Faces of Wind: University of New Orleans’ Wind Scholars and KidWind Challenge Inspire Hope and Excitement for the Future of Wind Energy
Mentored by their teachers, Orleans Parish students created a variety of wind turbine models for the KidWind Challenge.
Photo Courtesy of Cheria Scaffidi of The Beach at UNO
At Louisiana Wind Energy Week (LAWEW) in late January, wind energy professionals gathered to discuss the industry's future in Louisiana. On Thursday, participants got to witness the future of the wind industry at the University of New Orleans’ Earl K. Long Library, watching students from Orleans Parish schools compete in the KidWind Challenge and celebrating alongside students of UNO’s Wind Scholars Program who were matched with prominent companies for paid internships.
UNO Wind Scholar Elizabeth Rupright helps build a model during the KidWind Educator Training earlier in the year.
Photo Courtesy of Cheria Scaffidi of The Beach at UNO
K-12 students had the opportunity to participate in the KidWind Challenge through The Beach at UNO’s WE LEAD-NOLA initiative. In the months leading up to the event, educators received tools and resources to teach their students about wind energy. In late January, that hard work was put to the test when teams of students developed turbine prototypes, tested them in a wind tunnel, and were interviewed by judges about their design choices.
Adelaide Egle and Maevey Bartkus from The Willow School scored highest amongst all teams. Their design even included a 3-D printed gear for their turbine prototype. The Willow School team’s excellent design allows them to be among the 95 teams competing at KidWind Worlds. The team’s science teacher, Ethan Smith, commented, “The KidWind Program has been a great way to show my students the many opportunities and challenges that wind energy presents. Through hands-on testing and analysis, they definitely have a better understanding of the potential that is out there with offshore wind energy.”
A team’s model turbine
is tested in the wind tunnel.
Michael Arquin, Director of KidWind, stated, “Our team at KidWind was inspired by all the students who participated in the KidWind Challenge at UNO. Regardless of the state of the offshore wind industry in the US, the skills gained by these students will serve them well in any career path they decide to embark upon! We were very impressed with the dedication and creativity of the students and how quickly their teachers learned all these new materials and brought them to their students. We cannot wait to return to New Orleans in 2026!"
Later in the evening, LAWEW attendees gathered for WindHub @UNO Industry Night, an annual event that brings industry leaders together. The evening's remarkable moments included internship announcements from two well-known companies: Entergy Louisiana and Keystone Engineering.
“The work that UNO’s doing is so critically important…” expressed Laura Bauchamp, Vice President of Business Operations at Entergy Louisiana. “We were so honored to be able to host a student last year. We had a fantastic experience, and so this year, we are just as honored to have Otis come join us.”
Keystone Engineering is well-versed in wind energy with a patented “Twisted Jacket” offshore wind turbine foundation design. Keystone also worked on America’s first wind farm, Block Island. “We are very excited to be here. One of our strengths is that we are in the renewables industry,” stated Keystone Engineering’s Becky Johnson, “...We are in biodiesel, carbon capture, we design solar farms, geothermal, and wind energy.” Keystone matched with UNO Senior Elizabeth Rupright. “Congratulate her for her service to the country; she was in the military, served overseas for a stint, and also worked in the Gulf of Mexico, performing vessel maintenance, generator service, and post checks. So we are very, very excited to have such a talented person join us for the semester,” shared Johnson.
Shafin Khan, Vice President of The Beach at UNO, also expressed his excitement. “Just in general, for all of our Wind Scholars, we’re really excited to see what your impact will be on the industry…Louisiana had a huge impact on this industry, and you guys are poised to continue that impact. We're so excited for that.”
(L-R) GNO, Inc’s Energy and Innovation Manager Cameron Poole, The Beach at UNO’s Innovation Manager Blair Bourgeois, Vice President of Innovation and Technology Commercialization Shafin Khan, and Director of Strategic Initatives Nina Balan, Southeastern Wind Coalition’s Senior Program Manager Jenny Netherton, and Senior Program Associate Karla Frias-Romaine at Wind Hub @UNO’s Industry Night. Photo Courtesy of Cheria Scaffidi of The Beach at UNO
Southeastern Wind Coalition’s Senior Program Manager, Jenny Netherton, ended the evening with remarks that perfectly summarized the feelings many had in that room: “The actual best part of my job is that I get to work very closely with The Beach and particularly with the Collegiate Wind Scholars. In my job, I can get very far away from the excitement… and seeing you interacting, seeing you move into these real-world jobs, these practical positions where you can make your mark, I think it's wonderful …There is a lot of uncertainty right now, but I would like to tell you what is giving me hope this week … we have had full crowds talking about wind and the thing that Louisiana excels best at: taking care of its people and solving problems. That is why offshore wind is good for Louisiana, and that is why it makes sense for us. This is how we build a wind industry for the future.”
Two months have passed since that Thursday of Louisiana Wind Energy Week. What still resonates is that there remains hope for the wind industry. Younger generations are eager to learn about wind power and are prepared to get to work. Those of us fortunate enough to be in the industry today are tasked with keeping the ground warm for them.
