Studentsbrat Liberty Christian School took their STEM skills to the track. In what hasbrbeen called the ultimate brain sport, a team of 10 Liberty Christian studentsbrand teacher sponsors competed in the Solar Car Challenge at Texas MotorbrSpeedway last month, coming in just 52 laps behind first place.
“Thisbryear's finish is the best we've ever done,” said sponsor Dr. Brent Dragoo in abrpress release. “We've improved our energy management, decreased our rollingbrresistance thanks to aerodynamics, and worked well together as a team frombrstart to finish. We had a great time!”
ThebrSolar Car Challenge began in 1993 as a high school extracurricular program butbrevolved into what is now the Solar Car Challenge Foundation that brings inbrstudents from all over the world. Students work in teams and apply engineeringbrand technology skills to build or refine a car powered solely by the sun.
Thebrchallenge runs a 15-month education cycle that teaches high school students howbrto plan, design, engineer, build and race roadworthy solar cars, which isbraccomplished through six national teaching workshops, onsite visits, curriculumbrmaterials and summer camps.
All ofbrthe learning culminates in a closed-track event at the world-famous Texas MotorbrSpeedway or a cross-country race designed to give students an opportunity tobrshow the country the product of their efforts.
As ofbr2017, 181 high schools in 36 states, plus Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, CostabrRica and the Bahamas took part in some phase of the Solar Car Challenge Educationbrprogram. Top teachers from across the country put their minds together to makebrthe Solar Car Challenge one of the most engaging and motivating high schoolbrscience programs in existence today.
LibertybrChristian students also achieved another honor. At the awards ceremony on Julybr22, students received the Sandt Award for displaying the true spirit of solarbrcar racing through distinguished service to their fellow teams.
UpperbrSchool Principal Heather Lytle said, “Our students demonstrated the Warrior Waybrto other teams as they provided their know-how and time to other teams who werebrpreparing for the race. They truly showed we are all a big family in solarbrcar.”