Combined Cummins-Port Lincoln team secures second place at Science and Engineering Challenge

This year marked the exciting comeback of the Science and Engineering Challenge. Cummins Area School has experienced significant success in this competition over the years, notably securing 3rd place in Perth in 2019.

However, since regional challenges are no longer held on the Eyre Peninsula, we decided to collaborate with Port Lincoln High School to form a joint team and travel to Adelaide for a metropolitan regional event. With 16 students from each school, we journeyed by bus to Adelaide and stayed at the Warradale Urban Camp.

On Tuesday, June 16, we made our way to Mawson Lakes to compete against eight city schools. Throughout the day, students engaged in a variety of thrilling STEM challenges, including Wind Turbine, Grab Lab, Electracity, and the ever-popular The Bridge.

The Bridge is one of the Challenge’s most iconic events. Four students dedicate their day to designing and constructing a bridge that spans a specified gap. At the end of the competition, a carriage is driven across each bridge, with weights gradually increasing until the structure collapses. This event captivates all participants and serves as an exhilarating finale to the day.

Cummins Area School and Port Lincoln High School—endearingly referred to as “Plummins”—achieved an impressive 2nd place overall, outpacing several esteemed city schools.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Op Shop and our local Bendigo Bank for their generous financial support, which made it possible for our rural students to attend and benefit from this incredible STEM opportunity.