Boeing Engineering Challenge

More than 230 students from the St. Louis region will launch their balsa wood gliders at the 11th annual Boeing Engineering Challenge at Washington University. The competition follows months of designing, building and testing at elementary, middle and high schools across the region, where Boeing engineers have volunteered as mentors.

High school students from across the St. Louis region will launch balsa wood gliders Wednesday, May 2, at the Washington University in St. Louis Field House in the Boeing Engineering Challenge. Medals will be awarded to students whose gliders have the farthest flight, straightest path, longest hang time and best quality of flight. Planes with the most creative appearance and most creative engineering also are recognized.

High school students from across the St. Louis region will launch balsa wood gliders across the Washington University in St. Louis Field House in the Boeing Engineering Challenge. Medals will be awarded to students whose gliders have the farthest flight, straightest path, longest hang time and best quality of flight.

High school students competed at the annual Boeing Engineering Challenge at the WU Field House May 3. About 100 area high school students from six school districts on 25 teams visited the WUSTL campus to take part in the Boeing Challenge. The teams competed to determine which glider had the farthest flight, straightest path, longest hang time or highest quality of flight. Pictured are Eureka High School students who built a glider.

Parkway South High School senior Will Mertz explains the design of his team’s custom-built hand glider to Chris Kroeger, associate dean for students in the School of Engineering & Applied Science, during the Boeing Engineering Challenge May 4 in the Athletic Complex Field House. Mertz was among some 80 area high school students in 24 teams competing in the Boeing Challenge to determine which team’s glider had the farthest flight, straightest path, longest hang time or highest quality of flight.