Students Recognized for Creativity during Energy Education Event

Golden, Colo., May 13, 2002

Tapping the power of the sun was the theme of the May 11 Solarbrate Education event at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Students, teachers and parents spent a day at the Lab for an exciting day of student competition events and activities.

The 12th Annual Junior Solar Sprint gave students the chance to design, build and race vehicles whose only energy source was sunlight. Each team started with a motor and a silicon solar cell, which converts light into electricity.

Trophies for the fastest cars were given to students racing Bell Middle School's car, "Self Explanatory," first place; Maplewood Middle School's car, "Gimpy," second place; Berry Creek Middle School, third place; Horizon Community Middle School's car, "Bueblur," fourth place; and Maplewood Middle School's car, "Solar Sharks II," fifth place.

Five design trophies based on technology, craftsmanship and innovation were given to teams from Moore Middle School, first place; Manning Middle School's car, " Windsong," second place; Manning Middle School's car, "Speedy," third place; Centennial Middle School's car, "Chocolate Milk," fourth place; and Horizon Middle School's car, "Bueblur," fifth place.

The Junior Solar Sprint is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Midwest Research Institute, Battelle, Bechtel, NREL, BP America, U.S. Department of Army, Xcel Energy and the Kaiser-Hill Company.

As part of the K'NEX Design Contest, nine middle-school student teams tapped their creative energy and designed and built solar powered models using K'NEX construction toys. Lyons Middle School earned first place while Mead Middle School placed second and Louisville Middle School placed third.

The K'NEX Competition is sponsored by K'NEX.

Students from Merrill Middle School, Smoky Hill High School and Adams City High School participated in the Home Energy Investigation Contest. Each team rated the energy efficiency of homes in their neighborhoods and created posters detailing their findings. These posters were judged during Solarbrate Education and students from Adams City High School each received $100 for their winning entry. Students from Smoky Hill High School and Merrell Middle School each received $35 for their work.

The Home Energy Investigation Contest is sponsored by the Colorado Energy Science Center, Home Energy Assistance Team, Xcel Energy, Colorado Energy Assistance Foundation, Oakwood Homes, Home Depot, E-Star Colorado, Governor's Office of Energy Management & Conservation and Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement organization.

For more information, please contact NREL Public Affairs at (303) 275-4090 or email public.affairs@nrel.gov

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