2023 University of Michigan Solar Car Team prepares to race across the Australian desert in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
Education is important, but there are certain things that can only be learned through life experience. That’s one reason why STEM Education programs are crucial, because they utilize interdisciplinary problem-based learning that focuses on real world issues like sustainable energy. Sounds amazing in theory, but some people wonder if STEM Education is really effective in setting students up for future success. Learning more about current programs and the impact they have on people who participate in them might offer a more definitive perspective.
University of Michigan Solar Car Team prepares to race across the desert in Australia during the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
The University of Michigan Solar Car Team is a glowing representation of STEM Education in action. This entirely student-run organization raced through harsh Australian desert terrain to take 4th place in this year’s annual Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. These promising young engineers exhibited solid education, teamwork, and resilience when they began in 32nd place and pushed past 28 teams to finish in an the impressive 4th place position. As their solar car crossed the finish line, they surrounded it and excitedly cheered “Go Blue!”
University of Michigan Solar Car Team places 4th at the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge despite technical difficulties that caused them to begin the race at the back of the pack. These young engineers made an impressive and inspiring comeback.
STEM Education experiences like this are “life-changing” according to Andrew Warner, who was crew chief of the 1993 solar car team that won the National Championship and raced in Australia 30 years ago. He displays a picture in his office of the solar car he built alongside the team he proclaims “set the standard” for teamwork and showed him the power of synergy in working toward a common goal. All these years later, his alumni team still communicates as they follow live updates of the 2023 U of M solar car team, watching as they race with parts produced in Mr. Warner’s manufacturing facility Wartech Engineering in Romulus, Michigan.
President and Founder of Wartech Engineering Andrew Warner in his office, where he proudly displays a picture of the solar car he built alongside his team in 1993. They won the National Solar Car Race (Sunrayce) that year and also competed in the World Solar Car Challenge in Australia.
Sponsoring this year’s team was an “obvious choice,” according to Mr. Warner. He explains one of his missions is “to do my part to help keep the cycle of STEM Education alive and give back to the solar car program like the program gave to me.” In an exclusive interview, he described how he and his teammates were so dedicated to building their solar car that they sometimes even fell asleep next to it, working tirelessly around the clock.
This STEM Education experience he gained through the Solar Car team, Mr. Warner describes, is how he “learned about the importance of mission.” Through the ups and downs of building and losing his first business, he applied the “irrational resilience” he learned from the STEM Education of his solar car experience to persevere and build Wartech Engineering from the ground up.
Parts of the 1993 University of Michigan Solar Car that were manufactured at Wartech Engineering in Romulus, MI. Andrew Warner was “thrilled” to watch the Bridgestone World Solar Car Challenge race unfold knowing his sponsorship made a difference.
It is reaffirming to see a true STEM Education success story in action, continuing the cycle to benefit future generations of engineers. Sponsors and supporters of mission programs hope their contributions actually help the way they are intended to. Reading about journeys like these should solidify that hope. It appears the University of Michigan Solar Car Team has been a beneficial program for decades, and there is every indication it will continue to help set aspiring engineers on the path to success for many years to come.
Picture of the 1993 University of Michigan Solar Car Team that won Nationals and raced in Australia (2nd from right: Crew Chief Andrew Warner, who said this team embodied the highest example of mission, resilience, and teamwork)
Written by Jessika Irja (Founder and President of Endless Elevation LLC)
Learn more about the University of Michigan Solar Car Team: https://www.solarcar.engin.umich.edu/
Connect with Andrew Warner: https://linktr.ee/andrewwarnerofficial
Learn more about Wartech Engineering: https://wartechengineering.com/
Contact Information: JessikaIrja@EndlessElevationLLC.com www.EndlessElevationLLC.com
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