Engineering to host High School Design Competition on Nov. 3

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Engineering will host its annual High School Design competition starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, at the engineering complex, including the new Learned Engineering Expansion Phase 2 (LEEP2) building. Opening ceremonies will take place at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.

This year’s theme is The Heist: Breaking and Engineering. High school students from Kansas and the Kansas City area will team up to compete a series of engineering challenges: a mechanical-based competition, a LEGO Mindstorm challenge or a computer programming competition.

The mechanical-based competition includes an egg drop, safe-cracking and a self-propelling car. In the Mindstorm challenge, students will build functioning machines from LEGO materials provided. For the computer-programing event, students will write code given specific requirements and parameters. The event allows students to test their innovation engineering skills against others.        

“The competition gives students a hands-on, competition-driven experience they can’t get in the classroom,” said Ali Self, a junior in architectural engineering and competition organizer. “We are excited to host the competitions in our LEEP2 building — as this change will allow students to experience new resources and technology now available here at KU.”

The competition is free and open to all high school students. Each student may only compete in one competition. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check out the competition details and rules.