Kids harness wind power at Challenger Learning Center

The Challenger Learning Center at Heartland Community College hosted a competition for middle school and high school students to test their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills. 

Students in grades 4-12 gathered at Heartland’s Challenger Learning Center (CLC) and online to design and build a model wind turbine for the Central Illinois KidWind Renewable Energy Challenge. 

Staff and students from Heartland Community College Renewable Energy program were on hand to lend advice to teams as they created their model. Teams also heard from a career panel on renewable energy jobs and education. 

Teams tested their model in a wind tunnel set up in the Astroth Community Education Center (ACEC) on the Heartland Campus on Wednesday, February 12. Due to inclement weather, some schools were unable to attend in-person so they used the Challenger Learning Center’s remote learning capabilities to submit online. All submissions were evaluated and judging was completed on February 19. 

Professionals from the renewable energy industry served as judges, evaluated each team’s work, and picked winners to invite to the National KidWind Challenge held this summer.  

Middle School Division First Place: “The Bement Breeze” team from Bement Middle School

Elementary School Division First Place: “The Central Soldiers” team from Central Elementary (Lincoln) 

Second place finishers were “The Orbiting Eagles” from DeLand Weldon Middle School and “The Moosenadoes” from Glendale Elementary (East Peoria). 

All first and second place finishers are eligible to attend the World KidWind Challenge in Phoenix, AZ, (May 18-21, 2025). 

“This is a unique opportunity for kids to develop STEM skills while gaining the benefit of the renewable energy educators and students at Heartland,” said Dr. Julia Ossler, Director of Heartland’s Challenger Learning Center. “Thousands of students participate in immersive educational experiences each year at the Challenger Learning Center. Events like the KidWind Challenge help make the connection between STEM learning and careers in industries like wind energy, electric vehicles, solar energy, and many others.” 

Schools with students participating in the Central Illinois KidWind Challenger were Bement CUSD, Blue Ridge High School (Farmer City), Central Elementary (Lincoln), DeLand Weldon Elementary, Glendale Elementary (East Peoria), Northwest Elementary (Lincoln), Thomas Metcalf (Normal), Washington-Monroe Elementary (Lincoln), and West Lincoln Broadwell.  

The mission of the Challenger Learning Center is to engage secondary school students and teachers in dynamic, hands-on exploration and discovery opportunities that strengthen knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), inspire students to pursue careers in these fields and provide an outlet to learn and apply important life skills.