Home > News & Information > News Releases >

For Release: 05/11/2010

High School Teams Shine at 14th Annual Solar Olympics

Energy, Enthusiasm and Creativity Rewarded at UW-Oshkosh Events

Oshkosh, WI - Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded at UW-Oshkosh today as teams from 23 area high schools competed in the 14th annual Solar Olympics.

Solar Olympics, sponsored annually by WPS Community Foundation, challenges competitors to design, construct and demonstrate a solar cooker, a solar water heater, a solar-powered model racecar, and a sculpture with a solar theme. In addition, the students compete in an essay contest, a "solar jeopardy" quiz game and events for solar building design, solar T-shirt design, solar photography, community presentation and a marketing campaign.

Judges for Solar Olympics this year came from Oshkosh businesses, UW-Oshkosh and Wisconsin Public Service.

The following awards were given: Gold-medal winners for each event:

The two teams winning the most medals this year were De Pere with six and Antigo and Lourdes with four each.

Schools competing this year included:

Participating Schools
Antigo High School Lourdes High School
Ashwaubenon High School Marinette High School
Beecher Dunbar Pembine High School Merrill High School
Chilton High School Notre Dame Academy
D.C. Everest High School Oshkosh West High School
De Pere High School Pacelli High School
Denmark High School Valders High School
Elcho High School Wabeno High School
Gibraltar High School Wausau East High School
Green Bay Southwest High School Wausau West High School
Green Bay West High School West De Pere
Lena High School Wrightstown High School

Celebrating its fourteenth anniversary, the SolarWise® for Schools program provides renewable energy education for public and private high schools served by Wisconsin Public Service Corporation. After 14 years, 47 high schools are involved, and over 14,000 students have used the curriculum package.

About the WPS Community Foundation, Inc.

The WPS Community Foundation is a private, charitable organization providing information and options for renewable energy. Through SolarWise® for Schools and the annual Solar Olympics, the Foundation actively works to preserve the environment for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren. Contributions to the WPS Community Foundation are tax deductible, to the extent allowed by law. More information is available on the Web at www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/environment/solarwise.aspx or by calling toll-free 800-450-7260.

For More Information, Contact: