HARLEM — Students lined up outside North Harlem Elementary School and along West Trippe Street April 4 to cheer on No. 12, Inferno, and their fellow students who are competing Saturday at the Greenpower Positively Phenix City Goblin Rally in Phenix City, Ala.
“We have 16 students who’ve been working since October to build their car,” said their teacher, Amber Lazenby.
The team is comprised of fourth and fifth graders who met for an hour on Wednesday afternoons to design and construct their electric car. Lazenby said 60 students applied to be part of the group.
The students had to come up with a budget and raise the money to get to the competition. They also learned valuable teamwork lessons, she said.
“The students are so different,” she said.
Fourth grader Bentli Glosser helped with marketing and design.
One of their fundraisers included several hat days, and Bentli became proficient in Canva as she developed the flyers for the events — her favorite part of the process, she said.
Not only will the students be competing in the event, which is designed to promote STEM education, they will take a field trip to the space and science center and visit an airport.
Thursday’s pep rally included two laps with students pushing the Inferno and another car – the Phantom. Lazenby said they were pushing them for safety reasons because of the gusty conditions
Students held up signs and many of them danced to the energetic music played over the speaker all while cheering on the team.
This is the eighth year North Harlem has competed in the event.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
