Challenger Learning Center at Heartland Community College Named Arthur C. Clarke Innovation Award Winner

Washington and Normal, IL – September 9, 2025 – Challenger Center has recognized Challenger Learning Center at Heartland Community College with the 2025 national Arthur C. Clarke Award for Innovation in Education.

The Arthur C. Clarke Award is given to a Challenger Learning Center that has implemented a new and innovative program that impacts student learning, supports teachers, and promotes creativity. This year’s award is given in recognition of the KidWind Renewable-Energy Student Challenge, a project that engaged over 150 students in grades 4-12 to design, build, and test a model wind turbine.

“The KidWind Challenge is a unique opportunity for kids to develop STEM skills while gaining the benefit of the renewable energy educators and students at Heartland,” said Dr. Julia Ossler, Director of Heartland’s Challenger Learning Center. “Thousands of students participate in immersive educational experiences each year at the Challenger Learning Center. Events like the KidWind Challenge help make the connection between STEM learning and careers in industries like wind energy, electric vehicles, solar energy, and many others.”

Heartland’s Challenger Learning Center developed a six-week curriculum for students to learn principles and execute the design of a model wind turbine. In February of this year, student teams tested their model in a wind tunnel set up at the Astroth Community Education Center on the Heartland Campus, with professionals from the renewable energy industry evaluating the design and measuring performance.

Staff and students from Heartland Community College’s Renewable Energy program were on hand to advise teams as they created and tested their models.

“I hope this Award will help inspire Dr. Julia Ossler, her staff, and students to future excellence,” said Joe Pelton, Founder of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation. “Arthur C. Clarke was a great believer in clean energy. What each of the Challenger Learning Centers are doing today, as exemplified by the KidWind mini turbine design project, is key to inspiring young people to get the education needed to support the future of science and space.”

About Challenger Center

As a leader in STEM education, Challenger Center provides hundreds of thousands of students annually with experiential education programs that engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. These programs, delivered in Challenger Learning Centers and classrooms, strengthen knowledge in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these critical fields. Challenger Center was created by the Challenger families to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51L. For more information about Challenger Center, please visit www.challenger.org or connect on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.