Pictured are RCSL Rotarian AWIM volunteers attending the May 16 Gravity Cruiser Vehicle Competition at Fulton Elementary, including Gary Kay, Stan Klein, Bill Klein, Ana Logan (holding school’s award plaque), Bill Giessing, and Jon Lyons.
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) supported the A World in Motion (AWIM) program, which was created by the Society of Automotive Engineers Foundation to get elementary students excited about math and science in support of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM.) Two different competitions were held at Chandler Unified School District Fulton Elementary School. Ten different classes at Fulton Elementary School worked in design teams to build, test, and race model balloon-powered JetToy cars and gravity cruiser vehicles. The JetToy cars were required to meet specific criteria to travel far and go fast. Jet propulsion, friction, air resistance, and design were the core scientific concepts students explored in this challenge. The cruiser gravity vehicles design concepts included forces, Newton’s Laws of Motion, gravity, and engineering design.
On May 16 and 19, each competing class raced in the preliminaries where the top three teams in each class were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals. Following the class races, the first-place winners raced for the final Top Race Award. The medals were presented by RCSL/AWIM volunteers. The RCSL AWIM Committee included RCSL President Jon Lyons; Club Event Chair Don Robins; Rotarians/AWIM volunteers Bill Giessing, Stan Klein, Bill Klein, Gary Kay, Ana Logan, Bill Crump, and Val Crump; and ASU polytechnic students Lauren Castillo and Mikayla Castillo. The committee members, who are residents of San Tan Valley, Sun Lakes, and Chandler, were onsite for weeks at the school to assist the students with the design, building, and testing of their vehicles.
RCSL wishes to extend a special thank you to the school’s faculty for letting RCSL bring the AWIM program to Fulton Elementary School again. All those involved noted that it is always a wonderful experience for the students. An updated school award plaque will be presented to Fulton Elementary Principal, Shannon Hannon, for placement in the school trophy bookcase for everyone to enjoy throughout the school year.
For more information about RCSL education programs and/or membership, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.