Physics department to use derby to donate food
By: Jared Hudson
Issue date: 11/24/09 Section: News
There's nothing wrong with a little canned entertainment.
At least, that's the philosophy of the physics department at The University of Memphis, which will hold its first soapbox car derby Dec. 4 in Manning Hall to benefit the Mid-South Food Bank.
The deadline to apply for the Physics Challenge 2009, which is open to both students and non-students, is 5 p.m. tomorrow. Contestants can either pick up an application in the entryway of Manning Hall and turn it in to room 216 or sign up at the event.
Contestants will build their own vehicles, which have to be strong enough to carry nonperishable canned goods down a ramp one meter high. Whichever soapbox car has the lowest weight and carries the most cans the farthest wins.
Besides bragging rights, winners will receive cash prizes and a case of Red Bull.
The racers pay $10, which will be pooled toward the cash prizes, and must bring the cans for their soapbox cars to carry.
All of the cans that survive the ride down the main hallway of Manning Hall will be donated to the Mid-South Food Bank.
Mackenzie Sinden Redding, senior electrical engineering and physics major, has the plans already laid out for his car, which he will construct from Styrofoam and light balsa wood.
"I think it's really cool that the department is making a competition out of it," he said. "It's not just a regular food drive. It's a way for students to have fun competing while donating the cans."
To increase interest and participation in the event, Annie Wise, president of the Society of Physics Students and event organizer, trekked to Christian Brothers University and White Station High School, among other locations.
Wise said she hopes the event will strengthen The U of M's ties with the community.
"We really want to get science and math majors involved with their departments, and we thought coming together for community service would be a good way of accomplishing that," said Wise, freshman electrical engineering and physics major.
Only a handful of students have registered for the event so far. Sinden Redding said he wants more people to register, although his motives aren't completely unselfish.
"More people means more money in the pot, and I could use that if I win," he said.
Marcia Wells, vice president of the Mid-South Food Bank, said the nonprofit organization supplied over 9 million pounds of food to 31 counties in the Mid-South last year.
The organization is on track to distribute nearly 10.5 million pounds by the end of this year, she said.
At least, that's the philosophy of the physics department at The University of Memphis, which will hold its first soapbox car derby Dec. 4 in Manning Hall to benefit the Mid-South Food Bank.
The deadline to apply for the Physics Challenge 2009, which is open to both students and non-students, is 5 p.m. tomorrow. Contestants can either pick up an application in the entryway of Manning Hall and turn it in to room 216 or sign up at the event.
Contestants will build their own vehicles, which have to be strong enough to carry nonperishable canned goods down a ramp one meter high. Whichever soapbox car has the lowest weight and carries the most cans the farthest wins.
Besides bragging rights, winners will receive cash prizes and a case of Red Bull.
The racers pay $10, which will be pooled toward the cash prizes, and must bring the cans for their soapbox cars to carry.
All of the cans that survive the ride down the main hallway of Manning Hall will be donated to the Mid-South Food Bank.
Mackenzie Sinden Redding, senior electrical engineering and physics major, has the plans already laid out for his car, which he will construct from Styrofoam and light balsa wood.
"I think it's really cool that the department is making a competition out of it," he said. "It's not just a regular food drive. It's a way for students to have fun competing while donating the cans."
To increase interest and participation in the event, Annie Wise, president of the Society of Physics Students and event organizer, trekked to Christian Brothers University and White Station High School, among other locations.
Wise said she hopes the event will strengthen The U of M's ties with the community.
"We really want to get science and math majors involved with their departments, and we thought coming together for community service would be a good way of accomplishing that," said Wise, freshman electrical engineering and physics major.
Only a handful of students have registered for the event so far. Sinden Redding said he wants more people to register, although his motives aren't completely unselfish.
"More people means more money in the pot, and I could use that if I win," he said.
Marcia Wells, vice president of the Mid-South Food Bank, said the nonprofit organization supplied over 9 million pounds of food to 31 counties in the Mid-South last year.
The organization is on track to distribute nearly 10.5 million pounds by the end of this year, she said.