YORKTOWN — Five students from Tabb High School recently returned home from San Antonio, Texas as the 2022 National KidWind Challenge Champions.
The students attended the American Clean Power (ACP) CLEANPOWER 2022 Conference where they participated in a three-day national competition that tested their knowledge of renewable energy. The competition featured over 50 teams from all over the country.
According to the KidWind website, “teams tested their turbine in each of our 4 wind tunnels and presented their design and process to a panel of judges. In addition to these typical challenge elements, this year teams had to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of other renewable energy content. Teams had to bring a second turbine to Nationals this year — a floating offshore turbine — able to sustain wave action in our offshore wind tunnel.”
Tabb High School’s team, known as “Gone with the Wind,” were recognized as this year’s national champions in the High School Age Division, which includes grades 9-12.
The students had to present their design choices, challenges and successes to 30 expert judges at the national competition. Additionally, teams participated in a “renewable energy quiz bowl” as well as hydropower and solar power challenges.
According to a release, Tabb High students partnered with James Madison University to compete in the Collegiate-High School Challenge. The team placed first in this challenge as well.
Gone with the Wind’s team members include the following students:
- Kyle Ray
- Jacoby Melton
- Katelyn Wiltz
- Shugo Mori
- Alice Fang
The CLEANPOWER 2022 Conference took place from May 16-19. Previously, the Tabb KidWind Team won the Regional Challenge at Old Dominion University (ODU) and the State Challenge at Virginia State University (VSU). These events qualified them for the National competition at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.
For more information on the CLEANPOWER 2022 Conference, please check out the conference’s official website.
