Kansas Corporation Commission
TOPEKA — Thirty-six teams representing 25 Kansas schools traveled to Salina April 11 with their sights set on winning a state title in the Kansas KidWind Challenge and an opportunity to advance to the World KidWind Challenge in Madison, Wisconsin in May.
Area qualifying teams included
4th — 5th Grade Division Regional Winners
Ellinwood Grade School — Ellinwood Eagles
Barton County Special Services — BCSS1
Grinnell Middle School — Blooms
Grinnell Middle School — Windbreakers
6th — 8th Grade Division Regional Winners
Oakley Middle School — Twister Sisters
Oakley Middle School — Draw the Wind
Beloit Jr/Sr High School — Girl Energy
9th — 12th Grade Division Regional Winners
Oakley High School — Spirit Winds
Wheatland High School — Power Towers
Wheatland High School — White Lightning
Each team qualified for the state finals based on their performance in regional challenges, which drew a record number of 106 participating teams.
This year’s state competition also featured a unique attraction that might have caught the eye of travelers on Kansas roads and highways.
A shark, which is actually a large high speed wind tunnel with speeds of 10 meters/second or 22 miles per hour, journeyed from Madison, Wisconsin to Salina. Interactive stops at schools and attractions along the way were planned in Kansas City, Topeka, and Manhattan to promote the Kansas KidWind Challenge.
Teams competed by age groups: 4th-5th grade, 6th-8th grade and 9th-12th grade. Scoring for the event is based on turbine performance in a wind tunnel, a knowledge quiz, an instant challenge, and a presentation to judges where the team explains its turbine design and construction process.
