ME Schools awarded at F1 in Schools National Finals

Merewether High and Maitland Grossman High school students were awarded at the prestigious F1 in Schools National Finals in Canberra in March.

Merewether High School’s Super Sonic Speed Team placed third overall in the 30 strong field. They also won the Fastest Overall Car, Grand Prix, Pit Display and Best Portfolio.

Maitland Grossmann High School’s Coercion were in the top 15 overall and were finalists in the marketing category – that challenges students to promote their team and car in the ‘pits’.

F1 in Schools is an international challenge in which teams of students aged 9 to 19 deploy CAD/CAM software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test, and then race miniature compressed air powered balsa wood Formula 1 car prototypes.

Success at both Regional and State levels of F1 in Schools saw teams progress to the Nationals for the first time in the Hunter’s history of participating in the competition.

“It is incredibly pleasing to have two teams competing at the national F1 finals this year. To see them perform at such a high level against a national field shows the depth of talent we have here in the Hunter and positions the region for the future.” said ME Program Manager, Mr Ashley Cox.

F1 in Schools Hunter teams are supported and sponsored by RDA Hunter’s ME Program and many local industry partners. The ME Program links industry with its future workforce. It works to provide school students and teachers with current industry practices and knowledge while providing industry with an engaged and capable workforce.

The F1 in Schools challenge is one of a number of technology pathways supported by the ME Program which promotes the career benefits of studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects. It encourages students to apply their learning in a ‘real’ situation and helps develop other skills such as project management, business marketing, presentation and communication skills that provide long term employability.

View the Australian Defence article http://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/school-students-prove-their-mettle-in-competition