OXFORD, Miss. – Students in high schools and middle schools
statewide are invited to enter the second annual Trebuchet
Hurling Competition Feb. 5 at the University of
Mississippi.
While activities for the students are planned for the
entire day, the final hurling contest begins at 5 p.m. in
the Ole Miss Indoor Practice Facility and is free and open
to the public. Sponsors are the School of Engineering and
the Mississippi Junior Academy of Science.
“The first catapult competition was such a great success,
but this year’s event is being expanded to be even more
exciting,” said Maxine Woolsey, engineering education
outreach specialist. “The event will be all day instead of
only in the evening. The registration fee is $5 per
student, which includes a T-shirt and membership in MJAS.”
Awards will be presented based on distance, height,
accuracy and design. Schools should e-mail a notice of
intent to participate and school/teacher contact
information to Woolsey at
engineer@olemiss.edu
by Jan. 18.
In return, the schools will receive an event itinerary,
requirements for the design and construction of the
trebuchet, and information on the tennis ball hurling
competition. Trebuchet specifications and competition
descriptions can be found on the Mississippi Academy of
Sciences Web site at
http://www.msacad.org/mjas/events.html.
Multiple teams of three to five students from each school
can design and construct a trebuchet to hurl tennis balls.
However, there will be restrictions limiting the number of
teams from each school participating in the final evening
competition.
Teams within individual schools are scheduled to compete at
10 a.m. During the afternoon, each school will determine
which two trebuchet teams represent them in the finals.
Upon request, arrangements can be made for the visiting
students to visit, tour and participate in lab
demonstrations in the Ole Miss science, mathematics, and
engineering departments and centers.
For additional information or to request assistance related
to a disability, contact Woolsey at 662-915-1849 or engineer@olemiss.edu
.