MATTAWA - Wahluke Junior High placed firstt at Central Washington University's Kid Wind Event, sponsored by Puget Sound Energy, Central Washington University and other local supporters of wind energy.

Of the 38 junior high teams competing, WJH of Mattawa took home the $400 first place cash prize. Students enrolled in WJH Gateway to Technology (GTT) courses used their Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills to create a working scale model wind turbine.

According to teacher Arthur Morken, his students' project was able to output 30,000 mW of real power in the 60-second wind tunnel portion of the competition. The overall winners were judged on energy produced in the wind tunnel, turbine design, documentation, and knowledge of subject matter.

"The Mattawa students were brought to tears when they realized the final first place prize of the competition was actually theirs," Morken said.

Earlier in the day, the same students were discouraged by several technical issues with their project. They required a little quick engineering problem solving and recalibration to make the test in the wind tunnel a success.

"Team members were encouraged when they saw the blades start to spin and the generator come up to speed but had not expected a calculated output so high in the field of milliwatt scores," Morken said.

In addition to the prize money, the Wahluke team received an invitation to compete in Washington D.C. this month at the National Kid Wind Competition.

The WJH students were excited at the possibility of going but realized that two weeks is short notice to raise the approximate $1,200 per person for travel costs.

Technology Student Association (TSA) Advisors Arthur Morken and Myron Hamilton are pursuing the possibilities to get students there in the short time frame available with WSD73 administrators.