This hands-on renewable energy competition marked the culmination of the KidWind season, which included more than 60 in-person events in the U.S., Mexico, and Taiwan, as well as a nationwide Online Challenge. Only the top-performing teams from each event earned a spot at the international competition.
Thanks to generous support from Dominion Surry Nuclear Power, Skanska, and community fundraising efforts, three teams from Smithfield High qualified to attend the World Challenge:
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Sophomore Sophie Shipman and seniors Katie Gallahorn, Seneca Register, Vyncent Simpson, and Andrew Shipman of Team Goon Squad earned their place by winning the Virginia state championship on April 12 at James Madison University.
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Team Blown Away, composed of senior Draven Munro and sophomore Hayden Williams, advanced after securing second place at the same state event.
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Team Windstorm, with Freshmen Jack Rowe, Brody Syring, and Camden Lawrence, qualified by winning the national KidWind Online Challenge.
Teams were coached by Smithfield High teachers Heather Greer and Adam Shipman, with BreeAnna Frye coaching Team Windstorm.
During the competition, 45 high school teams were challenged to design and test wind turbines across four highly technical wind tunnel events:the Slow-Speed Tunnel measured turbine performance at low wind speeds (2–3 m/s); the Efficiency Tunnel tested power output and efficiency at moderate wind speeds (4–5 m/s); the Yawing Tunnel evaluated how well turbines performed while rotating 90 degrees during testing; and the Super Shark Tunnel simulated extreme conditions with wind speeds reaching up to 14 m/s (about 30 mph). In this challenge, teams were tasked with pumping water as quickly as possible to a height of 300 centimeters without overshooting. Many turbines did not survive the intensity, earning the tunnel its ominous nickname.
In addition to the turbine tests, students presented their engineering designs to a panel of industry experts, took a clean energy knowledge test, and participated in two surprise "instant challenges" requiring creativity and quick thinking.
After three days of testing, teamwork, and problem-solving, Team Goon Squad was named one of just three World Champion Top Performing Teams, a prestigious recognition. This victory is especially meaningful for seniors Katie Gallahorn and Seneca Register, who helped earn the same title at last year’s World Challenge.
“I could not be prouder of these students,” said Heather Greer, Smithfield High’s engineering teacher and longtime KidWind sponsor. “They put in months of hard work, refining their designs and mastering not only the engineering but also the presentation and collaboration skills. To see them succeed on the world stage is incredibly rewarding—not just for them, but for our entire school community.”
Smithfield High’s continued success at KidWind highlights the school’s growing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program and the powerful impact of community support in fostering real-world learning experiences.