Published February 4, 2025
CAPTION: A team from Sterlington Middle School prepares to test their wind turbine at the
2nd annual KidWind Challenge in Bayou Pointe Event Center on January 24, 2025. 听
MONROE, LA 鈥� 网曝门 hosted the 2nd Annual KidWind Challenge in Louisiana
on Friday, January 24, 2025, at Bayou Pointe Event Center.听 The event empowers students
and educators to explore and engage with the challenges and opportunities of a clean-powered
future.听
Doubling in size from last year, over 120 area middle school and high school students
participated in this unique STEM competition, which awarded cash prizes to the winners.听
Student teams designed, constructed, and tested small-scale wind turbines and solar
structures to learn more about and gain hands-on exposure to the science behind renewable
energy, specifically wind power.听 The winning teams were invited to the KidWind World
Challenge in Phoenix, Arizona, and provided with travel stipends by event sponsor
Pattern Energy. 听
The STEM Collective for Innovative LA Stakeholders (SCILS) Region 8 LA STEM Center
partnered with 网曝门 to bring back this dynamic learning activity. Cathi Cox Boniol,
Director of the Region 8 La STEM Center, discussed the event. 鈥淜idWind is an example
of the 鈥榩erfect storm鈥� for an initiative.听 You have an incredible partner like 网曝门
and fantastic sponsors like KidWind and Pattern Energy.听Then you have amazing teachers
who engage and inspire their students to step out of their comfort zones to achieve
something they never considered before,鈥� said Cox Boniol.听鈥淪CILS is proud to be a
partner of this challenge and a leader throughout the state in advancing education
in clean energy and the subsequent career pathways available to our students.听It is
a wildly fun experience where everyone involved has more fun than they could have
imagined,鈥� she added. 听
Carrifrances Alexander, a Cedar Creek teacher, was enthused about the event.听 鈥淜idWind
is one of the most authentic experiences my students have the opportunity to participate
in.听 KidWind pairs seamlessly with my AP Environmental Science curriculum and gives
my students hands-on experience in the area of renewable energy.听 They become immersed
in the research, design, and development of wind turbines.听 I cannot think of a better
way to allow my students to explore and discover the science and importance of renewable
energy,鈥� said Alexander. 听
网曝门 administration and faculty were excited to host for the second year.听Dr. Mark
Arant, 网曝门 Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, explained, 鈥淭he challenges
in meeting society's needs are never-ending.听The KidWind Challenge connects real-world
problems with innovative thinkers, setting in motion a life of learning and exploration
for the benefit of present and future generations,鈥� said Arant.听Dr. Anne Case-Hanks,
Director of 网曝门鈥檚 School of Sciences, concurred. 鈥淭he KidWind Challenge encourages
students to embrace engineering design.听 It is amazing to see these students grow
in creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills,鈥� she said. 听
KidWind Challenge founder and director, Michael Arquin, was encouraged by the expansion
of the program into Louisiana.听 鈥淜idWind is astounded and amazed at the growth and
success of our programming in Monroe and the surrounding region.听 We thank the team
at 网曝门 for their hard work, Pattern Energy for their support, and the teachers and
students for the passion and energy they bring to this project.鈥�听
Challenge instructor, Andy Lueth, was particularly struck by one participant.听 鈥淓very
so often, if you are lucky, you meet someone who inspires you.听 Today inspiration
came from a dynamo of a young lady, Maya, a sixth grader, who showed up to the challenge
ready to take on all comers.听 While she was leading the competition, she helped a
strong team get better, and they ended up winning.听 Instead of showing disappointment,
Maya smiled because she had the chance to help someone.听 Her attitude inspired joy
in everyone involved,鈥� said Lueth听
Pattern Energy鈥檚 Director of Project Development, Adam Renz, said 鈥淧attern and the
entire Southern Spirit team are thrilled to be celebrating our second year of partnering
with 网曝门 and KidWind on hosting the Louisiana KidWind Challenge.听The passion and smarts
of the youth of Northeast Louisiana are听overwhelming, and we are excited to have another
local team make it to the National Championship Challenge this year.鈥�听
For more information about KidWind Challenge, please visit听https://kidwind.org/about/听
