The 2026 TSTC Big Country KidWind Challenge brought together student engineers from across the region for a day of innovation, teamwork, and renewable energy exploration. Twenty teams representing five school districts — Colorado ISD, Floydada Collegiate ISD, Hamlin Collegiate ISD, New Home ISD, and Roscoe Collegiate ISD — competed in the event, designing and testing wind turbines while demonstrating their engineering and problem-solving skills.
Several teams earned the opportunity to advance to the KidWind World Challenge, which will be held May 17–20 in Madison, Wisconsin.
Advancing Teams:
-
Middle School Division: New Home ISD, Colorado ISD
-
High School Open Division: New Home ISD
-
High School KidWind Division: Hamlin Collegiate ISD
In addition to the advancing teams, Roscoe Collegiate ISD and Floydada Collegiate ISD received the Spirit of KidWind Award, recognizing their outstanding cooperation, sportsmanship, and team spirit throughout the competition.
Students participating in the challenge designed, built, and tested small-scale wind turbines, applying principles of physics, engineering, and renewable energy in a hands-on competition environment.
Dr. Andy Wilson Research Director at CEN
“Events like the KidWind Challenge give students the opportunity to engage deeply with real-world engineering problems while building the collaboration and critical thinking skills that drive innovation,” said Dr. Andy Wilson, Research Director at Collegiate Edu-Nation. “Seeing students from across the Big Country design solutions and compete at such a high level is incredibly exciting, and we’re proud to see several of these teams advancing to the world stage.”
The KidWind Challenge is part of a national program that introduces students to renewable energy technologies through hands-on design and experimentation. The Big Country event highlighted the growing interest and talent in STEM fields across West Texas.
Educators and organizers say the event not only fosters technical skills but also inspires students to pursue future careers in science, engineering, and energy innovation.
The teams advancing to the world competition will represent their schools and communities as they compete against top student teams from across the globe.
About Collegiate Edu-Nation
Collegiate Edu-Nation partners with rural communities to create high-quality educational opportunities that prepare students for college, career, and community leadership. Visit our website at edu-nation.org to learn more.
