Students representing HACS include Keegan Schultz-Ramer, William Bovey, Izabella Erickson, Abby Casey, and Viktor Collins, (Kearney Public Schools, Courtesy)
KEARNEY — Students from the Hanny Arram Center for Success (HACS) were recently recognized with the Most Improved Award at the KidWind STEM competition, an honor that celebrates growth, perseverance, and dedication throughout the learning and design process.
KidWind is a hands-on STEM program that challenges students to apply science, engineering, and problem-solving skills through the design and testing of wind turbines. The Most Improved Award recognizes teams that demonstrate significant progress in technical understanding, teamwork, and overall performance.
“The competition helped our students come out of their shells and step outside their comfort zones. Our scholars applied skills from all of their classes at the Hanny Arram Center during the challenge—ranging from math and science to English and JAG—especially through their strong presentation performance, for the judges” said Jason Owens, principal of the Hanny Arram Center for Success. “They visited with other teams and coaches about their wind turbine designs, which helped build their self-confidence and comfort level when speaking with others.”
Students participated in several components of the competition, including an Instant Challenge, Knowledge Challenge, Judges Interview, and Windmill Challenge. “After only two weeks of preparation and competing against schools that have year-long programs, our students did an amazing job,” Owens said. “Our goal was to give them the experience so they know what to expect going forward. Because of the positive feedback and growth we saw, we hope to offer KidWind as a credit-bearing course during the 2026–2027 school year.”
Students representing HACS include Keegan Schultz-Ramer, William Bovey, Izabella Erickson, Abby Casey, and Viktor Collins. The team was sponsored by Talisha Sorenson, who guided students through the design, testing, and preparation process.
This recognition reflects the mission of the Hanny Arram Center for Success to provide meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities that build confidence, resilience, and academic growth. The students’ achievement highlights how dedication and effort can lead to measurable improvement and success.
