The Tech Challenge Awards 2009

The Tech Challenge 2009: Explore the Volcano attracted 237 teams representing over one thousand young people from nine Bay Area counties and beyond!

For the first time ever teams competed in three divisions: Elementary Middle School and High School. Below is the complete list of 2009 winners, although everyone who participated in The Tech Challenge was a winner!

Best Overall Solution

This award is based on the team's efforts in three categories: Device Performance, Engineering Process, and Style and Presentation. Excellence in all three categories will earn teams this top award.



Grades 5-6 Category Winners

Grand Prize: Hot Shots - Saint John Vianney, San Jose

2nd Place: Encinal Eagles (aka Cheese Bubs), Encinal Elementary

3rd Place: En Fuego, Juana Briones Elementary, Palo Alto






Grades 7-8 Category Winners

Grand Prize: FireBallz, Terman Middle School, Palo Alto

2nd Place: Molten Metal, Terman Middle School, Palo Alto

3rd Place: Terman Geological Survey, Terman Middle School, Palo Alto








Grades 9-12 Category Winners

Grand Prize: Funky Shiitake Mushrooms - Mission San Jose High School, Fremont

2nd Place: Vaiders, Monta Vista High School, Cupertino

3rd Place: Molten Rock Stars - Cupertino High School





Most Spectacular Failure

This award is based on the team's efforts in Design Process, Style and Presentation, but the device did not perform.

Grades 5-6 Category Winners

The Flying Georges, Challenger Middle School, Sunnyvale & Stratford Middle School, San Jose

Grades 7-8 Category Winners

Dante 111

Grades 9-12 Category Winners

Fremont Freebirds, Fremont High School

Device Performance Award

Grades 5-6 Category Winners

Most Reliable: Platypus Cats, South Bay Prep
Most Efficient: Menlo 5, Menlo School
Most Sustainable: Einsteam, Challenger

Grades 7-8 Category Winners

Most Reliable: Super Mario Sisters, Hyde Middle School
Most Efficient: 3 Boys, 6 Balls, and a Volcano, Saint John Vianney, San Jose
Most Sustainable: Pyrometallics, 3rd Street Community Center

Grades 9-12 Category Winners

Most Reliable: Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies, Cupertino High School
Most Efficient: James^2, Monta Vista High School
Most Sustainable: Pegasus, Lynbrook High School

Engineering Process Award

Grades 5-6 Category Winners

Most Resourceful use of materials: EMIT, Home School
Most Innovative Design: Fireballs, All Saints Catholic School

Grades 7-8 Category Winners

Most Resourceful use of materials: The Hotheads, Ascenion Solorsano Middle School
Most Innovative Design: Magma Storm, St. Martin of Tours

Grades 9-12 Category Winners

Most Resourceful use of materials: Pack of Nerds, Cupertino High School
Most Innovative Design: Magmamight, Cupertino High School

Style and Presentation Award

Grades 5-6 Category Winners

Best Verbal Presentation: Team Flying Over Flames, Saint John Vianney, San Jose
Best Costume: TeChShArKs (Team 345) Success Academy Coral After School
Best Journal: Astounding Aviation Alliance, Bullis Charter School

Grades 7-8 Category Winners

Best Verbal Presentation: Time Well Wasted, Saint John Vianney
Best Costume: Volcano Tacos, Charter/Ralston
Best Journal: PartyCoptoBlimponians, Terman Middle School

Grades 9-12 Category Winners

Best Verbal Presentation: Ash Ketchum & The Ping Pongkemon, Cupertino High School
Best Costume: Mighty Magma, Cupertino High School
Best Journal: Makes System, Cupertino High School

Featured Judges' Choice Awards

Grades 5-6 Category Winners

Best Use of Calculations: Da Vinci's, Hyde Middle School, Cupertino
Best Use of Technology: Glenmoor Geeks, Glenmoor Elementary
Best Use of Simple Materials: Sonic Flame Riders, Sacred Heart School, Saratoga

Grades 7-8 Category Winners

Best Da Vinci Mechanism: The Ferocious Flame Throwing Firebirds of Fury, Sunnyvale Middle School
Best Apollo 13 Device: Bengals, St. Martin of Tours, San Jose
Best Use of Applied Math: Molten Aviators, various

Grades 9-12 Category Winners

Best Sportsmanship: Team Vulcan, Cupertino High School
Best Use of Online Tool: To Inferno and Beyond, Cupertino High School
Best Use of Renaissance Weapon: No Ice Group, Cupertino High School

Inspirational Awards

Grades 5-6 Category Winners

Most Perseverance: Men in Magma, Sacred Heart School, Saratoga and Canyon Heights Academy, Campbell
Greatest Risk Takers: Team Omega, Miller Middle School, Cupertino
Best Team Spirit: The Lava Surfers, Jordan Middle School, Palo Alto
Best Teamwork: Techtonic Eruptors, Bubb School

Grades 7-8 Category Winners

Most Perseverance: Jell-O Fellows, Hyde Middle School
Greatest Risk Takers: Menlo 2, Menlo School
Best Team Spirit: Dino Squad, El Sereno 4-H
Best Teamwork: Wings of Fire, Terman Middle School

Grades 9-12 Category Winners

Most Perseverance: Smokey, Monta Vista High School
Greatest Risk Takers: The Magmas, 3rd Street Community Center
Best Team Spirit: Bliznite, Cupertino High School
Best Teamwork: Tech Street Boyz, Cupertino High School

Best Team Name

Grades 5-6 Category Winners

Best Team Name: Best Team Name: L.O.L. (Lots of Lava), Redwood Middle School

Grades 7-8 Category Winners

Best Team Name: The Hotheads, Ascension Solorsano Middle School

Grades 9-12 Category Winners

Best Team Name: Flaming Freshman, 3rd Street Community Center

Download the complete list of 2009 Tech Challenge: Explore the Volcano winners.