A record number of teams—327—competed and a record number of pumpkins—81—survived the 11-story drop but it was ultimately the team from Frankfort High School in Ridgeley who won the 27th Annual Pumpkin Drop at West Virginia University. The pumpkin of team 164, comprised of Josh Richmond, Austin Myers, Branson Catlett, Nathan Strietbeck, Andrew Crist, John Rowland, Hunter Witt, Kameron Bolinger and Garrett Grose, landed six-inches from the target, earning them the $100 first prize.

Second place was claimed by team 212 from Morgantown’s Suncrest Middle School. The pumpkin from “The Scephanos”—Zoe Vannoy, Bri Maxwell and Nicole Liang—landed one-foot from the target, earning them the $50 runner-up check.

Team 96 from Feed My Sheep Christian School in Philippi finished third, with their pumpkin landing one-foot, five-inches from the target. The team of Erica Simon, Carleigh Baldwin and Emma Poling were awarded $25.

The competition, which aims to teach engineering concepts by designing an enclosure to protect the pumpkin from damage when dropped from the roof of the building, saw teams from West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

The event was sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers chapter at WVU. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Morgantown.

-WVU-

mcd/10/24/14

CONTACT: Mary C. Dillon, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
304.293.4086, Mary.Dillon@mail.wvu.edu

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