Northeast Wisconsin high schoolers participate in UW-Oshkosh’s annual Solar Olympics

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WBAY) — Students from nearly 15 high schools in northeast Wisconsin displayed the power of the sun at the Solar Olympics at UW-Oshkosh on Wednesday.

The event gives students the chance to learn all the different ways that solar energy is used.

Taking the energy from the sun and using it to power the world around you is exactly what students from over a dozen local high schools did at the annual Solar Olympics at UW-Oshkosh.

“I spent a lot of my younger years building like derby cars for Boy Scouts, and I really enjoyed doing that. Then I tried a couple carbon cars and I kind of implemented designs from both of those to try and keep this simple,” says Corrine Coble, a junior from Ashwaubenon High School.

A design so simple that it led to Corinne Coble and Sydney Damro of Ashwaubenon High School to win first place in the solar car race.

Damro says she’s happy that the work they put in paid off.

“We’ve been going through school and learning a ton of different things. Especially where we do a lot of science classes. Like we’re both in a bunch of science classes, so it’s really cool to be able to like apply our knowledge into something that’ll actually get us something,” says Damro, a senior.

The way these vehicles work is that the light from the sun comes down and hits this solar panel. Then, that energy is transferred through these wires and into this motor, thus powering the vehicle.

Putting in the hard work like these students, from playing Solar Olympics trivia to creating things like art, or ways to heat up your food and water.

Coble says she’s happy to have the chance to be a part of this.

“It’s a really great opportunity where we can learn so many new things throughout the year and here especially. We get to show our actual talents,” says Coble.

Some of the other winners include Wausau West High School, winning the solar cooker design, and Northland Lutheran High School, winning the solar water heater contest.

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