- November 21, 2024
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There was a carnival vibe outside Suncoast Science Center/Faulhaber Fab Lab on April 6, as decorations like giant popcorn buckets and a Ferris wheel adorned the property.
Yet students were there for more than the atmosphere.
The 9th annual RC Custom Car Open paid off the efforts of over 175 students from 30 Sarasota and Manatee County schools in building cars of their own design using equipment like 3D printers and laser cutters.
“It gives them a lot of problem-solving skills, and some of them were victorious, and some of them learned a lot and what they would do next year as well,” said Meagan Jones, an instructor with Wilkinson Elementary.
The races were also guided by 14 high school student volunteers who contributed more than 1,000 hours to the project.
The event tested the skills of students with both drag races and obstacle track races while also offering classic carnival games and a lineup of local food trucks.
“It was a good way to challenge our abilities," said Grayson Dunk, an eighth grader at Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences. "We learned to work together as a team. We learned to be stronger. We're better as a team than standing alone."