Congratulations are in order for Newburgh Free Academy’s Concept Vehicle Racing Team. The self-funded, after-school team placed third last month at the 2017 Shell Eco-Marathon (SEM) Drivers’ World Championship of the Americas, held in Detroit, Michigan. NFA was one of 114 teams from North, Central, and South America that competed in the event. The third-place finish means the local high school team is qualified to represent the United States at the second annual SEM Drivers’ World Championship in London, UK later this month.
“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our students,” said Matthew Schweizer, the team’s advisor and a Design, Engineering, and Architecture teacher at NFA.
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The Concept Vehicle Racing team at NFA is comprised of students in grades 9 through 12 who are interested in gaining engineering-related experience for their future endeavors post-high school. The students work with teachers within the Career and Technical Education department, which encompasses design, engineering, welding fabrication, automotive technology, auto body, and video production.
Currently, the students on the CVR team have built two vehicles (and race them in competition!); an electric urban concept vehicle and a diesel prototype vehicle.
The World Championship will be held in London on May 25-28, with nine teams from the entire world competing for the title of World’s Fastest and Most Efficient Driver. The NFA CVR team is hoping to raise enough money to send 15 team members to the London championships.
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The entire NFA CVR team at home in Newburgh |
Interested in helping the NFA CVR team send these kids across the pond? The team is hosting a fundraiser at the Newburgh Elks Lodge at 356 Washington Street on May 13 from 12-5 p.m. with food, drinks, and raffle prizes. Can’t make it but still want to donate? Check out their GoFundMe page.
