Thirty Cleveland Students Build Super Car in Five Weeks

Thirty Cleveland high school students recently completed the challenge to build a Factory Five GTM Super Car in five weeks. This project, which was made possible by a partnership formed by Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cleveland Public Library, Cuyahoga Community College, and Experience Aviation, invited students from Max S. Hayes High School, Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School, and Garrett Morgan School of Science to collaborate, learn, and develop new skills.

The completed Factory Five GTM Super Car will be on display at the NEOSTREAM Conference on Saturday, October 27 at Cleveland State University. The following week, the car will travel to the Cleveland Mini Maker Faire on Saturday, November 3 at Cleveland Public Library’s Main Library downtown.

“Congratulations to our Cleveland students for a successful Factory Five GTM Super Car build.  The project shows the importance of collaboration in educating, nurturing, and providing students with the tools they need for success,” says Representative Marcia L. Fudge. “It is a shining example of the value of STEM education and exposing students to STEM opportunities through practical application. Thank you to the project partners for choosing NEOSTREAM 2018 – Community Day to showcase the hard work of these students.” 

“Cleveland Public Library is always working to create opportunities to challenge and engage Cleveland’s youth,” adds Felton Thomas, Jr., Executive Director of Cleveland Public Library. “This project shows what our students are capable of when they are provided with the resources to succeed.” 

The students came together on September 10 at Max S. Hayes High School to collaborate on this project-based learning experience that tasked them with designing and building a car in five weeks. The goal of the challenge was to enhance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills of at-risk and disadvantaged students by providing a hands-on, innovative project that provides exposure to in-demand careers in the auto and aviation industries, as well as improve students’ problem-solving and critical thinking skills.   

“We are very proud of the students who participated in the project,” says Dr. JaNice Marshall, Associate Vice President of Access and Community Engagement at Cuyahoga Community College. “These are the types of experiences that young people remember for a lifetime, and can be instrumental in exposing them to careers and opportunities that they may never thought was possible.”  

 The build was led by a design team from Experience Aviation, which was founded by Captain Barrington Irving. Captain Irving secured his place in history as the youngest person and first black pilot to fly solo around the globe. In 2005, he founded the Miami-based nonprofit organization Experience Aviation (EA) to introduce young people to career opportunities in aviation and STEM-related fields. Captain Irving will speak at the NEOSTREAM Conference on October 27, 2018 at Cleveland State University.  

“Thanks to key partners within the Cleveland community, students were challenged to reach their potential and understand the opportunities awaiting them in various STEM+ fields,” says Captain Barrington Irving. “Although the journey is important, it is our mission that students envision the destination. Learning should be an experience complemented with empowering opportunities to excel. We are proud of the students and community who came together to successfully achieve this great challenge.”