Shining a Spotlight on Suns of Vikings Solar Club

From the Perkiomen Valley School Board Agenda, Sept. 12:

The Perkiomen Valley School Board would like to recognize the PV Suns of Vikings Solar Club, who competed for the third year in both the Philadelphia Junior Solar Sprint Rally and Springfield Massachusetts NESEA Junior Solar Sprint Championships.

Fifth-grade students from , , , and sixth- and seventh-grade students from and began their model solar car preparation last March. A total of 76 PV students used their critical thinking and cooperative problem solving skills as they worked diligently for three months, researching, designing, and creating 35 solar-powered cars.

Our students represented Perkiomen Valley School District and achieved great success in both competitions. Their teachers were honored to have facilitated the learning of these amazing future engineers and were extremely proud that they accomplished these achievements through dedication, enthusiasm, camaraderie, and kindness. The school board would like to recognize these extraordinary young people:

• 2011 Philadelphia first-place trophy for Junior Solar Sprint Speed Honors: sixth-grade student Leah Myers and seventh-grade student Abbie Verbeke

• 2011 Philadelphia second-place trophy for Junior Solar Sprint Speed Honors: eighth-grade students Danielle Taverna, Stephanie Waldman, and Maria Woyden

• 2011 Philadelphia second-place trophy for Junior Solar Sprint Technical Merit Honors: sixth-grader students Ethan Sowa, Tommy Santangelo, and AJ Coates

• 2011 Philadelphia third-place trophy for Junior Solar Sprint Technical Merit Honors: sixth-grader students Maggie Roop and Grace Rogers

• 2011 Philadelphia Junior Solar Sprint Creativity Honors and 2011 NESEA Junior Solar Sprint Championships Artistic Merit Achievement: eighth-grade students Anna Hansen and Becky Hane

• 2011 Philadelphia Junior Solar Sprint “Overall Best Junior Solar Sprint Car” and 2011 NESEA Junior Solar Sprint Championships first-place innovation: seventh-grade students Aaron Yeiser and Kyle Thomas

• 2011 Philadelphia first-place trophy for Junior Solar Sprint Technical Merit Honor and 2011 NESEA Junior Solar Sprint Championships: first-place craftsmanship, second-place innovation, second-place TECHNICAL MERIT ACHIEVEMENTS, and GRAND CHAMPIONS: seventh-grader students, Kimberly Hanes and Jenna Pupillo

These outstanding accomplishments could not have been completed without the many hours of work and the tremendous dedication of all involved, including Tracey Moreno and Diane Raspen.