsmere Elemen. (#18, The Baja Grillers), Fellsmere

2^nd Place Cooker Design –
Knight’s Elementary (#13, Whiz Kids), Plant City

3^rd Place Cooker Design –
Hollywood Christian (#21, Metallic Core), Hollywood

1^st Place Solar Chef –
Fellsmere Elemen. (#18, The Baja Grillers), Fellsmere

2^nd Place Solar Chef –
Fellsmere Elemen. (#17, Cocina del Sol), Fellsmere

3^rd Place Solar Chef –
Hollywood Christian (#21, Metallic Core), Hollywood

Middle School Division

WOW! Award –
Edgewood Jr/Sr High (#8, Panda Dynasty), Merritt Island

1^st Place Cooker Design –
Hidden Oaks Middle (#18, Alessa Grill), Palm City

2^nd Place Cooker Design –
Hidden Oaks Middle (#17, Sol Power), Palm City

3^rd Place Cooker Design –
Conway Middle (#25, Chef JLJ), Orlando

1^st Place Solar Chef –
Edgewood Jr/Sr High (#8, Panda Dynasty), Merritt Island

2^nd Place Solar Chef –
Hidden Oaks Middle (#18, Alessa Grill), Palm City

3^rd Place Solar Chef –
South Seminole Middle (#4, International Cooking Flare), Casselberry

Energy Innovations

Wow! Award (combined division) –
Gulf Coast Academy (NEXXAN Sun Glider), Spring Hill

Middle School

1^st Place Photovoltaic Design –
Gulf Coast Academy (NEXXAN Sun Glider), Spring Hill

2^nd Place Photovoltaic Design –
Edgewood Jr/Sr High (The Air Heads), Merritt Island

3^rd Place Photovoltaic Design –
Edgewood Jr/Sr High (The Dukes), Merritt Island
High School

1^st Place Photovoltaic Design –
Pasco High (Solar Tricycle), Dade City

2^nd Place Photovoltaic Design –
South Broward High (Sun Tiki), Hollywood

3^rd Place Photovoltaic Design –
Edgewood Jr/Sr High (The Happy Cows), Merritt Island

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PR11-04