High Schooler Solar Race to the Finish

It was a bright and sunny day which saw high school contestants from across the country cross the NASA finish line in annual solar race.

The great high school solar race is over and we have winners! Specifically, we are talking about the eight-day, 1,600 mile Dell-Winston School Solar Challenge which began July 8 at Dell’s Round Rock, Texas headquarters and ended July 16 at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California.

The winner in the Open Division, which allows teams to use solar cells rated at more than 16 percent efficiency and hub motors, was the Houston Solar Team’s “Sundancer” vehicle. It reached a top speed of 57 miles per hour while averaging 29 mph.

The other division was the Classic Division, which requires that vehicles not use hub motors and that solar cells come in at under 16 percent efficiency. The winner here was the Saint Thomas Academy Experimental Vehicle Team with a top speed of 51 mph and an average speed of 26 mph.

Other teams in the two divisions also came from high schools across the country.

“I am continually amazed at the leadership, innovation and collaboration that occurs within these teams and this year is no different,” said Scott Campbell, vice president of Dell’s K-12 education business. “The skills these students are developing will prepare them for higher education and ultimately the workforce. This is another great example of 21st Century skills used in a fun and exciting manner.”