CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Students from dozens of West Virginia schools will converge on a Charleston ballpark for the 14th annual Capital City Pumpkin Drop.

The event is set for Oct. 18 at Appalachian Power Park. Students from elementary, middle and high schools will use math and science skills to design containers that will protect a pumpkin when it's dropped from a designated height. Faculty and staff from Bridgemont Community and Technical College will judge based on whether pumpkins stay intact and how close they land to the target.

The sponsors say 32 schools from nine counties have already registered, and more are expected.

Bridgemont President Beverly Jo Harris said the goal is to get kids interested in activities related to science, technology, engineering and math and to get them thinking and creating.