WCTC to host middle school Rube Goldberg Machine Contest

PEWAUKEE, Wis. (Tuesday, April 17, 2018) – On Friday, April 20, students on 22 teams from middle schools throughout Waukesha County and neighboring communities, will show off their bell-ringing machines as part of the Rube Goldberg Spring 2018 Middle School Competition held at Waukesha County Technical College.

The contest challenges sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students to take an elementary task and provide a complex solution using ordinary objects and mechanical gadgets. This year’s challenge is to ring a bell in eight steps or more.

The event officially begins at 10 a.m., with introductions and a welcome, followed by three rounds of judging, starting at 10:15 a.m. Students will have lunch at 11:30 a.m., followed by a College tour at 12:15 p.m. The awards ceremony begins at 1:15 p.m. and the day concludes at 1:45 p.m. The event is coordinated by the Milwaukee Area Engineering and Technology Partnership, which includes WCTC, STEM Forward, Milwaukee Area Technical College and Milwaukee School of Engineering.

This year’s participating schools include:

• Edison Middle School -- Janesville, Wis. (6 teams)

• Karcher Middle School – Burlington, Wis. (4 teams)

• Kiel Middle School -- Kiel, Wis. (4 teams)

• Waukesha STEM Academy – Waukesha, Wis. (8 teams)