Picatinny Arsenal’s Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Office hosted its third Junior Solar Sprint competition on May 19 at the arsenal’s recreational center, Forge Fitness.
The competition is held annually with Army Research, Development and Engineering Command and Army Educational Outreach Program, which offers real-world STEM experiences, competitions, and internships.
The solar sprint competition is for middle school students, where students design, build and race solar-powered cars using hands-on engineering skills and locally sourced materials, such as pipe cleaners, wood, tissue paper.
The competition teaches students how to apply math, engineering and science skills; develop their teamwork and problem solving abilities, as well as investigate environmental issues and build their creative thinking.
Students also maintain an engineering lab notebook for judging by volunteer scientists and engineers. The notebook demonstrates the students’ ability to document their thought processes in designing, developing, building and testing their proposed solar-powered race car.
“I like the creativity behind making the cars and the competition. I didn’t think it would be this stressful, but it’s a lot of fun,” said Nicole Frey, 12, from Mount Arlington Public School. “I think the ‘Green Machine’ and the ‘Lochness Monster’ are the ones to beat,” added Frey as her team partner, Sydney Ostolaza, 11, explained the design parts behind their solar-powered car, including popsicle sticks, tissue paper, and wood.
During this year’s competition, four local schools participated: Mount Arlington Public School, Byram Intermediate School, St. Anthony School, and Eisenhower Middle School.
Charles Nino and MarcAnthony Scalera (Team PA-53) from Eisenhower Middle School earned first place. Jason Cakerri, Daniel Gilmore, and Joshua Rubenstein (Team PA-35) from Byram Intermediate School received second place. And, Giovanni Stocky and Zachary Zoino (Team PA-23) from Eisenhower Middle School earned third place. Winners of the best lab notebook were Carla Farris and Rohan Sharma from Mount Arlington Public School.
As first place winners, Nino and Scalera, and their teacher/coach Phil Moskowitz, will attend the all-expense paid trip to the national competition in Nashville, Tennessee. The first national competition took place in 2014 in Washington, D.C., where more than 60 teams competed in the event.
As winners of the best lab notebook, Farris and Sharma each received a 3-D shaped cookie jar of their heads.
“We thought a lot about speed and aerodynamics,” said Colin Timper, 14, from Mount Arlington Public School, alongside his team partner, Jack Santarpin, 14, after the second race. “Next time, if we could do something differently, we probably should test it more.”
Each year, Picatinny supports the venue, mentorship and the judges for the local event. RDECOM/AEOP provides students with the Junior Solar Sprint kits, which includes the batteries and solar panels. Picatinny’s first solar sprint event was held in 2014 and included more than 50 students from local middle schools. This year’s event included a little fewer than 100 students.
