The Solar Car Challenge is an international high school solar education program designed to help motivate students in science, engineering and alternative energy. Through this program, students learn how to plan, design, engineer, build, race, and evaluate roadworthy solar cars.
Science & Technology Magazine named the Solar Car Challenge as one of the top science and engineering programs in the country.
The Solar Challenge has reached 1100 schools in 20 countries, and has brought the excitement of science to more than 75,000 students. We now have 261 on-going high school solar car projects from Washington to Florida, California to New York.
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 Education Program met this objective, and worked to provide curriculum materials, on-site visits, and workshop opportunities 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 their work as they travel cross-country. The 2024 race at the Texas Motor Speedway reached a international viewership.
Former national sponsors for the Solar Car Challenge: Oncor, Lockheed Martin, Texas Instruments, Raytheon, Northrup Grumman, Vistra, Hunt Oil Company, Dell Computers, Green Mountain Energy, and The Acclivus Corporation. The Solar Car Challenge is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization.
The Solar Car Challenge has been honored for its Innovation in Education by the "D CEO Magazine," the NBC Universal Foundation, and the "Technology & Learning Magazine."
SOLAR CAR CHALLENGE
Mission Statement
The Solar Car Challenge & Education Program is designed to help motivate students in Science, Engineering, and Alternative Energy. We teach high school students how to plan, design, engineer, build, race, and evaluate roadworthy solar cars. Students demonstrate that green technology can create a better world.
Detailed Mission
The Solar Car Challenge has 261 on-going high school solar car projects located in 39 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 70,000 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 2024 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 2024 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 2024 as our formal growth model.
The Solar Car Challenge Education Program needs additional funding so that it can reach more students.
Ninety-five percent of donations to the Solar Car Challenge Foundation are used in support of students, education opportunities, in-person and virtual learning experiences, curriculum materials, on-site visits, and mentors.
Organization name
Solar Car Challenge Foundation
Causes
Education - K-12
Operating Budget
$100,000 - $249,999
Counties Served
Collin, Dallas, Denton, Hunt, Tarrant
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx, Native American
Address
3505 CASSIDY DR