By Jayson Larson/TVCC Public Information
Antonio Aguilar, a biology student from Seven Points, was declared the winner of the Egg Catapult Competition held during the 2nd Annual Earth Day Festival Tuesday at Trinity Valley Community College. The festival was hosted by the TVCC Science Club.
The competition, which included teams not only from TVCC but also area high schools, required students to launch eggs toward a target using a homemade trebuchet (which is similar to a catapult but uses gravity via a counterbalance to fire). Aguilar had the highest score, which was compiled by judges who considered accuracy, design and a cost analysis to build the trebuchet.
Aguilar – who received a $1,000 scholarship for his win – explained that his preparation was cut short the previous night by an unexpected factor – Mother Nature.
“I was working on it and then those storms came in (Monday night) and I couldn’t get back outside to work on it, so I just had to go with it,” Aguilar said.
A team of high school students, “Eustace 2,” claimed second place and each team member won a $500 scholarship. The team consisted of seniors Walter Baker, Shelby Marcom, Candace Rosado and Jonathan House. Third place, and a $250 scholarship each, went to the “Splat Squad” – TVCC chemistry students Abby Baker and Delores Stripling.
A number of vendors were also present to share information during the Earth Day Festival. Those vendors were: the Henderson County Humane Society; Keep Athens Beautiful; Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center; Purtis Creek State Park; Hope Springs Water; Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch; East Texas Arboretum; and the Science Club.
