As participants in Jackson EMC's Annual Junior Solar Sprint Competition, North Gwinnett Middle School won 1st Place in both the Speed/Performance and Design/Engineering categories.

JSS is a classroom based, hands-on, disciplinary program designed to teach principles of energy and science in an atmosphere that is fun and exciting for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. All participants build small, solar-powered model cars using identical solar panels and motors. The chassis, wheels and transmission are made from any other materials. Students are encouraged to use math and science principles, together with their creativity, as a means of stimulating interest in technology and incorporating these principles in their education, daily practices and career plans.
Each Junior Solar Sprint team is required to design and build a model car no larger than 30 cm x 60 cm x 30 cm (the size similar to a model car kit). The cars are powered by sunlight using a solar photovoltaic cell that converts the sun's energy into electricity. Although the cell and a motor were provided, students must consider such critical factors as aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance, weight and drive train when they design their cars for speed, design and reliability.
The over-all JSS program was developed by Green Power EMC and is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Midwest Research Institute (MRI), Battelle and Bechtel, managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and endorsed by the National Science Teachers Association.

Special Thanks & Recognition to our 2012 Sponsors:

2012 Solar Showdown

Our annual JSS competition was held on May 4th at Road Atlanta. The middle schools selected to participate in the Junior Solar Sprint program included: Banks County; Burney-Harris-Lyons, Clarke County; Chestatee, Hall County; Creekland, Gwinnett County; Daula, Gwinnett County; East Hall; East Jackson; Frank Osborne, Gwinnett County; Kings Bridge, Jackson County; Madison County; North Gwinnett; North Hall; Richard Hull, Gwinnett County; Sweetwater, Gwinnett County; West Hall; and Winder Barrow.

The competition between the schools was based on two categories, design/engineering and speed/performance. In the design category: 1st Place went to North Gwinnett Middle School, 2nd Place-Winder Barrow Middle School, Hall County; and 3rd Place–Madison County Middle School, Gwinnett County. In the speed/performance category the winners were: 1st Place–North Gwinnett Middle School; 2nd Place–Dacula Middle School; and 3rd Place–West Hall Middle School, Gwinnett County.
“With this program, our goal was to increase renewable energy knowledge by using science know-how, creative thinking and experimentation, thereby encouraging students to pursue careers in the fields of science, math and engineering," says Kay Parks, community relations representative.

Area schools compete annually in the Jackson EMC Junior Solar Sprint competition with the next event planned for spring 2013.