Students compete in ‘Solar Olympics’
Several Rhinelander High School students from Mrs. Esslinger’s two Environmental Science classes recently attended the Solar Olympics at UW-Stevens Point.
The classes had been working as a group to build projects for the Olympics in several categories; solar cooker, solar water heater, solar car, solar building design, solar art, solar photography, solar t-shirt design and solar marketing campaign. The best projects from each class were picked to take to the Olympics and students that wanted to go volunteered.
The group got to the UWSP campus and by the sundial set up all of their projects. Some were to be set up in the student union building, some outside at the sundial. All students received a free t-shirt and got to see other projects from many different schools across Wisconsin.
Students were then interviewed, which was difficult because some of the projects they brought were made by other students so it was hard to describe the work that went into the project. They also had a few problems with the water heater and solar car and realized when they saw the great projects from other schools what we could do next year to improve. Many students from other schools work on their projects all year as part of a club after school.
The whole day was a fun learning environment that not only allowed the students to see and learn about other schools, but also to look around the campus.
The group wanted to thank Rhinelander Toyota for donating a van for them to take to Stevens Point. They enjoyed the ride home, talking about all the things we could do next year to improve, and would all like to be involved again, with the exception of senior Stephanie Hubbard.
The school won a medal for the solar marketing campaign, as Collin Schmieding won the 3rd place bronze medal.
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