Razorback Technology Challenge Brings Competitors to Campus

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Students compete in the “motorcycle stunt,” a problem-solving event that was part of the 2011 Razorback Technology Challenge on the University of Arkansas campus.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – About 485 competitors from 26 Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas middle schools, junior high schools and high schools will spend the day facing off in various technology tasks on the University of Arkansas campus on Friday, Dec. 7.

The Razorback Technology Challenge at the Arkansas Union is in its seventh year. It’s held on Dead Day of the fall semester each year, a time between the end of fall classes and the start of final exams.

Mike Daugherty, professor of technology and engineering education in the College of Education and Health Professions, started the challenge to give students from middle schools, junior high schools and high schools in the region a chance to showcase projects they have been working on all year in technology education and pre-engineering classes.

A couple of years ago, Vinson Carter, clinical instructor of technology and engineering education, took over organizing the competition.

“The Razorback Technology Challenge allows students to compete with other students from other schools and other states in six different technological areas,” Carter said. “The challenge was developed to generate student excitement about technology and engineering as well as a spirit of friendly competition between schools.”

About 40 students in the College of Education and Health Professions will help that day. Staff members from the office of admissions also will assist with the event.

Participants will engage in activities such as building and racing dragsters, building and testing towers, creating graphic designs, and competing in the technology quiz bowl and the problem-solving challenge. The competition features a robotics contest for the first time this year. Trophies will be presented to the first-, second- and third-place winners of each event, and an overall winner will be named for Level I (middle school and junior high school) and Level II (high school). There is no fee for schools to participate.

The event has served as a recruiting tool over the years. Several students who attended previous challenges have enrolled in technology education and engineering programs at the university.

Schedule of events, Friday, Dec. 7, 2012

• 9-9:30 a.m. – Welcome, Verizon Ballroom, Arkansas Union

• 9 -9:30 a.m. – VEX Robotics, Verizon Ballroom

• 9:30-10:30 a.m. – Judging of graphic designs, Arkansas Union 504

• 9:30 a.m.-finished – Technology quiz bowl, Arkansas Union 513-514

• 9:30 a.m.-finished – Racing of dragsters, Union Connections Lounge

• 9:30 a.m.-finished – Judging of transportation modeling cars, Union Connections Lounge

• 9:30 a.m.-finished – Structural engineering testing, Arkansas Union 507-509

• 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Problem-solving challenge, Verizon Ballroom and Graduate Education Building Auditorium

• 1:30 p.m. – Awards ceremony, Verizon Ballroom