World Record Setting Saturday

By: Hector V. Herrera

Starr's Mill High School Tech Students set a new Guinness World Record for the most number of pipe cleaners chained together.  For many of us, the mere name of Guinness World Record conjures up entertaining childhood memories of questing after something seemingly impossible to achieve, but ultimately motivating and inspiring at the same time. I may be dating myself with this one, but I remember as a child, watching an episode of Happy Days, that featured Arthur Fonzarelli, aka: “Fonzie”, played by actor Henry Winkler, trying to set a World Record for the most number of garbage cans jumped over on a motorcycle. It was my first real introduction to the idea of World Record setting.  It opened up a world of creative possibilities that continue to still evolve to this day. 

I’ve participated in a number of World Record setting attempts including a successful attempt to make the “World Largest Bowl Of Guacamole” sponsored by a former client and avocado farmer in South Florida and a not so successful attempt to set a record for the most number of parents reading the same story out loud to their children.  Needless to say, when local high school teacher Jonathan Winkjer contacted The Local Bubble’s own Jamie Fukofuka about witnessing the event, we were both extremely excited and eager to participate.  Unfortunately for me, a prior commitment prevented me from actually attending the event, however Jamie carried out her official duties with much enthusiasm.  “It was just great to see the kids all working together and filled with so much excitement!” said Jamie.

The whole project began when Mr. Winkjer asked students of his Tech Classes what they might want to do as a group project.  Their answer was “something cool and memorable”.  Well I think they might just have achieved that goal, because as of this past Saturday, those students became the official World Record Holders for the “Longest Chain of Pipe Cleaners”.  It certainly took a great deal of commitment and effort on behalf of the students as well as the faculty who assisted with the event. 

The students worked on their project for several weeks as they carefully strung together a rainbow of colorful pipe cleaners.  On the day of the event, the students gathered at the Starr's Mill High School track where they rolled out the continuous chain of cleaners so that the official judges and witnesses could carefully count each link the continuous chain.  The colorful display was witnessed by hundreds of spectators and offered a fun family friendly event celebrating a huge local accomplishment

The students blew well past the previous World Record, which was a record length of 10,459 feet set by Oklahoma Children’s Cancer Association back on February 14, 2007 in Oklahoma City, OK.  Starr's Mill High School students successfully set a new World Record by creating a chain of pipe cleaners with a total length of 38,848 Feet or 10, 621.7 Meters. The official surveyor of the event reported the official finds at 6:00pm on October 24, 2015.

Congratulations to Mr. Winkjer and the participating students of Starr's Mill High School and a huge expression of gratitude for letting Jamie Fukofuka and The Local Bubble bear official witness to the making of History!