Two students from Burlington Elementary school, Leo Rodriguez and Diego De La Fuente-Soto, recently won first place at the Regional KidWind Challenge in March. As a result of their win, they will be representing Burlington’s Wind Energy Team at the National KidWind Challenge, which will take place May 14 – 17 at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

The KidWind Challenge is a hands-on educational competition that engages elementary, middle, and high school students in learning about renewable energy and the engineering design process. Prior to the competition, teams design, construct, and test small-scale wind turbines that can generate electricity. They must use their knowledge of renewable energy, aerodynamics, and engineering to create the most efficient and effective wind turbine possible. 

At the competition, the students’ turbines are tested in a wind tunnel to see how much electricity they can produce. They also compete in mini challenges and give presentations to explain their engineering choices and design. Teams are judged on their turbine’s performance, design, and construction, as well as their presentation skills. 

Five teams competed in the elementary and middle school division at this year’s regional competition, with Leo and Diego standing out for their exceptional knowledge and skills in constructing a small wind turbine that could generate enough electricity for a small household. Leo and Diego are eager to represent their school and compete against other students from across the country at the National KidWind Challenge.