KU News Release

High school students invited to participate in School of Engineering’s design contest

LAWRENCE — Let the countdown to kickoff begin.

The 19th annual High School Design Competition hosted by the University of Kansas School of Engineering will take place Tuesday, Oct. 31. Teams of students in ninth through 12th grades will have an opportunity to “Split the Uprights” as they design a football-themed kicking machine.

Working in teams of up to six students each, participants must design and build a device that can launch ping pong balls through a 2-foot wide football goal post. The competitors will be judged on three factors: greatest number of successful kicks in 60 seconds; highest point total; and longest kick.

To add more challenge to the competition, teams will need to kick the ping pong balls over the outline of a 3-foot tall “lineman” placed two feet away from their launching device.

Teams must register online by Oct. 17. All activities take place at Eaton Hall on KU’s Lawrence campus. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. Competition begins at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided for all participants and parking passes will be available for registering schools.

Rules and a schedule of activities appear on the School of Engineering Web site. Questions on the competition rules should be directed to Janelle Dozar, (785) 864-2931.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.