Mark Harris loads a pumpkin onto a catapult (trebuchet) Saturday at Washington State College of Ohio in Marietta during the second annual Pumpkin Chuckin’ event. Organizers wanted to show off aspects of math and science as they launched pumpkins – many used jack-o’-lanterns – for fun into the air as they tried to hit a junked car. (Brett Dunlap)

Pumpkins were flying through the air at Washington State College of Ohio in Marietta Saturday for the second annual Pumpkin Chuckin’ event.

People from around the community came out to Washington State College of Ohio’s campus on Colgate Drive for a day of fall fun, but to also see demonstrations of science and math in action through the use of a catapult (a trebuchet – a medieval-era device that uses a rotating arm and sling to launch projectiles) to launch pumpkins into the air for distance and accuracy. Organizers had a junk car that the pumpkins were aimed at and tried to hit.

“It is an event to show kids what they can do with science and math when they are older,” said Kayla Harris, event coordinator. “We wanted to also get the word out about Washington State College of Ohio. We have recently become a four-year institution so that has broadened our opportunities and things that we can offer to prospective students.

“We are just out here to have some fun, throw some pumpkins, enjoy a fall day and get the word out about science, math and our college.”

The catapult was built by the college’s facilities team, professors and employees. People brought their old jack-o-lanterns and other pumpkins to launch. There were also a variety of local food trucks and vendors as well as games, crafts and live music at the event. A number of the college’s clubs were there to provide information about what they do.

Crews at Washington State College of Ohio get the catapult (trebuchet) ready Saturday to launch pumpkins during the second annual Pumpkin Chuckin’ event. The day included food trucks, live music, activities for the kids and more, with regular pumpkin launches throughout the event. (Brett Dunlap)

Event Organizer Ben Harris said they are using the same catapult they used last year with some modifications.

“We learned from previous years and mistakes,” he said.

They had their InCERT Academy students, high school students who come to campus every Friday, do some work on the device to strengthen it and make it work better and improve its accuracy.

“We added on to our catapult and we have bigger plans for next year,” Ben Harris said.

The catapult demonstrates a number of principals including physics and engineering, as well as robotics and welding, he said, adding there is a lot of math used with the length of the launching arm and the weights and counterweights in how the pumpkins are launched. The angle of the launching arm started out at a 75-degree angle and the length of rope also factors into the launching of the pumpkin.

A crew member watches as a catapult (trebuchet) launches a pumpkin in the air Saturday during the second annual Pumpkin Chuckin’ event at Washington State College of Ohio. Organizers set up a junk car and through math and physics those launching the pumpkins tried to hit the car. (Brett Dunlap)

“It is creative and something fun to do,” Ben Harris said. “It is not just the learning, it also keeps it entertaining.

“When you are able to take math and transform it into what it is in real life, you can get that spark in students and in people who are learning.

Becki Brown of Fleming, Ohio brought her granddaughter Aimsley Brown after a friend told them about it. It sounded fun to them.

She had never seen anything like this, was curious and wanted to see what it was about.

“We wanted to chuck a pumpkin,” Brown said.

Aimsley Brown of Fleming decorates a pumpkin Saturday with the goal of having it launched from a catapult (trebuchet) during the second annual Pumpkin Chuckin’ event at Washington State College of Ohio. (Brett Dunlap)

Kayla Harris, who works as a nurse, said the event is a chance to discover the learning opportunities that are available locally.

“We hope that people have fun,” she said. “We also hope people learn that we have wonderful colleges and opportunities here at home.

“We want to show them they can get a world-class education right here in their own neighborhood and that they would choose Washington State College of Ohio for their education needs.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com.