SV innovators in action

Innovation was on full display as 70 Seneca Valley students competed in the SV KidWind Challenge. The event was held on Friday, February 6, at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center and featured 17 teams of students, including fourth graders from Ehrman Crest Elementary and Haine Elementary Schools, as well as fifth graders from Haine Middle School, who showcased their innovative energy designs.

The KidWind Challenge is a hands-on design competition that encourages students to explore the power and promise of clean energy through building and testing small-scale wind turbines and solar structures. Students voluntarily signed up to participate in the KidWind Club and competed in either the wind power or solar power division, applying their knowledge of renewable energy through hands-on engineering challenges.

Wind Power Division
Students in the wind power division designed and constructed functional wind turbines aimed at generating the greatest possible electrical output. Teams experimented with blade sizes, shapes and materials, refining their designs through testing and problem-solving. In addition to building their turbines, each team delivered a formal presentation to a panel of judges, explaining their design process, challenges encountered and lessons learned through collaboration.

Solar Power Division
Solar power teams developed themed solar environments powered by solar panels and student-built circuits. Working collaboratively, students designed creative displays that incorporated buildings and other elements to support their theme. They engineered circuits to power lights, fans, sirens and other components within their environments. Like their wind division peers, solar teams presented their projects to judges and reflected on their teamwork and engineering experience.

The top three solar teams earned an invitation to the Pennsylvania State Solar Competition at Penn State University on March 5. The top three wind teams qualified for the Pennsylvania State Wind Competition at Penn State University on March 25.

Coaches for the event included Ken Cahall, Seneca Valley outdoor education teacher at Haine Middle School; Linda Weismann, fourth grade teacher at Haine Elementary School; and Bethany Wolford, fourth grade teacher at Ehrman Crest Elementary School. Students also worked with Haine Middle School CIRC and gifted support teachers, Ronelle Rowe and Jeremiah Friday.

According to its website, the KidWind organization aims to spark student interest in clean energy and its global impact, offering opportunities for young learners to engage in real-world STEM challenges and explore careers in the renewable energy sector. The program also provides students with 21st-century learning skills and a phenomenon-based learning opportunity.