Smithfield, Windsor students place in regional KidWind competition
Published 8:04 pm Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Smithfield High School coach and manufacturing teacher Adam Shipman stands with Smithfield Middle School students Aspen Hetke, Mercedes Minnich, Sophie Shipman, Jayleen Colon-Reyes and SMS coach and technology teacher Danielle Joyner. (Photos submitted by Joel Rubin)
Hadley Pierce, Tenley Maresh, Jacob Clements, Alec Edwards, Amelia Spencer, and McKinley Douglas of Windsor Elementary hold their trophy after winning the Judge’s Award and second place in the elementary division.
Smithfield Middle School students Brian Williams, Ashton Ellis and Shawn Lynch of Team Duracell show their wind turbine.
SHS student Aidan Gibson of Solar Team Aztecs tests a “sun finder.”
Aiden Hall, Eli Robbins, Jacob Miller, Lindsey Greer and Nick Evans of SHS Team GoonSquad test their 29-inch wheel pulley design.
SHS students Timmie Edwards, Ammon Rawlings, Seneca Register and Anthony Forwalt pose with their project.
Coaches Heather Greer and Adam Shipman watch as students work with the KidWind kits.
Four Smithfield Middle School students recently entered and won first place – as Team JAMS – in the Eastern Regional KidWind Challenge’s middle school division.
KidWind takes a hands-on approach to teaching students about renewable energy by supplying teachers with do-it-yourself solar and wind generator kits. According to the organization’s website, KidWind challenge events have been implemented in 30 states since 2009, with roughly 40,000 students competing in 300 events across the country.
Windsor Elementary students placed second in the elementary division and won the Judge’s Award.
The high school division saw the return of Smithfield High’s Team AirBenders, who placed third for their wind turbine design. Team AirBenders had previously placed third in last year’s regional contest, and advanced to both the statewide and national competitions.
