Junior Solar Sprint
2003

SCHEDULE FOR RACE DAY

Location for the Eastern Mass. Jr. Solar Sprint is at the MIT Track (Steinbrenner Field).  The surface is a running track.  Guide lines will be set up the day of the race as in past years

The date for the race is May 17^th (rain date 18th) . Please register soon.  We will  include a final checklist of things that need to be done or considered before the Area Race.  Please help me out by going over this list thoroughly and making sure you understand it.  Not only will the race go more smoothly, but it will be more exciting and fun for all those involved.  Thanks!

The JSS 2003 Eastern Massachusetts Area Race will be held in the Steinbrenner Stadium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Saturday, May 17  The rain date is Sunday, May 18.  If the weather is uncertain, please call the BASEA number at 617-49 SOLAR after 8:00 am for instructions.  Calling a rain date is difficult for all involved.  We will provide instructions on the answering machine and this web-site. Also let us know your email for JSS update notices.

Schools with 1 to 25 teams may send 1 to 4 teams.  Schools with more than 25 teams may send up to 20% of their teams.  It may be possible to send more teams than outlined above.  If you are interested in sending additional teams, please contact us soon. 

BASEA JSS Registration Forms Here

School Registration Form   -  Return by Friday May 9,  2003

Team Registration Form     - Bring one registration form for each team.

JSS Rule book    - Requires Acrobat Reader. 
}If you do not have this reader, click here to download:

Note: Please be certain your teams are using the Northeast rules for the Jr. Solar Sprint, not the national rules.

617-497-6527 (BASEA message machine)

In the meantime, please visit the NESEA JSS Pages.

Or, for more information, contact David McNair

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FROM THE YEAR 2000 JSS RACE

JSS Information index

Join our Mailing List for future JSS Updates

Introduction to the JSS Program
BASEA and JSS
Helpful Documents
Aids to Teachers

How YOU can help

Introduction to the JSS program

The Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) is a fun, hands-on educational program for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to design, build and race solar powered model cars in area competition. JSS provides students with an opportunity to develop theoretical and hands-on engineering skills, culminating with the BASEA sponsored area race at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The top 100 cars from participating Eastern Massachusetts schools compete. 20 cars in the categories of technical merit, creativity, performance and craftsmanship move on to compete in the New England Regional Race, hosted by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association.

JSS was created by the United States Department of Energy as part of its commitment to educate young people about renewable energy and the environment. Intended to be an annual program, since its inception in 1990, it has moved from a predominantly publicly funded program to an almost entirely privately funded program.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory , a component of the Department of Energy, maintains National JSS information at its Web site - http://www.nrel.gov/business/education/SprintWeb/ . At this site you can find some helpful documents for students and teachers . You may also call their technical help line at 1-800-NEW-ENGY or e-mail NREL at jennifer_wieth@nrel.gov or linda_lung@nrel.gov . We suggest you contact BASEA for local JSS Information and NREL for national assistance.

In 1996, there were 83 host sites in 26 states involving 100,000 students and 15,000 teachers. Here in Eastern Massachusetts, we have 28 schools representing approximately 2000 students participating in the program.

Working in teams of 2-4, each team is provided with a kit consisting of a solar panel and a motor. The students design the chassis and the transmission and build them out of any materials they wish. The finished car must be able to carry a payload of an empty soda can and must have a removable solar panel. Students are encouraged to use math and science principles together with their creativity in a fun, challenging program that stimulates enthusiasm for science at a critical stage in their education.

BASEA and JSS

BASEA administers the JSS program solely through the efforts of volunteers. Volunteer mentors meet with teachers and students at the participating schools to teach about the design process and assist in the use of tools to construct the cars. Other volunteers devote their time and energy to ensure that the Area Race, with over 400 students, runs smoothly. Volunteer administrators personally contact over 85 teachers, attend science fairs, run teacher-mentor workshops and make presentations about JSS to various educational groups.

Teaching Aids

Materials to assist teachers in developing a curriculum for their classrooms have been made available by the National Renewable Laboratories. These materials will provide the information necessary to run a successful JSS program. Click the underlined hyperlink above to access these materials.

A video about the program is available through the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA). We will post information on obtaining this video soon!

How YOU Can Help

BASEA has a strong commitment to this program.   Each year BASEA volunteers nurture, plan, coordinate and host the Junior Solar Sprint. Significant funding comes directly from BASEA through membership dues, our BASEA Forum and the generosity of private donors. This year, federal funding for JSS is gone. We need YOUR help.

You can assist us in several ways:

• Introduce the JSS program into your school
• Volunteer with BASEA to help us organize and conduct this years' race
• Provide race materials such as banners, hats, trophies, refreshments
• Provide individual or corporate sponsorship

Corporate Sponsorship

BASEA is seeking one or more individual or corporate sponsors for this year's race. In exchange, your organization will be prominently associated with this excellent program. BASEA is a tax-deductible non-profit organization. Please contact Henry Vandemark, JSS coordinator, at (617) 497-6527 or write him at hkv@solarwave.com.

JSS Information Request

If you wish to receive periodic JSS News and Updates via e-mail, please register with us.  Click here.

Some Images from the 1996 JSS

Each spring, BASEA hosts the Eastern Massachusetts race.  Again in the spring of 1999, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Boston Museum of Science will provide JSS support by way of classroom space and a race facility.

Here are some scenes from the 1998 JSS competition held at MIT's Steinbrenner Field. 

Click on the image for an expanded view.

Race Results for the JSS Area Race May 22, 1999

The Junior Solar Sprint area race for Eastern Massachusetts was held at M.I.T. on May 22, 1998 under sunny skies. Eighty two teams from Eastern Mass. area schools raced their cars and competed for awards in the categories of performance, creativity, technical merit and craftsmanship.

The winners in the “Performance” category included

First Place – Car 40: “The Heat” Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

Team members: Jay Miller and Noah Sweet

Second Place – Car 28: “The Eliminator” John Glenn Middle School, Bedford, MA

Team members: Brian Spencer, Nick Robles and Ian McPhail

Third Place – Car 4: “Space Turtle” Tyngsboro Jr/SR School, Tyngsboro, MA

Team members: Andy Player, Glen Allgrove, Mike Paquette, and Heith Morrill

The winners in the “Technical Merit” category included:

First Place- Car 33 “Twister” , Briscoe Middle School, Beverly, MA

Team members: Elizabeth Goodenough and Sarah Norton

Second Place- Car 43 “Classic Plastic” Briscoe Middle School, Beverly, MA

Team members: Jake King, Casandra Manon, Chandra Revia, and Stephanie Robinson

Third Place- Car 34 “Sun Spot Speeder” , Briscoe Middle School, Beverly, MA

Team members: Dan Picariello, Matt Gelineau, Jennifer Bravo, and Garth Retallack

The winners in the “Craftsmanship” category included:

First Place- Car 61 “The Flames” Thomas A. Blake Middle School, Medfield, MA

Team members: Caitlin Spaulding, Stephenie Agrimanakis, Maggie Filler, and Lauren Seghezzi

Second Place- Car 49 “B-MERS” Thomas A Blake Middle School, Medfield, MA

Team members: Elaine Balutis, Angie Palombo, Krista Suojanen, and Katie Wallace

Third Place- Car 30 Ephraim Curtis School, Sudbury, MA

Team members: Lindsay Carafone, Megan Salvucci, and Nicol Rachel

The winners in the “Innovation” category included:

First Place- Car 21“Arch Angel” Jonas Clark Middle School, Lexington, MA

Team members: Colin Taafe and Wes Black

Second Place- Car 58 “Boltz” Thomas A Blake Middle School, Medfield, MA

Team members: Kristen Coletta, Rachael Baumon, Kathyrn Cianfrocca, and Barbara Harrison

Third Place- Car 16 “Sprint 16” Thomas A. Blake Middle School, Medfield, MA

Team members Mike Mcgowan, Andrew Nilson, T.C. Mccue, and Jarrod Marshall

BASEA had over twenty schools and 500 students participate in this year’s program. BASEA wishes to thank all of the schools, teachers and mentors who participated in the program, all of the volunteers who donated their time and energy to make this program possible, and the M.I.T. K-12 program and Athletic Department for supporting the program and providing the race track facilities.

BASEA Junior Solar Sprint\
Box 44-1017
West Somerville, MA 02144-0007

617-497-6527

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Last Page Update: Monday, May 03, 2004 02:09:50 -0400