With a little wood and wire, some springs, wheels and axles, a mousetrap can be converted into a speedy vehicle. That's what Southwestern Community College surveying technology students, from left, John Jeleniewski and Bentley Robison, both of Sylva, discovered during a recent physics class. The project culminated a unit applying the concepts of conservation of energy, velocity, acceleration, and the work energy theorem, according to visiting Western Carolina University professor Kevin Pennington, who taught the course. Pennington, who is associate professor in education, leadership and foundation at WCU, said the SCC students tried various designs to achieve the best speed and distance. "We counter balanced the weight and when we shifted the weight to the back, our vehicle popped a wheelie, which was a real crowd pleaser," said Robison, whose team's vehicle came in first place in both distance and speed. For more information on SCC's surveying technology program, contact Peter Messier at 586-4091, ext. 402.