EnergyWhiz – The Energy Chronicle

Contagious Energy at EnergyWhiz

Sherri Shields Energy News, Feature Story, K-12 Education, Press Release May 8, 2025May 9, 2025Awards, EnergyWhiz, K-12 0 Comment

By Sherri Shields

COCOA, May 8, 2025–Minimal clouds and a slight breeze made it a perfect day to see just how fast model solar sprint cars could race, how hot solar ovens could get, and how many laps electric go-carts could complete.

Nearly 400 students from 31 schools across Florida—from Tallahassee to Tampa to Boca Raton—converged at FSEC®, Florida’s premier energy research center at the University of Central Florida, on April 26th to compete at EnergyWhiz.

Students have the chance each year to compete in FSEC’s Junior or Senior Solar Sprint, Solar Energy Cookoff, Energy Inspired Art, Critter Comfort Cottage, and Energy Transfer Machine. And the Electrathon of Tampa Bay provides their high school, college, and adult teams a chance to race their electric go-carts at EnergyWhiz.

Three students talking with Critter Comfort Cottage project. — A Critter Comfort Cottage project uses salps for carbon sequestration.

“EnergyWhiz provides an opportunity for youth to showcase innovative energy concepts in a fun, creative, and purposeful format,” said Brooks Rumenik, director of Florida’s Office of Energy. “It is evident that these young scientists are ready, willing, and determined to tackle any number of energy challenges they may face.”

One of the Critter Comfort Cottage middle school teams stepped out of the box and demonstrated how to sequester carbon using salps (gelatinous marine creatures) and phytoplankton. Read more

2022 EnergyWhiz Winners

Stephanie Salmon Awards, Continuing Education, Energy News, Feature Story, K-12 Education, Press Release May 3, 2022May 3, 2022Critter Comfort Cottage, elementary school, Energy Innovations, energy inspired art, Energy Transfer Machine, EnergyWhiz, Florida, high school, Junior Solar Sprint, Middle School, solar cooking, Solar Energy Cook-off 0 Comment

Junior Solar Sprint

Green Division (Grades 3 – 5)
Best Design
1st Place – The Limo – Pine Crest School (Ft. Lauderdale)
Teacher – Kris Swanson
2nd Place – The PC Mobile – Pine Crest School (Ft. Lauderdale)
Teacher – Kris Swanson
3rd Place – HELIOS – The Bonds – NSU University School (Ft. Lauderdale)
Teacher – Michele Murray-Garren
Most Innovative
1st Place – The Limo – Pine Crest School (Ft. Lauderdale)
Teacher – Kris Swanson
2nd Place – Ocean Odyssey – Buck Lake Elementary (Tallahassee)
Teacher – Kim Perez
3rd Place – Mordor – Buck Lake Elementary (Tallahassee)
Teacher – Kim Perez
Race
1st Place – Sun Runners – Orlando Science (Orlando)
Teacher – Amy Trujillo
2nd Place – The Bonds – NSU University School (Ft. Lauderdale)
Teacher – Michele Murray-Garren
3rd Place – The Lightning Sharks – NSU University School (Ft. Lauderdale)
Teacher – Michele Murray-Garren

Blue Division (Grades 6 – 8)
Best Design
1st Place – The Rovers – Parkland STEM Club (Plantation)
Teacher – John Garren
2nd Place – The Milwee Falcons – Milwee Middle (Longwood)
Teacher – Carol Unterreiner
3rd Place – Meowzster – Cornerstone Learning Community (Tallahassee)
Teacher – Karen Metcalf
Most Innovative
1st Place – Panther Engineering G8 – Pine Crest School (Ft. Lauderdale)
Teacher – Kris Swanson
2nd Place – The Rovers – Parkland STEM Club (Plantation)
Teacher – John Garren
3rd Place – Meowzster – Cornerstone Learning Community (Tallahassee)
Teacher – Karen Metcalf
Race
1st Place – The Rovers – Parkland STEM Club (Plantation)
Teacher – John Garren
2nd Place – Meowzster – Cornerstone Learning Community (Tallahassee)
Teacher – Karen Metcalf
3rd Place – The Milwee Falcons – Milwee Middle (Longwood)
Teacher – Carol Unterreiner

2022 Virtual EnergyWhiz Winners

Sherri Shields Feature Story, K-12 Education February 21, 2022May 3, 2022Critter Comfort Cottage, Energy Transfer Machine, EnergyWhiz, Junior Solar Sprint, solar cooking 1 Comment

Critter Comfort Cottage

Grades 3 – 5

1st Place – Team Caterpillar Castle – Sally Ride Elementary (Orlando)
Teacher – Betty Berriz
Students – Zola, Kensleigh

2nd Place – Critter Cottage Crew – Ocean Breeze Elementary (Indian Harbor Beach)
Teacher – Holly Mentillo
Students – Ellie, Faith, Finley, Kenzie, Micheala

3rd Place – Lizard Lovers – Zellwood Elementary (Zellwood)
Teacher – Pamela Owens
Students – Annika, Samatha, Della

Grades 6 – 8

1st Place – Robo-Hamstyer Cottage – Carwise Middle (Palm Harbor)
Teacher – Bettie Rossie
Students – Rita, Matias, Mya

2nd Place – Bunny Builders – Carwise Middle (Palm Harbor)
Teacher – Bettie Rossie
Students – Riat, Matias, Mya

3rd Place – WMS Warrior Guinea Pig House – Westridge Middle (Orlando)
Teacher – Isidra Legarov Jr.
Students – Nethanya, Elza, Emily

Grades 9 – 12

1st Place – Aquaponic Fish Tank – Lakewood High (St. Petersburg)
Teacher – Jennifer Pacowta
Students – Kieran, Borislava, Macie

2nd Place – Birdhouse–GC Team – Lakewood High (St. Petersburg)
Teacher – Jennifer Pacowta
Students – Cayla, Gavriel

Cloudy Skies Add to Real-World Learning Challenges at EnergyWhiz

Sherri Shields Awards, Feature Story, Media Advisory May 21, 2018May 14, 2021Critter Comfort Cottage, Energy Innovations, Energy Transfer Machine, EnergyWhiz, JSS, Junior Solar Sprint, Solar Energy Cook-off 1 Comment

By Sherri Shields

COCOA, Fla., May 21, 2018—A blanket of cloud-covered skies can be a real challenge for students to race Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) cars and keep solar oven temperatures sufficient for cooking.

Sam’s Speed Shop from McLane Middle School in Brandon, FL won first place in Race competition, second place in Most Innovative Design, and third place in the Best Design competition in the Blue Division (grades 7&8). *Photo: Liza Robles*

Although the sun never peeked through the clouds for the EnergyWhiz competitions on Saturday, May 12^th, at the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa, the JSS cars were still able to race. “One thing we’ve learned since hosting EnergyWhiz for the past 15 years is that if you want to stay on schedule, you need a backup plan in case the weather doesn’t cooperate,” said Susan Schleith, K-12 Education program director. “Battery backup is now an essential part of the car design, for situations like this.”

Female student from Saturn Elementary School and a male student prepare to race their Junior Solar Sprint cars, which were modified to run on batteries instead of solar due to the cloudy sky. — Female student from Students prepare to race their Junior Solar Sprint cars, which were modified to run on batteries instead of solar due to the cloudy sky. *Photo: Leon Flowers*

2018 EnergyWhiz Awards

Sherri Shields Awards May 18, 2018July 23, 2018EnergyWhiz 0 Comment

C3, Middle, 2nd

Critter Comfort Cottage

Elementary Division

1^st Place – In Spike of it All (Hedgehog) – Lawton Chiles Elementary, Tampa

2^nd Place – Florida Ducks (Duck) – Ocean Breeze Elementary, Indian Harbor Beach

3^rd Place – Lil’ Peeps (Chickens) – Hans Christian Anderson Elementary, Rockledge

Middle School Division

1^st Place – The Mighty Midnighters (Cat) – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – The Happy Hoppers (Bunny) – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3rd Place – Chipmunk Chicks (Chipmunk) – Milwee Middle, Longwood

High School Division

1^st Place – The Bog Frogs (Bog Frog) – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

2^nd Place – Marley’s Habitat (Leopard Frog) – Rockledge High, Rockledge

WOW! Award Elementary Division

Lil’ Peeps (Chickens) – Hans Christian Anderson Elementary, Rockledge

WOW! Award Middle Division

Nature Gals (Squirrel) – Innovation Middle, Orlando

Energy Innovations

Middle School Division

1^st Place – Corn Snake Habitat – Milwee Middle, Longwood

2^nd Place – Solar Powered Water Fountain – Milwee Middle, Longwood

High School Division

1^st Place – T.I.M. (Disaster Assistant Robot) – Lyman High, Longwood

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

3^rd Place – Country Roads Putt Putt – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

WOW! Award Middle School Division

Solar Powered Water Fountain – Milwee Middle, Longwood

WOW! Award High School Division

Charge Barge – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

Energy Transfer Machine

1^st Place – Mission: Feed Sheldon – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

2^nd Place – Phoenix Engineers – Innovation Middle, Orlando

3^rd Place – Floridian Fan – Lyman High, Longwood

Precision Award – Phoenix Engineers – Innovation Middle, Orlando

Junior Solar Sprint

Best Design – Green Division (Grades 4 – 6)

1^st Place – Shelby Racing Team – Lithia Springs Elementary, Valrico

2^nd Place – Mavericks by MAV – Pinewood Elementary, Stuart

3^rd Place – Tie – Thunderbird 1, North Broward Preparatory, Coconut Creek

3^rd Place – Tie – USchool Tiger Sharks, Nova Southeast University School, Davie

Best Design – Blue Division (Grades 7 & 8)

1^st Place – Beast Mode – Innovation Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – Solar McQueen – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3^rd Place – Sam’s Speed Shop – McLane Middle, Longwood

Most Innovative Green Division

1^st Place – Wonderful Wildebeasts – Corbett Preparatory, Tampa

2^nd Place – 3 Headed Phoenix – Innovation Middle, Orlando

3^rd Place – Solar Squad – McLane Middle, Brandon

Most Innovative Blue Division

1^st Place – Solar McQueen – Milwee Middle, Longwood

2^nd Place – Sam’s Speed Shop – McLane Middle, Brandon

3^rd Place – Solar Vikings – McLane Middle, Brandon

Race – Green Division

1^st Place – Solar Squad – McLane Middle, Brandon

2^nd Place – Shelby Racing Team – Lithia Springs Elementary, Valrico

3^rd Place – California Kings – Martinez Middle, Lutz

Race – Blue Division

1^st Place – Sam’s Speed Shop – McLane Middle, Brandon

2^nd Place – Double Two – Hidden Oaks Middle, Palm City

3^rd Place – The Cringe Crew – Hidden Oaks Middle, Palm City

Solar Energy Cook-off

Best Design – Yellow Division (Grades 4 – 6)

1^st Place – Sun Food – Martinez Middle, Lutz

2^nd Place – Sunday Chefs – East Elementary, Punta Gorda

3^rd Place – Three Amigos – Martinez Middle, Lutz

Best Design – Orange Division (Grades 7 & 8)

1^st Place – Sabores Grill – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – Solar Express – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3^rd Place – Solar Sharks, Hidden Oaks Middle, Palm City

Best Design – Red Division (Grades 9 – 12)

1^st Place – The Hot Pockets – Lyman High, Longwood

2^nd Place – Mango Marauders – Edgewood Jr/Sr High

WOW! Award Yellow Division

Sun Food – Martinez Middle, Lutz

WOW! Award Orange Division

Sabores Grill – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

WOW! Award Red Division

Mango Marauders – Edgewood Jr/Sr High

Culinary Award – Yellow Division

1^st Place – Sunday Chefs – East Elementary, Punta Gorda

2^nd Place – Three Amigos – Martinez Middle, Lutz

3^rd Place – Tiki Troop – Atlantis Elementary, Cocoa

Culinary Award – Orange Division

1^st Place – Sabores Grill – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – Solar Express – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3^rd Place – Sunny Side Up – Milwee Middle, Longwood

Culinary Award – Red Division

1^st Place – Mango Marauders, Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

2^nd Place – The Hot Pockets, Lyman High, Longwood

Fresh From Florida Award Yellow Division

Sunday Chefs – East Elementary, Punta Gorda

Fresh From Florida Award Orange Division

Solar Express – Milwee Middle, Longwood

Fresh From Florida Award Red Division

Mango Marauders – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

Electrathon

MediaContact: Charles Harrison, charlie@electrathonoftampabay.org

High School Division

1st place, Brandon HS car 14 with 121 laps

2nd place, Brooks DeBartolo car 55 with 87 laps

3rd place, Brandon HS car 9 with 76 laps

4th place, Simmons Career Center car 35 with 24 laps

5th place STEMTECH car 823 with 14 laps.

Open Division

1st place, Tiger Racing car 4 with 153 laps

2nd place, Silver Bullet Racing car 94 with 149 laps

3rd place, RYNO Racing car 13 with 49 laps

4th place, Seminole State College car 314 with 40 laps

5th place, Hillsborough Community College car 30 with 3 laps.

Advanced Battery Division

1st place, Pro EV car 39 with 171 laps

2nd place, University of South Florida car 132 with 121 laps

3rd place Titan Racing car 242 with 80 laps.

Electrathon of Tampa Bay End of the Year Awards, 2017-2018 Race Season.

Season Points Winners:

High School Division

1st place, Simmons Career car 35 with 348 points

2nd place, Brandon HS car 14 with 328 points

3rd place Simmons Career Center car 53 with 324 points.

Open Division

1st place Tiger Racing car 4 with 464 points

2nd place Silver Bullet Racing car 94 with 228 points

3rd place Hillsborough Community College car 30 with 214 points.

Advanced Battery Division

1st place, University of South Florida car 132 with 404 points

2nd place, Pro EV car 39 with 330 points

3rd place, Titan Racing car 242 with 158 points.

Volunteer of the Year: Aditya Chelikani

Executive Board Member of the Year: Brady Weber Team

Sponsor of the Year: Mark Knowlton (Brandon HS)

“I Broke Mine” Award: Dustyn Clark (Brandon HS)

Fastest Lap per Division:

High School Division Mulberry HS car 38 at the HCC Race with a lap time of 30.774.

Open Division Tiger Racing car 4 at the HCC Race with a lap time of 30.69

Advanced Battery Division University of South Florida car 132 at the HCC Race with a lap time of 26.471.

Most Laps for the 2017-2018 Race Season:

High School Division: Simmons Career Center car 53 with 729 laps,

Advanced Battery Division: University of South Florida car 132 with 790 laps

Open Division: Tiger Racing car 4 with 1,141 laps.

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