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Commending the Smithfield High School KidWind Challenge teams.
Agreed to by the Senate, February 26, 2026
WHEREAS, in 2025, three Smithfield High School KidWind Challenge teams advanced to the KidWind World Challenge, with one team earning the prestigious World Champion Top Performing Team award; and
WHEREAS, the KidWind World Challenge, held at the American Clean Power Association's CLEANPOWER 2025 Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 18–21, 2025, was the culmination of the KidWind season, which encompassed more than 60 in-person events in the United States, Mexico, and Taiwan, as well as an online challenge; and
WHEREAS, supported by Dominion Surry Power Station, the manufacturing firm Skanska, and community fundraising efforts, three KidWind Challenge teams from Smithfield High School achieved success in their state-level and online events to advance to the world championship; and
WHEREAS, Team Goon Squad, comprising sophomore Sophie Shipman and seniors Katie Gallahorn, Seneca Register, Vyncent Simpson, and Andrew Shipman advanced by winning the Virginia state championship; and
WHEREAS, Team Blown Away, comprising senior Draven Munro and sophomore Hayden Williams advanced by winning second place in the Virginia state championship; and
WHEREAS, Team Windstorm, comprising freshmen Jack Rowe, Brody Syring, and Camden Lawrence qualified by winning the national online challenge; and
WHEREAS, Team Goon Squad and Team Blown Away were coached by Smithfield High School teachers Heather Greer and Adam Shipman, while Team Windstorm was coached by BreeAnna Frye; and
WHEREAS, during the KidWind World Challenge, Team Goon Squad, Team Blown Away, and Team Windstorm joined 42 other teams in presenting their own designs for wind turbines to a panel of experts, testing their designs in a variety of wind tunnels, demonstrating clean energy knowledge, and participating in surprise challenges requiring quick thinking and creativity; and
WHEREAS, after three days of testing, teamwork, and problem solving, Team Goon Squad was one of only three teams selected as a World Champion Top Performing Team; and
WHEREAS, the success of the Smithfield High School KidWind Challenge teams is a tribute to the school's commitment to excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, and demonstrates the power of community support in fostering real-world learning experiences; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That the Smithfield High School KidWind Challenge teams hereby be commended for their performance at the 2025 KidWind World Challenge; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Smithfield High School KidWind Challenge teams as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for the teams' exceptional achievements in engineering.