Ok, could you build a team, website, learn to aerodynamically build a balsa wood race car, find sponsors and compete in a national race? This week on Marietta Stories, I interview Arul Gupta and Poojan Mehta, 15 year old guys who were part of a team that, constructed a car from styrofoam, created a website, found sponsors, and competed nationally through F1 in schools.
F1 in Schools is a worldwide competition consisting of several teams of kids aged 11-18. In this highly competitive league, teams of 3-6 develop cars utilizing computer aided design and other related tools. However, the complexity of what we do reaches beyond mere engineering and into business/marketing, graphic design, and possibly most importantly if considering real-world application, team management and cooperation. Then, each of these skill sets developed throughout the team process is put to the test at regional, national, and world level competitions. As a result, F1 in Schools has created a system which effectively develops and enhances students’ learning experience through their interests as well as by teaching necessary real-world situations/applications.
Arul is a rising junior at Wheeler High School and has chosen to partake in F1 in Schools to further his knowledge and experience with business communication/management skills. He is the Team Lead which entails a variety of tasks from team time management, to ensuring accuracy/value of all work, to constantly keeping the team organized and on task. He is able to bring to the team a background in a variety of areas through classes such as AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1, and an intro to Business/Tech class. Arul also has qualities of leadership and competitiveness which he adds to AeroFlow through his spot as Team Captain on the High School Varsity Tennis Team, as well as through national-level tournament competition.
Poojan is a rising junior at Wheeler High School and the Head Engineer on the F1 in Schools AeroFlow Racing team. He strives to accomplish CADing and building an F1 car that can exceed expectations. His decision to take on this role come from the valuable skills and knowledge he has attained in classes such as AP Physics 1 and 2, Engineering Concepts, and Intro to Drafting and Design. Poojan possesses the important characteristics of dedication, time management, and leadership abilities which he has utilized so successfully as a build member on BEST Robotics and the Wheeler Track and Field Team.