Two teams of Dripping Springs High students successfully applied their engineering skills at national competitions and were recognized for outstanding achievement June 8-10. This was the first year for DSHS students to enter either of these competitions.
Each team was judged based on its application of aerodynamic principles, consideration of design aesthetics, innovation and engineering, marketing, quality of manufacturing, race times, pit display, portfolios, safety, team identity and verbal presentations.
A group of six students competed in the F1 in Schools STEM Challenge Cup of the Americas based on their regional finish in January.
The DSHS team won the Portfolios Award and the AutoDesk Design Challenge. In the F1 in Schools Challenge, students use software to collaborate, design, analyze, manufacture, test, and race miniature compressed air-powered balsa wood F1 cars.
The Dripping Springs High team includes Aubrie Caldwell, Skylar Daniel, Ken Gossett, Cade Nowicki, Drew Pare, and Elliot Turner.
Another group of students entered the Jaguar Land Rover 4x4 Technology Challenge, placing second overall.
The Challenge involves the design and construction of a radio-controlled four-wheel-drive vehicle. The DSHS team was recognized as having the “Best Track Performance” and received the Innovative Thinking Award. Based on that finish, the students qualified for the World 4x4 Championship in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) in December.
Team members are Jason Fitzpatrick, Bryce Fitzpatrick, Dallas Hudson, Ben Marsan, Cole Scott, and Henry Windsor.