Wildcat Microschool takes First Place in Rube Goldberg competition
April 16, 2026
Bernie Marvin
Haverhill, NH – The Wildcat Microschool youngsters of the kindergarten through 4th Grade came home with the First Place Rube Goldberg Competition Award recently. They also came home with the Rube Goldberg Spirit Award for being Master Contraptionists.
A Rube Goldberg Master Contraptionist, often referred to as a Contraption Master, is an expert who specializes in designing and building Rube Goldberg machines. These are highly complex devices that use a series of interconnected chain reactions to accomplish a simple task in a comically indirect way.
The Rube Goldberg competition for students in New Hampshire is known as the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. It challenges students from grades K-12 to build complex machines from everyday objects that perform a simple task in the most unusual way possible.
The team traveled to Manchester, NH, on March 28 to compete in the Regional Rube Goldberg Competition. The Rube Goldberg Competition emphasizes the importance of problem-solving through STEM education—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, especially for young children.
Early exposure to STEM helps students build problem-solving skills, creativity, collaboration skills, persistence, and determination. Through hands-on learning experiences, students discover that failure can sometimes lead to even greater success!
This was an exciting event where students displayed their contraptions-themed "Wildcat Zoo." They dressed as zoo members, presented an educational skit on energy transfers, and ran their hand-built contraption to open a box.
The Wildcat teachers and students learned about the program through a parent whose children participated in the Rube Goldberg Contraption Camp at the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury, VT.
After learning about the cool opportunity, students started their work. They have developed their knowledge of energy, engineering, electricity, and collaboration as they have worked to solve problems with creative, innovative solutions. Their final contraption consisted of about 15 chain reactions, including erosion, electrical transfer, and air. They have been creating their masterpieces for about three months.
The team will be competing next in New York City, as a result of the award they won in Manchester. This upcoming trip marks an important milestone for many of the students, as it will be their first opportunity to travel out of state for an academic competition. Students have been preparing their designs, testing ideas, and learning how different parts work together to achieve a final goal. Their hard work and dedication will be showcased alongside teams from schools across the region.
The Wildcat Microschool students were very excited to announce that their team took First Place in the regional competition and won the Rube Goldberg Spirit Award (Master Contraptionists)—also the best costumes award and the creative materials award —without marbles or dominoes.
The team will advance to the National Competition in New York City! The team has been fundraising for this event and held their fundraiser on Saturday, April 11, at the Woodsville United Methodist Church. There, they hosted a superb spaghetti dinner and a silent auction. All funds raised will be used to help with travel expenses and experiences for the students in NYC.
Seeing the children involved in their Rube Goldberg project is hard to explain to viewers new to the world of Rube Goldberg contraptions. Chain reactions of energy going every which way, and at the end of the line, a different contraption will open a box.
Parent Jean Alexander discovered the Rube Goldberg program during one of their annual demonstrations at the St. Johnsbury Fairbanks Museum. Gean has been instrumental and immensely helpful with the entire program at Wildcat, says teacher Laura Sjolander, who works closely with the kids on their STEM subjects.
Each participant had a specific job with the Rube Goldberg effort. Some of the children The Bridge Weekly spoke with included Elizabeth, who was an Investigator. She said, "She learned a lot by going to the rube Goldberg contest."
Avery said, "If you messed up. You would find out how to fix it. I fixed some wrong things."
Carson said, "Just be patient, especially with your team." Neal was an Interventionist. If the ball doesn't go down right, I fix it. Kept it running." Ethan was "really excited to be there. It is a worldwide competition and fun."
A Rube Goldberg Master Contraptionist, often referred to as a Contraption Master, is an expert who specializes in designing and building Rube Goldberg machines. These are highly complex devices that use a series of interconnected chain reactions to accomplish a simple task in a comically indirect way.
The Rube Goldberg competition for students in New Hampshire is known as the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. It challenges students from grades K-12 to build complex machines from everyday objects that perform a simple task in the most unusual way possible.
The team traveled to Manchester, NH, on March 28 to compete in the Regional Rube Goldberg Competition. The Rube Goldberg Competition emphasizes the importance of problem-solving through STEM education—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, especially for young children.
Early exposure to STEM helps students build problem-solving skills, creativity, collaboration skills, persistence, and determination. Through hands-on learning experiences, students discover that failure can sometimes lead to even greater success!
This was an exciting event where students displayed their contraptions-themed "Wildcat Zoo." They dressed as zoo members, presented an educational skit on energy transfers, and ran their hand-built contraption to open a box.
The Wildcat teachers and students learned about the program through a parent whose children participated in the Rube Goldberg Contraption Camp at the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury, VT.
After learning about the cool opportunity, students started their work. They have developed their knowledge of energy, engineering, electricity, and collaboration as they have worked to solve problems with creative, innovative solutions. Their final contraption consisted of about 15 chain reactions, including erosion, electrical transfer, and air. They have been creating their masterpieces for about three months.
The team will be competing next in New York City, as a result of the award they won in Manchester. This upcoming trip marks an important milestone for many of the students, as it will be their first opportunity to travel out of state for an academic competition. Students have been preparing their designs, testing ideas, and learning how different parts work together to achieve a final goal. Their hard work and dedication will be showcased alongside teams from schools across the region.
The Wildcat Microschool students were very excited to announce that their team took First Place in the regional competition and won the Rube Goldberg Spirit Award (Master Contraptionists)—also the best costumes award and the creative materials award —without marbles or dominoes.
The team will advance to the National Competition in New York City! The team has been fundraising for this event and held their fundraiser on Saturday, April 11, at the Woodsville United Methodist Church. There, they hosted a superb spaghetti dinner and a silent auction. All funds raised will be used to help with travel expenses and experiences for the students in NYC.
Seeing the children involved in their Rube Goldberg project is hard to explain to viewers new to the world of Rube Goldberg contraptions. Chain reactions of energy going every which way, and at the end of the line, a different contraption will open a box.
Parent Jean Alexander discovered the Rube Goldberg program during one of their annual demonstrations at the St. Johnsbury Fairbanks Museum. Gean has been instrumental and immensely helpful with the entire program at Wildcat, says teacher Laura Sjolander, who works closely with the kids on their STEM subjects.
Each participant had a specific job with the Rube Goldberg effort. Some of the children The Bridge Weekly spoke with included Elizabeth, who was an Investigator. She said, "She learned a lot by going to the rube Goldberg contest."
Avery said, "If you messed up. You would find out how to fix it. I fixed some wrong things."
Carson said, "Just be patient, especially with your team." Neal was an Interventionist. If the ball doesn't go down right, I fix it. Kept it running." Ethan was "really excited to be there. It is a worldwide competition and fun."
Wildcat Microschool members of the Rube Goldberg competition that came away from their recent competition in Manchester, NH with a First Place. They were also awarded First Place with the Best Costumes Award. They have advanced to the national competition that will be held in New York City. At right is Wildcat teacher Laura Sjolander. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin.
Some of the Wildcat Microschool Rube Goldberg competition team members are shown working with their winning contraption that won the team a First Place and moved them on to the national competition in New York City. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin
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