Meridian Technology Center student Caden Luper makes a cut on balsa wood that will be used in the upcoming Speedfest contest.

Speedfest is an annual event that is sponsored by Oklahoma State University Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, NASA OK Space Grant Consortium, Boeing, TJ Cunningham Engineering Endowment, Spirit AeroSystems and AUVSI.

Speedfest teams are provided with a wooden airplane starter kit and a gas-powered engine, and are encouraged to make modifications and develop a theme for their plane. Luper and his classmates in the Pre-Engineering Academy will work on two planes throughout the next few months leading up to the contest in late April.

Click here more information on what students in the Pre-Engineering Academy will be working on this year.