(KINGSVILLE, February 14, 1997) -- It isn't likely that the sky will be falling at Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Friday, Feb. 21, but it is possible that some eggs and maybe a plane or two will be.

More than 500 high school students from 32 area schools will converge on the Kingsville campus next week to participate in Engineering Day, a day of engineering competition events that enable students to test their ability to design and problem-solve. The event, co-sponsored by the A&M-Kingsville College of Engineering, Engineering Student Council and various student groups, is part of National Engineering Week, Feb. 16 through Feb. 22.

Students create and test designs in seven categories, competing against fellow students to see whose design comes out on top.

"All of these (competitions) center around the engineering-type concepts of problem-solving and design which are the key components of an engineering degree and career," said Jorja Kimball, assistant to the dean of the College of Engineering and an event coordinator. "Kids have to engage their brain and think of some creative designs."

Engineering Day also provides high school students with an opportunity to receive career information and gain exposure to the campus.

"The real thing they come for (however)," Kimball added, "is the fun and games."

One of the most popular events is the "egg drop," she said. Participants in the egg drop competition are charged with designing a container into which an egg is placed. Container and egg are then dropped from the top of the McNeil Engineering Building with the criteria that the egg should not break. Not only should the egg remain intact throughout the ordeal, but students also get additional points if their egg-containers hit a target placed on the ground.

Engineering Day officially begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Student Union Building with the "truss bust" competition in which participants build balsa wood bridges or trusses which are then put to the ultimate test -- "the crusher." The object of the game, according to Kimball, is to design the bridge for structural soundness and strength.

In the morning polymer pull competition, which Kimball likens to a modern, high-tech taffy pull, students take a polymer and see how far they can stretch the chemical compound. Following the polymer pull and egg drop is the pinewood derby, an aerodynamic test, where participants design cars out of blocks of pinewood and race them against each other.

The paper airplane event affords students a rare opportunity to fly paper airplanes against each other without fear of getting chastised by a teacher.

One of the new events this year, Kimball said, is the breadboard competition, an electrical engineering event. Students design a control panel circuit and are critiqued on their designs. Those whose designs are deemed acceptable go to the lab and actually construct their control panel circuit.

Tried and true engineering design processes used in constructing paper airplanes, trusses

and cars do pose a formidable challenge to participants. What happens, however, when an element of surprise is added?

The impromptu contest is one way of finding out. In the impromptu contest mechanical engineers come up with a design project using various common materials, Kimball explained. When students arrive on campus they are given a package that may include a pencil, rubber band or other common items. Also included are design specifications indicating what they are to create and what function the creation is to serve -- a challenge to truly test their mettle.

Engineering Day concludes at 3:30 p.m. with an award ceremony held in Ballroom B of the Student Union Building. For more information call (512) 593-3029.

The following is a schedule of events:

-TAMUK-
- Mary McAdam