RANKIN INLET - Students at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik were set for a challenge in Rankin Inlet this past week.

Crystal Kabluitok works on the project that earned her the Most Innovative and Unique Design award at the Science Engineering Technology Challenge at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik in Rankin Inlet this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The students took part in the annual Science Engineering Technology (SET) Challenge delivered through the Kivalliq Science Educators Community.

The SET contest is sponsored by NorthwesTel and held among students in every Kivalliq community.

Science teacher Katharine O'Connell said the event has grown in popularity during the past two years.

She said part of that is due to the fact the challenge offers more prizes since NorthwesTel took over its sponsorship.

"We have a lot more medals and T-shirts to give out now, with NorthwesTel's involvement, so it's been growing a bit more across the entire region and that's a good thing," said O'Connell.

"Three years ago teachers were just doing the project with their classes, but this is the second year in a row we've been able to do it as a school-wide event. And, we've had a fair number of students participate in the challenge both those years."

The projects are assigned by grade level, with Grade 7 in one group, Grade 8 and 9 in a second and grades 10 through 12 in a third.

The event is done in one day, with full instructions given to the students before they complete their projects and submit them for judging.

This year saw Grade 10 to 12 students doing a playing-card inuksuk, while students in Grade 8 and 9 constructed a straw iglu, and Grade 7 students a straw crane.

With its focus on construction, this year's challenge required the students to be more creative.

O'Connell said the students at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik were more than up for the challenge.

She said the youths had to make sure their creation was free-standing this time around, and the judges saw some truly unique designs.

"The SET Challenge is an unique project that's more than worth the time and effort to hold each year.

"And that's not just because it's science, but because it can bring the whole school together.

"We're also able to work with our home rooms, and we don't always get a chance to teach those students in senior high.

"The challenge also inv-olves other skills, such as math and English, and it's good to see the students working together to use all the skills they've obtained from other courses to complete their projects."