More than 160 students signed up to design and throw paper planes on Chamberlain Field.
Some zipped like bullets.
Some floated like butterflies on the breeze.
Some corkscrewed promptly into the ground.
It’s not easy to make a paper airplane that actually flies—and achieves some distance, too.
Number of feet in flight was the ambition in the contest held on Chamberlain Field. Build a paper plane, throw it the farthest and win $100. More than 160 students signed up for the chance to make some cash. Jerome Foster won the money with a throw that glided about 75 feet.
The prize was raised from the pockets of the Rocket Mocs team and other students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science, who organized the contest.
For them, the ultimate goal was to build interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), said Tommy Sluss, Rocket Mocs team leader.
“Hopefully, it will get people not familiar with STEM to get engaged,” he said.
Max Mikhaylishin, another Rocket Mocs member, described it as “a fun way to engage students.”
Fun was a common theme for the non-engineering students who signed up to try their paper-plane skills. Some said they did it for the money, but most were looking for a few chuckles.
“I thought it would be fun,” said sophomore Abigail Ashway.
If laughter is an indication, it was a lot of fun.
