RANKIN INLET - Close to 100 students took part in the annual Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) Challenge in Rankin Inlet earlier this month.

Grade 10 students Adrienne Aliyak and Qilak Komaksuitiksak, right, display the mousetrap car that earned them second place in senior high during the SET Challenge at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik in Rankin Inlet earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Katharine O'Connell

The SET Challenge, also referred to as the Science Olympics, is an annual event sponsored by Northwestel.

The Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI) students in Rankin worked in groups to construct, design and test a project.

The theme for this year's event was things with wheels, and each grade was given a particular task to complete before coming together to race their designs.

Grade 7 students participated in pop can races, while grades eight and nine took part in propeller popbottle cars and senior students built mousetrap cars.

The cars and cans were raced in the MUI gym and down the hallways, where testing stations were set up.

Taking the winning flag for Grade 7 was the team of Simon Bruce and Thomas Tugak, while Tristen Dias and Joseph Sabourin came out on top in Grades 8 and 9, and the senior title was awarded to Stanley Anawak, George Dunkerley, Martha Arnarauyak and Darcy Suvissak.

Science teacher Katharine O'Connell said each winning team was awarded a medal and a Tshirt, while second- and third-place squads received Tshirts.

She said the school also decided to give out Tshirt awards for the mostinnovative project and best effort.

"The SET Challenge is an event the students thoroughly enjoy and really get into each year at the school," said O'Connell.

"We were pleased to have Northwestel's Len Tomson and Paul Stroder at the school this year to help hand out the awards to the students."

O'Connell said the strongest participation in the SET Challenge at MUI comes from the junior high grades.

She said the students who take part in the annual event really love it and look forward to participating against their peers.

"The students are really enthusiastic every year.

"Every theme is challenging, but a number of students still remember and talk about the year we did the rockets in the SET Challenge, which was a huge hit.

"The number of kids who participate has stayed pretty much the same over the years, and they have a lot of fun taking part in the event.

"They develop their teamwork skills while working together, and they have to be very innovative and really think about what they're doing, so it's a project they learn numerous skills from and one I firmly support."

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