Emergent Partners Jesse Gossett, Jared Rodriguez, and Jayson Uppal have joined the Citizens School program in South Boston to counsel and prepare 14 Middle School students for the Junior Solar Sprint in May. Jesse, Jared, and Jayson will be teaching at the Gavin Middle School in an 80 minute after-school program once a week (Thursday afternoons).

The Junior Solar Sprint is a city-wide miniature solar-powered car race for students in grades 6 – 8 sponsored by the Boston Area Solar Energy Association. The cars are judged based on technical merit, creativity, performance, and craftsmanship. The top 20 cars from the race move up to compete in the New England Regional Race.

Through the 10 week program, Jesse, Jared, and Jayson will be teaching the basics of solar energy and car mechanics, and will be training the kids to successfully design, build, and operate a model solar car. Three weeks into the program, the students have learned about how energy from the sun can be converted to run an electric motor, how to build a sturdy and efficient car using the given materials, and how gear ratios affect the car’s speed and acceleration.

The final date for the Junior Solar Sprint is still TBD, but check the website for updates. If you are in the Boston area, come out to cheer for the Gavin School Solar Car Team!