More than 1,200 students from 39 schools combined learning and seasonal fun Thursday at Appalachian Power Park at the 17th annual Capital City Pumpkin Drop. The event was sponsored by BridgeValley Community and Technical College, and faculty and staff from the South Charleston school served as judges for the event.
Students engineered all kinds of contraptions to keep their pumpkins safe (or relatively so) during their drops, and to land them nearest to the target.
The "Grand Slam Pumpkin" award went to students from Reedy Elementary in Roane County. Three high schools tied for first place: George Washington, East Fairmont and Greenbrier East. Clay County Middle won the middle school competition, and Meadow Bridge Elementary topped the grade school event.
"This time of year so many students receive cheers for accomplishments on the playing field, and the Pumpkin Drop offers the same accolades for students' use of science and ingenuity," BridgeValley President Jo Harris said in a news release.