CMYK local
The Paper | Thursday, May 9, 2013
9A
LeAnne Akin The Paper
A winning solar car speeds to the finish line; Winder-Barrow Middle School won first in design and second in performance/speed; Don Lohmeier was one of the design judges.
Teams compete in Jackson EMC’s Junior Solar Sprint at Road Atlanta By LEANNE AKIN
LeAnne Akin The Paper
lakin@clickthepaper.com
Competitors in the Jackson EMC Junior Solar Sprint competition held Friday at Road Atlanta had to resort to battery power as weather conditions prompted the move of the race track for solar-powered model cars under the Hospitality Chalet pavilion. Chestatee Middle School was the winner of the speed/ performance portion of the May 3 competition, and Winder-Barrow Middle School took second place by edging out West Hall Middle School. W-BMS took the first-place trophy in the design competition with North Gwinnett Middle placing second and Creekland Middle in third. Jackson EMC hosted the competition with Sol America as presenting sponsor. Other sponsors included Green Power EMC, Road Atlanta, Skip Barber Racing School, Right Choice, First Century Energy and PPT
Batteries are installed for the race when solar power wasn’t available due to rain. See more scenes at ClickThePaper.com Promotions. Fifteen area middle schools competed in speed/ performance and design of solar-powered model cars. Junior Solar Sprint teaches principles of energy and science in an atmosphere that is fun and exciting for sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. Participants build small, solar-powered model cars using identical solar panels and motors. The competition is the culmination of the learning experience. “The JSS is designed to teach principles of energy and science in a fun and exciting atmosphere that’s teaching our young folks
about alternative energy sources,” says Randall Pugh, president and CEO. Geoff Lee, president and general manager of Road Atlanta, welcomed the competitors to the venue and Casey Carden, regional chief instructor of Skip Barber Racing, gave an overview of the school. Kay Parks, who works in public relations and community relations for Jackson EMC, welcomed Sol America and 1st Century Energy president Stan Allen to the event. The purpose of the Junior Solar Sprint is to teach principles of energy and science in an atmosphere that is fun
and exciting. The Winder-Barrow Middle School team of Adam Parker, Chris Wilko, Katherine Black, Trace Freeman, Vince Sparacello, Tyler Laseter and Bailey Brock is advised by Curtis Mathis. The team won second in design in the 2012 contest. Teddie Lohmeier and her husband Don were among the judges for the competition. A retired educator, Teddie Lohmeier and Kay Parks met in a leadership program and Parks said Teddie’s “brain is as big as her heart.” She has been involved with the Solar Sprint since its inception four years ago. The first competition took placed on the East Jackson Comprehensive High School tennis courts and was held at Lanier Raceway before finding a home at Road Atlanta two years ago. In Junior Solar Sprint activities, students are encouraged to use math and science principles, together with their creativity, as a means
of stimulating interest in technology and incorporating these principles in their education, daily practices and career plans. Lohmeier said when EV program innovation grant funds dried up, there weren’t funding sources available for training of instructors. In high schools, the Georgia Technology Student Association is where students can continue to pursue their interests in designing and driving their own vehicles. Lohmeier recalls an EV program participant who wanted to be a fantasy novelist and said, after her involvement, found she could pursue a career as a technical writer. Certified Electric Vehicle Technicians will be needed in the future, said Lohmeier, and perhaps involvement in the Solar Sprint will spark student interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Parks noted that Gov. Nathan Deal signed STEM legislation. “It played right into this event,”
said Parks. The grill was cranked up with Todd Baxter, Terry Fulcher and Ivan Cox of Jackson EMC cooking up hamburgers and hot dogs for the luncheon. The Kings Bridge Middle School team, advised by Justin Schuska, included Mitchell Walker, Jacob Brock, Blair Langley and Wesley Baxter. Other schools competing in the solar sprint included Banks County Middle, Creekland Middle, Dacula Middle, East Jackson Middle, Frank Osborne Middle, Madison County Middle, North Gwinnett Middle, North Hall Middle, Richard Hull Middle, Sweetwater Middle and West Hall Middle. The student who won a racer autographed checkered flag was Laura Fowler of East Hall Middle and the adult winner of a Skip Barber racing experience was Susan Mulkey, whose son, Anthony, is a Richard Hull Middle School student.
Join us for an update on the progress of Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton, scheduled to open in Spring 2015. Come see our new architectural renderings and learn more about our construction to date. Tuesday, May 21 Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church, Dacula The meeting will be held from 6 - 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
To register, visit nghs.com/events or call 770-219-3840. NGMC Braselton, a 100-bed acute care hospital, is scheduled to open in Spring 2015. Already located on the future hospital campus is Medical Plaza 1, a medical office building that is home to an urgent care center, imaging center, outpatient physical & occupational therapy, lab and physician practices representing more than 20 medical specialties. Medical Plaza 1 is located at 5875 Thompson Mill Road, Hoschton. Learn more at nghs.com/braselton