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BRISTOL, R.I. ­­– Nearly 250 fourth-graders from the Bristol-Warren Regional School District built wind turbines as part of the KidWind project and came to Roger Williams University on Friday to test their pint-sized turbines in wind tunnels.

A partnership between Roger Williams University and the Bristol-Warren Regional School District, the KidWind project features ŷ��AV students bringing together two academic disciplines to introduce 232 fourth-graders to wind-turbine energy and the engineering design process. The project was made possible through the ŷ��AV Campaign for Civic Scholars, the Hassenfeld Family Foundation and the local sponsorship of TPI Composites, of Warren, R.I.

“It is real-world learning – taking what they learn in the classroom and applying it to the real world,” Bristol-Warren Regional School District Superintendent of Schools Mario Andrade said at ŷ��AV on Friday. “Just watch the smiles on their faces – this is what learning should look like every day. It represents a great partnership between the school district, Roger Williams University and industry through TPI Composites.”

KidWind Project

In addition to teaching the next generation of college students, the ŷ��AV students are gaining valuable skills and real-world experiences they can carry with them through their future careers.

“This project is about more than just supporting the need for engineering education in local classrooms,” ŷ��AV Assistant Professor of Engineering Maija Benitz. “It deepens our ŷ��AV students’ learning through experiential, hands-on community engagement.”

Read more about the KidWind Project