J. Blaine Blayton Elementary School’s engineering teams competed in the 2026 Virginia KidWindRenewable Energy Challenge at James Madison University recently. Teams showcased their engineering skills in three rigorous events: testing their wind turbine in a wind tunnel, tackling an on-the-spot instant challenge, and presenting their project to a panel of judges and defending their design choices.
Two JBB Elementary teams blew the competition away by placing 1st and 2nd, qualifying for the 2026 World KidWind Challenge in Madison, Wisconsin in May.
The KidWind Challenge is a nationwide program encouraging students to explore renewable energy through hands-on design and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning. The competition fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world application of science and engineering concepts.