SOLAR CAR CHALLENGE
The Solar Car Challenge is the top project-based STEM Initiative helping motivate students in Science, Engineering, and Alternative Energy. In 1993, the Solar Car Team launched an education program to teach high school students how to build and safely race roadworthy solar cars.
The Solar Car Challenge Education Program met this objective, and worked to provide hands-on workshops, virtual learning videos, curriculum materials, and on-site visits for high schools across the country. The end product of each two-year education cycle is the Solar Car Challenge: a closed-track event at the world famous Texas Motor Speedway, or a cross country race designed to give students an opportunity to display and drive their solar cars.
National sponsors for the Solar Car Challenge: Texas Instruments, Lockheed Martin, Hunt Oil Company, Dell Computers, Green Mountain Energy, The Acclivus Corporation, Austin Energy, and EarthX. The Solar Car Challenge is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit education foundation.
The Solar Car Challenge Education Program met this objective, and worked to provide hands-on workshops, virtual learning videos, curriculum materials, and on-site visits for high schools across the country. The end product of each two-year education cycle is the Solar Car Challenge: a closed-track event at the world famous Texas Motor Speedway, or a cross country race designed to give students an opportunity to display and drive their solar cars.
National sponsors for the Solar Car Challenge: Texas Instruments, Lockheed Martin, Hunt Oil Company, Dell Computers, Green Mountain Energy, The Acclivus Corporation, Austin Energy, and EarthX. The Solar Car Challenge is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit education foundation.
Mission:
Detailed Mission for 2020-2021 The Solar Car Challenge has 241 on-going high school solar car projects located in 38 states, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and the Bahamas. These teams are in the process of designing, engineering, and building roadworthy solar cars in anticipation of an upcoming solar racing event. The Challenge’s Education Program provides support for schools seeking to be a part of this top project-based STEM Initiative.
The Solar Car Challenge’s Education Program has worked effectively for the last twenty-six national events. More than 60,000 students have directly benefited from this program. Hundreds of new schools are seeking admission to the Solar Car Challenge Education Program. We will implement an event “qualifier” in 2021 to make it possible for more schools to take part.
The Solar Car Challenge Foundation will also develop a National Summer Education Program for both teachers and students. This will be implemented through a two year pilot project designed to encourage participation in the program, and to support participating schools with education materials, summer education camps, on-site visits, and online learning opportunities. We will reach out to new schools to either enter or observe the program in anticipation of the 2021 Closed-Track Race at the Texas Motor Speedway. The Solar Car Challenge Foundation will translate its hands-on national education workshops into virtual learning experiences, including webinars, special lecture series, and ZOOM conferences. This model will be sharpened and focused over two twelve-month education cycles, and finalized in 2022 as our formal growth model.
The Solar Car Challenge’s Education Program has worked effectively for the last twenty-six national events. More than 60,000 students have directly benefited from this program. Hundreds of new schools are seeking admission to the Solar Car Challenge Education Program. We will implement an event “qualifier” in 2021 to make it possible for more schools to take part.
The Solar Car Challenge Foundation will also develop a National Summer Education Program for both teachers and students. This will be implemented through a two year pilot project designed to encourage participation in the program, and to support participating schools with education materials, summer education camps, on-site visits, and online learning opportunities. We will reach out to new schools to either enter or observe the program in anticipation of the 2021 Closed-Track Race at the Texas Motor Speedway. The Solar Car Challenge Foundation will translate its hands-on national education workshops into virtual learning experiences, including webinars, special lecture series, and ZOOM conferences. This model will be sharpened and focused over two twelve-month education cycles, and finalized in 2022 as our formal growth model.