Kivalliq (Feb 16/05) - More than 1,500 Kivalliq students competed in the annual Science Engineering Technology (SET) Challenge.

The event, sponsored by the Kivalliq Science Educators Community (KSEC), is open to students from kindergarten to Grade 12.

This year's competition featured five events related to the Sanijiit (construction) theme.

School Operations program consultant Jim Kreuger says the math-science program develops the events and sends them to schools with a teacher's guide, T-shirts and teaching resources.

This year, each school received K'Nex building sets and science challenge resource books to prepare for the competitions.

More than $7,000 in resources and prizes were distributed by KSEC and the SET Challenge.

The KSEC also sponsors the Kivalliq Regional Science Fair, Regional Science Culture Camp and Inuit Science awards.

"SET Challenge events are hands-on group problem-solving activities that promote co-operation and creative and critical thinking," says Kreuger.

"For many students, it's their first investigation into 3-D construction."

Regional winners

The winning tower in the kindergarten to Grade 2 event (Leaning Tower of Pasta) was 52.1 cm tall and built by Whale Cove's Randel Qiyuk, Michael Okalik, Hugh Enuapik and Anita Panika.

The Grade 3 to 5 event (The Last Straw) went to Coral Harbour's Naomi Emiktowt, Ryan Jar and Joey Angootealuk's 200 cm tower.

The Grade 9 and 10 House of Cards challenge was won by Baker Lake's Kevin Iksiktaaryuk, Josh Ford and Chris Tunguak with a height of 137 cm.

Repulse Bay students won two events this year.

Joseph Kopak, Junior Kopak, Kenny Sivanertok and Gino Immingnark took The Puck Stops Here event for Grade 6 to 8 students with their tower of 92.4 cm that supported a hockey puck.

The Grade 11 and 12 challenge (Bridge the Gap) was captured by Jessica Siutinuar, Carol Nanordluk and Lucy Tegumiar, who used string, tape and newspaper to build a bridge that spanned a one-metre gap while supporting seven kilograms. "We cannot underestimate the support of the 105 teachers directly involved in the delivery of the Challenge, and the 112 community members who came to watch the students compete.

"Next year's events (Rally Ho!) are already under construction and will focus on vehicles and motion."