Northeast Junior Solar Sprint Championship

On Sunday, June 13, hundreds of middle school students from across the Northeast will converge on the Springfield Museums Quadrangle to compete in the thirteenth annual Northeast Regional Junior Solar Sprint model solar car competition. Racing begins at 10:00 am and the public is invited. NESEA is also seeking VOLUNTEERS to help with the festivities. Contact the Northeast JSS Coordinator at 413-774-6051 x27 or sreyes@nesea.org for more information on how you can get involved.

Every year, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) invites top winners from local Sprint races across the Northeast to compete at the regional championship. Teams compete for top awards in Innovation, Craftsmanship, Technical Merit, and Speed. One well-deserving team will be honored as the Grand Champion, while another will win the hearts of their peers and earn the Kid's Choice award. Special recognition will also be awarded to Best Reuse of Materials and Artistic Merit.

The Junior Solar Sprint Program is a model solar electric car program designed for middle school students to deepen their understanding of real-world applications in math, physical science, and solar energy. Through the program, students explore scientific concepts and technologies that can help our country address such issues as global climate change, air pollution, and dependence on foreign oil.

Students are challenged to design and construct a model solar-electric vehicle that is innovative, speedy and structurally sound. Teams can compete at local events and may ultimately advance to the Northeast Championship. At the Championship, participants vie for awards in speed, craftsmanship, technical merit, innovation, artist merit, kids' favorite, and team spirit. The competitions inspire students to push themselves and recognize their potential.

The growing popularity of the program is a reflection of its success: Teachers love to see the increased interest and aptitude in Math, Science, and Engineering. Parents love the new confidence, teamwork, and perseverance in their children. And students love the challenge and the fun to be had in such a creative process and collaborative experience.

For more information on the Junior Solar Sprint program and how your students can get involved visit NESEA at http://www.nesea.org/k-12/juniorsolarsprint/

JSS is organized by NESEA and sponsored by the United States Army Education Outreach Program (AEOP)

Admission: Free

Event Website: http://www.nesea.org/k-12/juniorsolarsprint/

Location: Springfield Museum Quadrangle, Springfield, MA