UCDSB students showcase design and engineering skills at SKLZ Competition
Intermediate students from the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) recently competed in the 2026 Intermediate SKLZ Competition, showcasing their design and engineering skills.
Approximately 130 students from nine UCDSB schools participated at the competition held in Kemptville on Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2026, a UCDSB press release details.
Grade 7 and 8 students competed in six categories: Construction Challenge (tiny homes), Green Energy (wind turbine construction), LEGO Mechanical Engineering (gantry crane challenge), Technology Challenge (Hydraulic Crane challenge), LEGO Robotics, and TV/Video.
The Intermediate SKLZ Competition was launched in 2018, giving students the opportunity to tackle real-world design and engineering challenges. The competition is judged by local industry professionals, educators, and technical specialists, the release notes.
Leo Matheson, a student at Carleton Place High School (CPHS), competed in the TV/Video category. He said connecting with other students was his favourite part.
“My friend and I are with the CPHS Video Editing club and we’re interviewing other students about their projects,” he said.
“I love seeing how others work, and picking up new techniques.”
Georgia Moyle, a student at Glengarry District High School, competed in the Hydraulic Crane challenge.
“It’s really fun to collaborate and meet other students with the same interests,” Moyle said.
“By working together, we can see how different ideas come together within the project.”
Participating UCDSB schools included:
- Almonte District High School
- Athens District High School
- Carleton Place High School
- Char-Lan District High School
- Glengarry District High School
- North Dundas District High School
- Pleasant Corners Public School
- Rideau District High School
- St. Lawrence Secondary School
Five of the nine UCDSB schools received gold medals in the competition, the release notes.
Glengarry District High School’s team consisting of Shelby McRae, Alieke Schaafsma, Colt Walker, and Oakley Williams won gold in the Construction Challenge.
Char-Lan District High School’s team consisting of Alyssa Lalonde, Hudson Murray, Gabby Philippe, and Thomas Wilson won gold in the LEGO Mechanical Engineering Challenge.
Rideau District High School’s team consisting of Parker Reeds, Emma Sullivan, Payton Vankoughett, and Austin Vankoughett won gold in the LEGO Robotics Challenge.
Pleasant Corners Public School’s team consisting of Weston Brideau, Giuliani Cosentino, Annabelle Janacek, and Avery McKinnon won gold in the Technology Challenge.
Finally, North Dundas District High School had two teams win gold. Their team consisting of Seth Harper and Nathan Lepage won gold in the Green Energy challenge. In addition, their team consisting of Eden Desormeaux and Sawyer Torrens won gold in TV/Video Production.
Gold medal winners from each event will now advance to represent the UCDSB at the Skills Ontario Provincial Competition in Toronto on Monday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 5, 2026.