Inman High School students showed strong innovation and teamwork at the Kansas KidWind Challenge, an annual STEM competition where students in grades 4–12 design, build, and test working wind turbines. The program, organized by the Kansas Energy Program at Kansas State University and the Kansas Corporation Commission, has grown from 14 teams in 2016 to a record 110 teams in 2026.
The South Central Regional competition was held at the Hutchinson Community College Stringer Fine Arts Center. Teams were evaluated in several areas:
Turbine Performance – Measuring energy output in a high-speed wind tunnel
Judged Presentation – Explaining design decisions, materials, and engineering strategy
Knowledge Quiz – Demonstrating understanding of renewable energy and wind power mechanics
Instant Challenge – Solving a surprise hands-on engineering task
Congratulations to both Inman teams on a great performance!
1st Place in the High School Division went to “Trade Winds” - Dylan Schmidt, Jayden Roots
2nd Place in the High School Division went to “Winderful Winders” - Codi Howard, Megan Gibson, June Edgar
By placing first and second, both Inman teams have qualified for the 2026 Kansas KidWind State Challenge, which will be held Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center. Congratulations to these students on their hard work and results. Good luck at state!