Moment in the sun: Area students take top spots at 27th annual WPS Solar Olympics

Solar skills, strategies and smarts powered area high school students to the top of the podium at Wisconsin Public Service’s (WPS) 27^th annual Solar Olympics competition. Students from more than a dozen high schools from across northeast and north central Wisconsin took part in the event May 17 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Students put their science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) skills to the test in 13 separate solar-themed events — creating devices or items such as renewable race cars, clean energy cookers and sun-splashed artwork.

In true Olympic tradition, the top three finishers in each event received gold, silver and bronze medals at an awards ceremony at the end of the competition.

Event winners

Solar Advertising Campaign: Marathon High School
Solar Art Challenge: Marinette High School, Marathon High School, Ashwaubenon High School (combined entry)
Solar Building Design: Northland Lutheran High School
Solar Car Design: Marinette High School
Solar Car Race: Marathon High School
Solar Cooker: Valders High School
Solar Essay: Marathon High School
Solar Jeopardy (individual winner): Cal Heiden, Wausau West High School
Solar Jeopardy (team winner): Valders High School
Solar Photography: Valders High School
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Innovation: Three Lakes High School
Solar Sculpture: Marathon High School
Solar T-shirt Design: Tomahawk High School
Solar Water Heater: Valders High School

In the team competition, Valders High School took top honors, while Marathon High School and Marinette High School finished second and third, respectively.

Solar Olympics supports student learning

Now in its 27^th year, Solar Olympics gives high school students a fun, hands-on opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of an important source of clean energy. This unique educational event has grown from three schools in 1997 to include schools across northeast and north central Wisconsin.

WPS offers Solar Olympics to schools that participate in its SolarWise for Schools program. The program’s lessons and interactive projects help students learn about solar power and renewable energy. WPS also has helped 56 high schools install solar energy systems through the SolarWise for Schools program.

Three female high school students set up a solar water heater device on a grass lawn at the 27th annual WPS Solar Olympics

A green and yellow tower powered by a solar panel helps filter water as an entry in the WPS Solar Olympics PV Innovation event.

A male high school student in a pink shirt waits to catch his solar race car as it moves down a white track at the WPS Solar Olympics.

Several gold, silver and bronze medals lie on a table before being handed out at the 27th annual WPS Solar Olympics.

A woman provides feedback to two female high school students on their solar building design during the 27th annual WPS Solar Olympics.

Several loops of black tubing lie on an angle on top of a black board as part of an entry in the solar water heater competition at the WPS Solar Olympics.

A yellow, orange and red globe hangs above a cupped wooden hand as part of a solar sculpture entry at the 27th annual WPS Solar Olympics.

A man reads a question to a male and female high school student during the Solar Jeopardy competition at the WPS Solar Olympics.

A male Solar Olympics hosts stands next to high school students who stand for a photo with the medals they won at the 27th WPS Solar Olympics.

Advancing clean energy in Wisconsin

WPS offers Solar Olympics and its SolarWise for Schools program as part of its commitment to a bright, sustainable future for the customers and communities it serves. The company provides solar energy throughout the year from Wisconsin’s first large-scale solar parks and the first large-scale solar facility in the state’s Northwoods region. It also has announced plans to acquire portions of additional solar parks in Wisconsin in the coming years.

Participating schools

Ashwaubenon High School
Chilton High School
Lakeland Union High School
Marathon High School
Marinette High School
Mishicot High School
Northland Lutheran High School
Pembine High School
St. Thomas Aquinas Academy (Marinette)
Three Lakes High School
Tomahawk High School
Valders High School
Wausau West High School
West De Pere High School