Shell Calls on Students to Join Next Year's Top Mileage Competition
HOUSTON, TX – Shell is once again calling on the brightest, most innovative high school and university student teams across the hemisphere to compete in the ultimate energy efficiency challenge. The goal: to design and build the most energy-efficient vehicle to compete in Shell Eco-marathon Americas, April 22-24, 2016.
This year’s Shell Eco-marathon Americas, the first in Detroit, drew over 1,000 high school and university students representing more than 100 teams from across the Americas — Brazil, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico and the United States — all vying for the top energy efficiency honors. When the numbers were finally in on the last day, Canada’s University of Toronto took top honors at 3,421 miles per gallon equivalent in their sleek gasoline-powered prototype vehicle.
For more than 30 years, Shell has helped develop talent for both the automotive and energy industries by challenging students from around the world to push the limits of innovative thinking and energy efficiency.
Aside from the excitement of the competition, Shell Eco-marathon Americas provides students with hands-on, project-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) experience beyond the classroom, and opportunities to learn the value of teamwork with other students and connect with companies looking to meet potential future leaders.
“My experience with the Shell Eco-marathon has given me essential and transferable skills on teamwork, leadership and communication all of which are keys to success in any future career,” notes Nancy Shu, University of British Columbia team manager.
Prior to the 2015 event, some student participants went behind the scenes to meet leaders and engineers at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA US LLC) and Ford Motor Company.
“We look for young people who aspire to careers in the automotive industry,” says Georgette Dulworth, director of talent acquisitions and diversity at FCA US. “When we can work with other organizations, like Shell, who are promoting science, technology, engineering and math fields, we see it as an opportunity to engage the pipeline of our future employees.”
See what the excitement is all about in this event overview, then get a first-hand look at the trials, tribulations and successes of three teams competing at the most recent Shell Eco-marathon Americas in the first of six webisodes.
Learn more about how you or your school can be a part of Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2016 in Detroit, April 22-24, 2016; visit the Participants section of shell.com/semamericas to register your interest or email ecomarathonamericas@shell.com.
About Shell Eco-marathon
Shell Eco-marathon is a global program that challenges high school and university student teams to design, build and test the most energy-efficient vehicles. With annual events in the Americas, Europe and Asia, this innovation competition pushes future scientists and engineers to travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy. Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2016 will take place April 22nd-24th in Detroit, MI, and is free and open to the public. Visit www.shell.com/semamericas for more information.