Wheeling High School Hosts 2nd Annual Midwest Research Competition

The 2nd Annual Midwest Research Competition: POSITIVE IMPACT, where student designs solve real-world challenges, was hosted by Wheeling High School on  April 12, 2013.

Forty-six student teams competed from 13 high schools in the Northwest Chicago suburbs through support from the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), and Intel program sponsors, Hewlett-Packard (HP) co-sponsor, and Autodesk, which offers free 3D design software to students. Students presented projects in “Investigatory Design” and “Next Generation Innovators Challenge” divisions.

In the Next Generation Innovators Challenge students were asked to consider one of the following three themes: Airflow in a Surgical Operating Room, Paralympics Prosthetic Leg Design or Concussion Reducing Headgear.

Student teams were sponsored by the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) and supported by HP, Intel and Autodesk and met regularly before and after school to design their CAD models to support the varying challenges. Through this competition, students learned to work in highly intensive computing environments to create digital simulations that allowed the students to explore possible design solutions and scenarios.   Intel and HP provided access to advanced computing capabilities, and general support of the competition. Autodesk provided nearly $1.2 million in software and instructor training.