2001
Dec 5, 2000
Students start on paper sails in hopes of netting $15,000

May 22, 1999
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE STUDENTS TRIUMPH IN PAPER KAYAK COMPETITION, COLLECT $15,000 PRIZE

January 19, 1999
Students Building Paper Kayak in Hopes of sailing to $15,000 Prize

September 12, 1998
Students from Across Nation Vie for Energy Challenge '98 Title, Get Lesson in Design Efficiency

September 3, 1998
Egg-Ceptional Students Hope Packaging Will Yield $15,000 Award

September 24, 1997
Students from Across the Nation get a Lesson in Pulp and Paper as They Prepare for Energy Challenge '98

NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
U.S. Department of Energy:
Sarah Manion, (303) 275-4709

Project Manager, IPST
(404) 894-8277

STUDENTS BUILDING PAPER KAYAK IN HOPES OF SAILING TO $15,000 PRIZE
January 19, 1999 -- Students from eight North American Universities are getting hands-on experience and learning about the structural mechanics of paper products, liquid penetration resistance and developing energy efficient processes as they prepare their paper kayak for Energy Challenge '99.

Energy Challenge '99, sponsored by the US Department of Energy, the Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST) and the pulp and paper industry, involves college teams designing, constructing and racing a one-person kayak made exclusively from paper products. Paper products can include wood fiber, wood pulp, secondary wood cellulose, linerboard, corrugated board and commonly used paper chemicals. Teams must also design the kayak to meet size specifications of no more than nine feet long, 2.5 feet wide and 35 pounds in weight.

Each team recently received a $2,000 "start up" grant to assist with funding their project. The competition will be held May 22, 1999 at Sweetwater Creek State Park in Atlanta, Ga.

The $15,000 top prize will be based on written reports, safety considerations, meeting size and weight specifications and kayak performance during the timed race held at Sweetwater Creek State Park.

The purpose of Energy Challenge '99 is to foster education and awareness of pulp and paper industrial processes, manufacturing design efficiency, recycling, waste minimization, liquid penetration resistance, wet strength and the environmental impact considerations of paper design. The teams will also get a lesson in creativity, innovation, resourcefulness, teamwork, fundraising and overall project management.

The competition correlates with the US Department of Energy's Agenda 2020 -- a program to enhance the economic competitiveness of the US forest products industry and to help the pulp and paper industry reach the vision of more energy efficient manufacturing processes in the year 2020.

"We are very pleased to host this program which focuses the resources of industry, government, and our academic institutions on the critical national need for energy efficient manufacturing processes," said IPST President Dr. Jim Ferris. "While the contest itself is an event, the teams learn and visibly demonstrate a process for designing energy-efficient products. These skills and experiences move with them into the industry as they begin their careers."

Schools competing in Energy Challenge '99 include: Georgia Institute of Technology, Miami University in Ohio, Mississippi State University, State University of New York at Syracuse, the University of Colorado at Denver, the University of Maine and the University of Minnesota at St. Paul.

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