May 17, 2017

Media Advisory

How well Colorado's middle school students grasp the fundamentals of math and science will be tested Saturday, May 20, at the 27^th Annual Junior Solar Sprint and Lithium-Ion Battery Car Competitions at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden.

Nearly 170 students from around the state are scheduled to race either solar- or battery-powered model vehicles from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at NREL. Both competitions challenge students to use scientific know-how, creative thinking, experimentation and teamwork to design and build their cars.

Students work together building cars with guidance from a parent, teacher, or coach. This year's competition involves 27 teams racing cars powered by solar cells and 19 teams with cars relying on lithium-ion batteries to cross the finish line. Trophies will be awarded for speed and design. A "Spirit Award" also will go to one team in recognition of good sportsmanship.

Sponsored by NREL and The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, the competitions give students the opportunity to showcase their engineering and design skills. The event is free and open to the public, although visitors must register in advance to be allowed on the NREL campus.

What: Junior Solar Sprint and Lithium-Ion Battery Car Competitions

When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 20

Where: NREL, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden

Members of the media who want to cover the event should RSVP to Wayne Hicks by May 19.

The participating schools are:

Castle Rock Middle School - Castle Rock Calhan School - Calhan Littleton Academy - Littleton Stargate School - Thornton Whittier K-8 School - Denver Kent Denver - Denver Resurrection Christian School Mead Middle School - Mead The Manning Option School - Golden Peak to Peak Charter School - Lafayette Lincoln Academy Charter School - Arvada Parker Performing Arts School - Parker Hulstrom K-8 - Northglenn Resurrection Christian Middle School - Loveland

Southern Hills Middle School - Boulder