High School Students Compete in Rocket, Boat, Dragster Competition at WSU
OGDEN, Utah — Weber State University will host the second annual Engineering Technology Open House for high school students enrolled in college courses, April 28 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Scheduled events include launching student-built model rockets, cardboard boat and mini-racer competitions and judging for three architectural challenges given to students prior to the open house. More than 100 high school students are expected to participate.
Students’ 3D-printed rockets will be judged for speed, distance and accuracy. The cardboard boat competition will feature boats, capable of floating two people across a pool, which students built using only cardboard and duct tape. In the mini-racer competition, students will race 3D-printed dragsters powered by compressed air.
The architectural projects include design plans for a Habitat for Humanity house, a flagship store for a commercial distributor and a residential home.
WSU’s Department of Engineering Technology, housed under the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology, will host the open house in various locations on campus. Participants will include high school students who have completed a WSU concurrent enrollment class or are enrolled presently.
“The reason we host events such as this is to recruit the best and brightest minds in engineering technology from local high schools,” said Jeremy Farner, design engineering technology associate professor. “Students’ pathways are opened up through these competitions, and they discover the interdisciplinary nature of the world we live in.”
For the first time, the open house will also include Test Fest, where students can take free certification exams for the design programs AutoCAD and Revit. The tests typically cost $70 for a single test, or $105 for a practice test and a retake.
Schedule of events:
- 7:30-8 a.m., registration for cardboard boat competition, Swenson Gymnasium foyer
- 8-9:30 a.m., cardboard boat competition, Swenson Gymnasium pool
- 8-9:30 a.m., registration for all other competitions, Swenson Gymnasium foyer
- 9:30-11:30 a.m., rocket launch competition, Stewart Stadium
- 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., mini-racer competition, Swenson Gymnasium north side of lower court
- 12:30-1 p.m., architectural competition viewing and judging, Swenson Gymnasium south side of the lower center court
- 1-2 p.m., lunch and awards ceremony, Shepherd Union Ballrooms
- 2-4 p.m., Test Fest, Engineering Technology Room 126
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Rachel Badali, Office of Marketing & Communications
801-626-7295 • rachelbadali@weber.edu- Contact:
Jeremy Farner, Design Engineering Technology associate professor
801-626-6962 • jfarner@weber.edu