BANGOR – Photovoltaics is not a word that most Maine middle schoolers know – unless they have been involved in what has become one of the Maine Energy Education Program’s most popular offerings, the Junior Solar Sprint. A national competition, the Sprint challenges fifth- through eighth-grade students to design, build and race model cars powered by electricity from sunlight – photovoltaics.

On Saturday, June 5, 48 teams from Maine schools convened under sunny skies at the Owls Head Transportation Museum near Rockland to participate in the 10th annual Junior Solar Sprint State Championship. The vehicles, reflecting the imaginations of their creators, competed in the categories of Speed, Innovation, Craftsmanship, Technical Merit and Kids’ Choice.

At event’s end, 11 teams had qualified to advance to the Northeastern Championship to be hosted by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association June 13 at the Museum of Science in Springfield, Mass.

The Bangor area went on to be represented in the Northeasterns by two teams.

“SPIRIT,” belonging to Tiana Turner and Desi Clark of James F. Doughty Middle School in Bangor and mentored by teacher Paula Leavitt, restored lost glory as it sped to the title of fastest car.

In an earlier incarnation as Fifth Street School, Doughty was the team to beat in the early days of the Sprint, now in its 10th year in Maine.

“Drag-on,” the entry of Matthew Beck and Albert Lowe of the Penobscot Valley Homeschool Association 4-H Club, copped first place for Technical Merit and tied for second place for Innovation. Mentors are parents Donna Beck and Lesli Lowe. This was the PVHA’s first foray into the model solar car competition.

To obtain information about the Junior Solar Sprint, Peter Zack, Jr., MEEP director. at 625-7833 or e-mail meep@psouth.net.