C-K Student on 'Rookie of the Year' Team For National Engineers Contest

Secondary students at the Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center (GACTC) recently placed in the top eight teams at the National Engineers Week Chain Reaction Contraption Contest at the Carnegie Science Center of Pittsburgh.

The annual contest is designed to foster an interest in engineering by challenging students to create a machine that will accomplish a specific task in at least 20 steps. In 2021, the task was “turn the page.” Each team submits preliminary design drawings for their contraption (which can be no larger than 2 feet by 3 feet by 5 feet), project progress photos/videos, and reports to document their contraption’s evolution, then presents their contraptions for judging based on functionality, complexity, and creativity in achieving the task.

More than 30 schools participated in the 2021 competition, which was held on Dec. 10 at the Carnegie Science Center. In addition to placing in the top eight teams, the GACTC team also won “Rookie of the Year” among all the schools participating for the first time.

“Many judges/observers were impressed with our use of electronics and motorized steps,” noted Brian Kelley, GACTC Electro Mechanical Engineering Technology Teacher. “We also used a programmable controller to help run our electronic circuits.”

GACTC students on the team are:

Cameron Brown (Claysburg-Kimmel High School)

Cameron Krause (Altoona Area High School)

Owen McCarville (Homeschooled)

Shane Rachael (Bellwood-Antis High School)

Evan Snelling (Hollidaysburg Area High School)

The National Engineers Week Chain Reaction Contraption Contest is sponsored by Westinghouse Electric Company, and presented in cooperation with the Carnegie Science Center.

For more information about the GACTC, please call (814) 941-TECH or visit GACTC.edu.