Racers, or "senders," hold cardboard over their solar panels as the start of the race is counted down. (Photo by Deborah Rawson)
PITTSFIELD — A Cheerios cereal box. A Styrofoam fast-food take out tray. Aluminum cans. They may be trash to some but were just some of the items used to create alternative-energy-powered racing vehicles for others.
These miniature machines were not designed or built by the world’s leading scientists and engineers — at least not yet. They crafted by middle school students, for the fifth annual Berkshire-Hudson Area Junior Solar Sprint competition Saturday at Reid Middle School on North Street. The competition, open to students in fifth through eighth grade, drew nearly 100 participants from Adams, North Adams, Lee, Lenox, Pittsfield, Williamstown and Amenia, N.Y.
Winners advanced to the Northeast JSS regional competition at the Springfield Science Museum in Springfield on Sunday, June 13. There, Berkshire-Hudson winners will compete against other middle school students from New England, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C.
Berkshire Gas Co., Berkshire Bank, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association and the U.S. Department of Energy sponsored last weekend’s event. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory manages the National Junior Solar Sprint program for the U.S. Department of Energy.
The objective of the competition is to design and build vehicles that will complete a race in the shortest possible time, using available power. The requirements for the racing mobiles included using an aluminum can to act as a payload (or passenger), powering the motor using a solar panel or battery if no sun was available, and to meet size specifications.
Nancy Nylen, associate director for the Pittsfield-based Center for Ecological Technology (CET) who coordinated the event and supplied solar panels to the schools, opened the competition by welcoming contestants and parents and hoping for the sun to hold out on a partly cloudy morning. “This is a national competition, so there are students in fifth through eighth grade throughout the country who are building solar cars, learning about our transportation of the future, and this is a really good time, as your parents are becoming a little bit more aware of the fuel costs of our current transportation and also the pollution of our current transportation,†Nylen said. “You are the future, and you’re learning about clean, renewable technology and the cars we drive.â€
When students were not racing their cars, they had to bring them to the judging table, where on-site judges interviewed the junior designers and builders on how they built their cars, the materials they used and where they came up with their ideas.
Car 24, designed and built by Nick Shaw and Steve McLaughlin, eighth graders in Mr. Hess’ Technology class at Herberg Middle School, said they spent about 40 hours working on the design and construction of their car.
“We built them in tech class and then we raced them and the best six from class got to come,†said Nick as the pair waited for their car to race. Another team from the tech class included Josh O’Keefe and Michael Ogulnick, who crafted Car 21 but didn’t have much luck on the first leg of the double-elimination tournament.
“Our car didn’t move the first time, but we fixed it and it moves now,†Josh said with excitement, as they waited for their next turn to race.
The pink “Barbie†car, officially named “Surf†by the Beach Bums team, won its first racing heat, and placed second overall in the Innovation category. The car, crafted out of parts of a Cheerios box and some foam-core paper was constructed and painted bright pink with yellow flowers by team members Briana Flynn and Jessica Russo, the senders of the car at the start of the race, and Rebecca Barry and Desiree Giardiana, the catchers of the car at the finish line (the catchers prevent the delicate instruments from crashing into the wooden backstop). The girls are students of Mr. Gaynor’s technology class at Reid Middle School.
They said they learned about building, how to make things go faster and how to use the solar panel. Their favorite thing about the car? “It’s pink.â€
The students had batteries to use as a backup source of power in case the sun didn’t cooperate, but the sun held out and the cars ran on solar energy. There were also full-sized alternative power vehicles on hand, and music was provided by solar energy as well.
“We are thrilled by the creativity and enthusiasm of so many students and that several now have the opportunity to participate in the regional event,†Nylen said.
There were trophies given in four categories, including technical merit, innovation, craftsmanship and performance. Winners who advanced to the regional finals included the followingâ€
Technical Merit: first place, Conte Middle School, North Adams, Chris Mowe, Alex Segala, Jeff Vecellio, with their “Nike†car; second place, Reid Middle School, Pittsfield, Jared Houghtlin, Brian Forfa, Don Lay, Raheem Ashley, with “The Fast and the Cheddar;†third place, a tie, Reid Middle School, John Kleni, Nick Argon, for “Shrek†and Weebutuck Central School, Amenia, N.Y., Camille Roccanova.
Craftsmanship: first place, Lenox Memorial Middle & High School, Michael Lane, Colin Mizia, Mac Henry, Kevin McDaniel, “SS Stormers IV;†second place, Herberg Middle School, Pittsfield, Ryan Chojnowski, Quinton Smith, John Maloney, “The Dew Machine;†third place Reid Middle School Patrick Vonberg and Michael Cross.
Innovation: first place, Reid Middle School, Lauren Tremblay, “To Go #13;†second place, the Beach Bums, Reid Middle School; third place, Herberg Middle School, Dan Nesti and Justin Tatro.
Speed/Performance: first place, Reid Middle School, Ross Kittle and Joe Jennings, “Revenge of the Duck;†second place, Conte Middle School, North Adams, Chris Mowe, Alex Segala and Jeff Vecellio, “Nike; third place, Reid Middle School, Patrick Sheehan, Joseph Racicot and William Wannamaker, “RAWS.â€
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
State Fire Marshal Offers Cold Snap Heating Safety Tips
STOW, Mass. —With temperatures expected to dip into the teens overnight this week, Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine is reminding residents to stay warm safely and protect their loved ones from some of the most common home heating fires.
"We're expecting very cold weather in the nights ahead, and home heating appliances will be working overtime," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. "Heating equipment is the leading cause of carbon monoxide at home and the second leading cause of residential fires. Whether you're using gas, oil, solid fuel, or space heaters to keep warm, be sure you keep safe, too."
State Fire Marshal Davine said there were nearly 6,000 heating fires in Massachusetts from 2019 to 2023. These fires claimed eight lives, caused 139 injuries to firefighters and residents, and contributed to over $42 million in damage. And in 2023 alone, Massachusetts fire departments reported finding carbon monoxide at nearly 5,000 non-fire incidents.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Every household needs working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of their home. Check the manufacturing date on the back of your alarms so you know when to replace them: smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years, and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced after 5 to 10 years depending on the model. If your alarms take alkaline batteries, put in fresh batteries twice a year when you change your clocks. If it's time to replace your alarms, choose new ones from a well-known, national brand. Select smoke alarms with a sealed, long-life battery and a hush feature.
Natural Gas and Oil Heat
If you have a furnace, water heater, or oil burner, have it professionally checked and serviced each year. This will help it run more efficiently, which will save you money and could save your life. Always keep a three-foot "circle of safety" around the appliance clear of anything that could catch fire. Never store painting supplies, aerosol cans, or other flammable items near these appliances. If you smell gas, don't use any electrical switches or devices: get out, stay out, and call 9-1-1 right away.
Residents struggling to pay for heating bills or maintenance may be eligible for assistance through the Massachusetts home energy assistance program (HEAP). No matter what type of heating equipment you use, HEAP may be able to help you pay your winter heating bills or maintain your heating system. All Massachusetts residents are encouraged to explore eligibility for this free program and apply for assistance.
Solid Fuel Heating
If you use a fireplace or a stove that burns wood, pellets, or coal, always keep the area around it clear for three feet in all directions. This circle of safety should be free of furniture, drapery, rugs, books and papers, fuel, and any other flammable items. To prevent sparks and embers from escaping, use a fireplace screen or keep the stove door closed while burning. Use only dry, seasoned hardwood and don't use flammable liquids to start the fire. To dispose of ashes, wait until they are cool and shovel them into a metal bucket with a lid and place it outside at least 10 feet away from the building.
Have your chimney and flue professionally inspected and cleaned each year. Most chimney fires are caused by burning creosote, a tarry substance that builds up as the fireplace, wood stove, or pellet stove is used. If burning creosote, sparks, embers, or hot gases escape through cracks in the flue or chimney, they can cause a fire that spreads to the rest of the structure. Annual cleaning and inspection can minimize this risk. Contact the Massachusetts Chimney Sweep Guild or Chimney Safety Institute of America to identify reputable local companies.
Space Heaters
Keep space heaters at least three feet from curtains, bedding, and anything else that can burn. Plug them directly into a wall socket, not an extension cord or a power strip, and remember that they're for temporary use. Always turn a space heater off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
When purchasing a space heater, select one that's been tested and labeled by a nationally recognized testing company, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL). Newer space heaters should have an automatic shut-off switch that turns the device off if it tips over. Unvented kerosene space heaters and portable propane space heaters are not permitted for residential use in Massachusetts, State Fire Marshal Davine said: the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning that they pose is too great.
Monument Mountain's Everett Pacheco took control of the race in the final mile and went on to a convincing Division 3 State Championship on Saturday at Fort Devens. click for more
Mila Marcisz ripped a shot from the top of the 18 that slipped just under the swing of teammate Adele Low and past the Mustangs keeper in the fourth minute of the second overtime to give Mount Greylock a 1-0 win. click for more
Mount Greylock dominated for much of the game, compiling a 17-4 advantage in shots on goal, not to mention numerous Mountie chances that went just wide or high of frame. click for more
Nora Schoeny, Gianna Love and Elyssa Scrimo Sunday led the Lenox girls cross country team to a narrow victory in the Division 2 race at the Western Massachusetts Championships at Stanley Park. click for more
Wahconah High senior Tim Kaley Sunday earned his second Berkshire Classic Championship by shooting a 77 at the Country Club of Pittsfield. click for more
