There was plenty of excitement in air, not to mention pumpkins, apples, tennis balls, and just about everything else that could be flung or fired at the 2016 APEGNB Pumpkin Fling held this past Saturday on the Waterford Green in Miramichi. This annual event organized and hosted by the Association of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists of New Brunswick has become a community staple over the past 14 years. The Pumpkin Fling involves having people purchase pumpkins and proceed to have them fired out of a large cannon in an attempt to hit a trampoline target floating in the middle of the Miramichi River. The event was conceived as a way to raise awareness and encourage students to pursue careers in the STEM fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. In addition, APEGNB donates funds raised each year to the Anglophone North School District, initially for school breakfast programs and in more recent years to enhance STEM programs in our schools. 

For the first time ever, the Pumpkin Fling also featured a Mini Trebuchet Challenge that was open to all Anglophone North District schools. There were 8 schools which opted to participated in this inaugural event, including the Bonar Law Trebuslayers, MVHS Make, Ian Baillie Sharp Shooters, Harkins Huskies, Miramichi Rural Shark Squad, Dr. Losier Knight Flinger, Nelson Raiders and JMH Tommies. The Mini-Trebuchet contest saw each school receive a base model device and had students apply their engineering skills to revamp and redesign their catapult to hit a target located 10 metres away with a launched tennis ball. Each school was provided with 3 tennis balls in an attempt to get closest to the target. The competition could not have been any closer with MVHS Make slightly edging out the Nelson Raiders for the 1st Place trophy and a $1000 prize. The Nelson Raiders claimed the 2nd Place trophy and $500, while the Miramichi Rural Shark Squad & JMH Tommies finished in a tie for 3rd and each took home $250 prizes. The Miramichi Rural Shark Squad also captured the School Spirit Prize package donated by Brilliant Labs. Overall, it was an amazing event with plenty of smiles as well as, students working collaboratively to solve problems and apply critical thinking skills in an attempt to win the competition. 

Thanks to all of the students who participated, along with the parents & teachers who were on hand to support them. Also a big thank you goes out to event coordinator Kevin Gallant and the folks from APEGNB, as well as Jacob Lingley and Brilliant Labs for their continuous support of ASD-N School initiatives.