The University of Northern Iowa Solar Panthers won THIRD place in overall championship results, THIRD place in Solar Slalom, THIRD place in engineering design visual display, and OUTSTANDING electrical system design awards in the 16th World Championship of Intercollegiate Solar Boating hosted by University of Arkansas, College of Engineering, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The five-day Solar Splash competition began Wednesday, May 27, and concluded Sunday, May 31, 2009. The 2009 champion is Cedarville University from Ohio with 922.27 total pts. 2nd place is University of New Orleans 878.92 pts, 3rd place University of Northern Iowa 801.93.

The teams ranked after Northern Iowa are College of New Jersey, University of Arkansas, Kansas State University, Geneva College, University of Southampton (UK), SUNY - Stony Brook, University of North Florida, Carnegie Mellon, Washington State University, Middle Tennessee State University, and Elizabethtown College.