ORONO – Yesterday morning the Foster Technology Center team arrived at the University of Maine as one of 43 Maine teams that competed in Maine Wind Blade Challenge (WBC), and left with trophies in hand. The team won third place and John MacDonald received an award for teacher of the year.
Each team followed STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) guidelines in a classroom setting to design their composites blades, then were paired with a composite business to manufacture. Foster Technology Center students researched their design in physics class with teacher Jake Bogar then manufactured their blades, in house, as part of the Foster Technology Center’s composite program.

Yesterday, teams put their blades to the test, attempting to generate energy and defend their designs to a panel of industry judges. Final scores were determined by a combined score of presentation and performance.

The competition was a close one. Easton High School came in first place with a combined score of 122, Presque Isle came in second with 112 and Foster Technology Center 110.

Foster Technology Center left with their heads held high. “We may have come in third overall but we generated the second most voltage,” said Cameron Sennick. Foster Tech’s blades generated 20.92 volts at peak performance, 3 volts more than Presque Isle.

The team was pleased with their performance.

“I am really happy,” said Luke Goodwin after accepting the award.

Foster Technology Center’s composite teacher, John MacDonald, also walked away with a trophy for Teacher of the Year, “John has been an instrumental pioneer in pursuing and assisting teachers in the development of high school and post-secondary composite curriculum,” said Paul Williamson, Director of Maine Wind Industry Initiative.

John MacDonald and the team made an impression.

“The goal of this event is to stimulate students’ interest STEM education and composites through hands on learning,” said Sylvie Boisvert, one of the Wind Blade Challenge coordinators. “This school is a prime example of that, with two of the students continuing in engineering related fields. They have made an incredible impact on me and I feel strongly that all three of these individuals will make an impact in their fields.”