WPS holds 29th annual Solar Olympics for high school students to display solar-power tech

OSHKOSH (WLUK) — Solar-powered food cookers, solar-powered cars and solar-powered photography were just some of the solar-focused items to fill the Culver Center at UW-Oshkosh Wednesday morning.

It’s part of WPS’s 29th annual Solar Olympics competition for area high school students.

“This is a fun, hands on way for area high school students to be able to demonstrate their knowledge of solar energy by taking part in 13 different events,” said WPS Spokesperson Matt Culllen.

One event was a time trial for solar-powered cars.

Kiel High School students like Senior Evan Deruyter took a unique approach by using CD’s as tires.

“Helps with reflecting light, and more into the solar panel,” he said. “Light reflected off the CDs and into the solar panel, giving it a little bit more power.”

Deruyter told FOX 11 it was great to see the different approaches other students took to the challenges.

“No really fighting, or bickering, or trying to sabotage each other. Just friendly competition,” he said.

Cullen told us it’s one of the main goals of the competition.

There are different designs for solar water heaters, solar cookers, solar race cars using different components, different items. That’s the fun part, is getting a chance to see the creativity that the students have, whether it’s with items that are powered by solar energy, or items and things that are designed and inspired by solar energy.

Cullen added it’s all in the name of teaching students how the company utilizes its solar energy facilities.

“It gives students the chance to see exactly how we take those facilities, how we’re able to capture the energy that’s in the sun, and convert it to electricity that powers their everyday lives,” he explained. “Now they get the chance to do the same, but just on a little bit of a smaller scale.”

WPS says the competition is a culmination of the scientific work that students did throughout the year.

You can find the full results of the competition below:

Team results

• 1st place: Valders High School
• 2nd place: Northland Lutheran High School
• 3rd place: Marinette High School

Event results

• Solar Advertising Campaign: Ashwaubenon High School
• Solar Art Challenge: Marinette High School
• Solar Building Design: Wausau West High School
• Solar Car Design: Marinette High School
• Solar Car Race: Ashwaubenon High School
• Solar Cooker: Wausau West High School
• Solar Essay: Valders High School
• Solar Jeopardy (Individual Event): Norianna Burton, Valders High School
• Solar Jeopardy (Team Final): Northland Lutheran High School
• Solar Photography: Valders High School
• Solar Sculpture: West De Pere High School
• Solar T-Shirt Design: Elcho High School
• Solar Water Heater: Northland Lutheran High School