Students Shine in Solar and Hydrogen Competitions

COCOA, May 4, 2010 – Florida students have creative ideas for solving some of the world’s greatest energy challenges, and their solutions were demonstrated Saturday at the eighth-annual EnergyWhiz Olympics.

More than 500 students throughout Florida converged May 1 at the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) in

Cocoa to compete in the day-long competition that showcased 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, 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 were judged on taste, ingredients and creativity.

One of the most popular events is the Junior Solar Sprint, 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. This year, 63 teams competed.

“Clear skies and improved car designs made for a speedy race,” said Susan Schleith, education coordinator at FSEC. Teams had at least two opportunities to demonstrate their vehicles’ performance in the double elimination format. One of the top cars was clocked at 6.7 meters per second, or 15 mph.

The Hydrogen Sprint, a competition for high school students in grades 9-12, allows students to design, build and race model-sized cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells. This competition exposes students to hydrogen’s potential as an alternative fuel source and also gives graduates of the Junior Solar Sprint program an opportunity to continue designing and building alternative-fueled vehicles. Participating teams also gave 10-minute presentations demonstrating their understanding of hydrogen.

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. Teams also created marketing pieces, such as brochures, fliers, and posters, to accompany their products.

“It’s impressive to see student teams creating projects that will benefit others in time of need,” said Penny Hall, event coordinator of the EnergyWhiz Olympics, referring to the Emergency Medical Cooler designed by Orlando’s Olympia High School in response to Haiti’s recent earthquake.

Competition results are listed below. Photos are available upon request; contact Sherri Shields at 321-638-1019.

Junior Solar Sprint

6^th Grade Race

1^st Place –  Gulf Coast Academy of Science & Technology, Spring Hill

2^nd Place – Lockhart Middle School, Orlando

3^rd Place – Pine View School, Sarasota

7^th Grade Race

1^st Place – Lockhart Middle School, Orlando

2^nd Place – Southwest Middle School, Palm Bay

3^rd Place – Orlando Science Schools, Orlando

8^th Grade Race

1^st Place – Jupiter Middle School (car #41), Jupiter

2^nd Place – Jupiter Middle School (car #64), Jupiter

3^rd Place – Trinity Preparatory School, Winter Park

Most Innovative Vehicle Design (overall)

1^st Place – Conway Middle School, 7^th grade team, Orlando

2^nd Place – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, 7^th grade team, Merritt Island

3^rd Place – Cornerstone Learning Academy, 6^th grade team, Tallahassee

Best Vehicle Design (overall)

1^st Place – McLane Middle School, 7^th grade team, Brandon

2^nd Place – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, 7^th grade team, Merritt Island

3^rd Place – McLane Middle School, 8^th grade team, Brandon

Hydrogen Sprint

1^st Place Race – Trinity Preparatory School, Winter Park

1^st Place Vehicle Design – Olympia High, Orlando

1^st Place Team Performance – Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Palm Beach

Overall Ranking

1^st Place – Trinity Preparatory, Winter Park

2^nd Place – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

3^rd Place – Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Palm Beach

Bright House Solar Cookoff

Elementary School Division

1^st Place Cooker Design – Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, Indialantic

2^nd Place Cooker Design – Jupiter Elementary School, Palm Bay

3^rd Place Cooker Design – New School Preparatory, Orlando

1^st Place Solar Chef – Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (team #8), Indialantic

2^nd Place Solar Chef – Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (team #9), Indialantic

3^rd Place Solar Chef – St. Martha Catholic School, Sarasota

Middle School Division

1^st Place Cooker Design – Sweetwater Branch Academy, Gainesville

2^nd Place Cooker Design – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

3^rd Place Cooker Design – Lincoln Middle School, Gainesville

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

2^nd Place Solar Chef – Edgewood Jr/Sr High (team #13), Merritt Island

3^rd Place Solar Chef – South Seminole Middle School, Casselberry

Energy Innovations

Middle School

1^st Place Photovoltaic Design – South Seminole Middle School, Casselberry,
The Super Solar Cart 3000

2^nd Place Photovoltaic Design – St. Paul Lutheran School, Lakeland,
Going Buggy With Solar

3^rd Place Photovoltaic Design – Gulf Coast Academy of Science & Technology,
Spring Hill, Apollo’s Angels

High School

1^st Place Photovoltaic Design –  Olympia High School, Orlando,
EMC Emergency Medical Cooler

2^nd Place Photovoltaic Design – Holy Trinity Episcopal School, Melbourne,
Solar Irrigation Pumping Station

3^rd Place Photovoltaic Design – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island,
Solar Home Innovations

Wow! Award (combined division) – Bayside High School, Palm Bay,
Solar Powered Hydrogen Fuel Cell