S.T.E.M. Whiz Kids Eyes Solar Car Challenge, But It Will Cost Them

Kalen Riley, a 10th grader at University High School in Ferndale, and Chris Davis, lead engineer from Michigan Tech University, work on the electric power dune buggy. Jamahr Herdon, an eighth grader from Canton, is also part of the ”Run DC” team. (Photo submitted)

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Seven metro Detroit middle and high school students – including Jamahr Herdon, an eighth grader from Canton, and Kalen Riley, a 10th grader from Ferndale – have spent the last four months building a dune buggy and converting it to run on electric power at NextEnergy in Detroit.

Collectively known as “Run DC,” the team members will showcase their efforts at an Oct. 7 event to drum up financial support to enable them to participate in the High School Solar Car Challenge in Texas next year.

For that to happen, the team must raise $12,000 to purchase materials for the competition, including a lithium-ion battery, solar cells, and other materials needed to complete the electric vehicle, in addition to travel expenses.

To raise funds, students are requesting $500 - $3,000 sponsorships from Detroit area businesses.

The student engineering effort is co-sponsored by NextEnergy and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC)to foster the growth of young talent and enable hands-on experience in S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering and math) related fields.

Cydney Gardner-Brown, a 10th grade student of Renaissance High School in Detroit, said the program makes S.T.E.M. subjects more accessible. “I was always intimidated by science and math, but I have learned that I’m actually pretty good at it,” she said.

During the event, students will speak to the audience about what they have learned, demonstrate the vehicle technology and present a video they created about their typical day working on the vehicle. The event will end with a reception.

The full team includes:

• Mecca Evans – 10th Grade, Renaissance High School
• Cydney Gardner-Brown –10th Grade, Renaissance High School
• Jamahr Hearndon – eighth grade, West Middle School
• Taylor Lawson – 10th Grade, Cass Tech High School
• Omari Reedus – 11th Grade, Martin Luther King High School
• Kalen Riley –10th Grade, University High School
• Alexia White – 10th Grade, Detroit School of Arts and Sciences

If you go:

When: 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7 | Where: NextEngery, 461 Burroughs St., Detroit | Parking: Complimentary and on-site.