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Northpower EPro8 Challenge Champions Announced!
Published 09 March 2020
Ngunguru and Hurupaki Schools have been crowned champions of the 2020 Northpower EPro8 Challenge.
Ngunguru took out the Year 7 & 8 title and Hurupaki the Year 5 & 6 title following two rounds of finals at Whangarei Intermediate School this week.
The two schools edged out 68 other teams from 25 Northland schools (most from Kaipara and Whangarei Districts), following a round of regionals finals at Dargaville and Whangarei Intermediate Schools last week.
EPro8’s Andrew Thiele says while competition throughout the 2020 Northpower EPro8 Challenge was tight, Ngunguru and Hurupaki were deserving winners.
“This is the largest event we have held in Northland and that’s thanks to Northpower’s sponsorship and support, along with Northpower’s connectedness with the community,” says Mr Thiele.
“Add to that the overwhelming support of local schools and the enthusiasm of the students, parents and teachers – that has given EPro8 an outstanding start to the year.
“It has been really pleasing to see the level of effort and team work from the children as they have tried to solve their chosen challenges – and I must congratulate every one of them for their efforts. I know when we are back in 2021 that the event will be even bigger and better.”
Northpower’s Principal Engineer Russell Watson was highly complementary of the finalists.
“I was impressed with the intensity of the participants. It was a three hour competition and they were flat out and intense for the whole time. I thought they would have been really tired by 8pm but they had energy throughout and were very focussed,” says Mr Watson, whose Electrical Engineering career with Northpower spans 37 years.
"Technically the EPro8 equipment and set up was exceptional and professional. The way they could keep the score updated, the way you could see the progress at each stage and who was in the lead created a lot of excitement.
"What I liked about it was that it was hands on and did not involve Googling to solve problems or find answers – the students worked it out themselves. What I have learnt from this event is that the best way to solve problems is to give it to a young person! The more we can see EPro8 in Northland schools the better.”
The Year 7 & 8 placings were: Ngunguru School – 1st; Kokopu School – 2nd; Whangarei Intermediate and Pouto School 3=.
The Year 5 & 6 placings were: Hurupaki School – 1st; St Joseph’s School 2nd; Kaurihohore School 3rd.
