Rube Goldberg Contest Challenges Students To "Put Money In A Piggy Bank"

The contest takes place at Jac-Cen-Del High School on March 9.

(Batesville, Ind.) - Genesis: Pathways to Success (GPS), Jac-Cen-Del Community School Corporation, and German American Bank, the contest’s James Madison sponsor, are pleased to announce the 8th Annual Regional Rube Goldberg Machine Contest on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at 10:15 a.m. at Jac-Cen-Del High School in Osgood, Indiana. 

A Rube Goldberg Machine Contest (RGMC) is an event where students of all ages compete to imagine, design and create complicated machines in a fun and competitive forum. This year’s Rube Goldberg machines are challenged to “Put Money in a Piggy Bank” with a minimum of 10 steps (Division I), a minimum of 20 steps (Division II), and a maximum of 75 steps in each Division. These clever contraptions promise to amaze and inspire kids of all ages! 

This year’s contest will see Division I and Division II teams competing for the Regional title to qualify to compete in the 2019 Rube Goldberg Machine Contest Finals in hopes of becoming the National Champion.

“RGMC’s encourage teamwork and out-of-the-box problem solving in a fresh learning environment and level playing field,” said Cheryll Obendorf, GPS Director and contest coordinator.  “We have had a lot of fun with this year’s task, and we’re thrilled to be hosting our largest event ever with sixteen teams registered to compete.”

The public is welcome to attend this family-friendly, exciting competition. The event is free thanks to the generosity of many local sponsors, including Grover Cleveland sponsors:  Hill-Rom and Honda Manufacturing of Indiana.

In addition to the contest, Kids Discovery Factory will have mobile exhibits for younger children to experience hands-on STEM exploration. 

Local banking sponsors, German American Bank, Friendship State Bank, and Napoleon State Bank, will be providing financial information to the public and special items for the teams.

Other sponsors for the event are Elgin Fastener Group and Proud Moments Engraving.  The contest is funded in part by an Operation Roundup Grant from Southeastern Indiana REMC Community Fund and a grant from the Shopko Foundation.

The schools competing in this year’s Division I Rube Goldberg Machine Contest include Batesville Middle School, South Ripley Junior High School, Milan Middle School, St. Louis School, Jac-Cen-Del Junior High School, Moores Hill Elementary School, St. Nicholas School, and Wilmington Middle School (Ohio).

Division II competitors are Milan High School, Greenwood High School, Ivy Tech Community College, Batesville High School, West High School (Ohio), Anderson High School, and two teams from the Ripley County Engineering Academy.