A group of Blue Ridge students will travel to Arizona in May to compete in the KidWind Challenge, a national renewable energy competition focused on wind turbine design.
The KidWind program, which teaches students to build and test wind turbines, has been part of the Blue Ridge Community Unit School District for several years. This year marks the district’s first foray into the competitive side of the program, led by instructor Cullen Scurlock.
Senior Carsyn Stiger, one of the team members, explains preparing for the competition required meticulous record-keeping and teamwork to perfect their turbine design.
Fellow senior Ellie Schlieper emphasizes building a great turbine doesn’t guarantee success. She notes each student contributed expertise in different aspects of the competition, from design to presentation, to secure their spot at the national event.
Scurlock and his students expressed gratitude to the district staff, the Board of Education, and Apex Clean Energy for their support, which made the trip to Arizona possible.
Blue Ridge competed in a regional event at Heartland Community College, testing turbines in wind tunnels for energy output, presenting designs to judges, and tackling instant challenges. Top performers advance to the World KidWind Challenge, held annually with the American Clean Power Association’s 'Clean Power' event - this year in Phoenix, Arizona, May 18–21, 2025.
The competition engages students from the U.S., Taiwan, Mexico, and beyond, with divisions for grades 4–5, 6–8, and 9–12. It’s open to public, private, homeschool, and after-school groups.
