Empowering Tomorrow’s Innovators: FPL’s Commitment to Electrathon in Florida Schools

High school students across the state are ready for Summer Break – and Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) is thrilled to deliver another unforgettable STEM learning experience through its support of the Electrathon America initiative.

As part of the program, FPL donates essential EV-building kits and provides comprehensive training sessions, empowering students and their teachers to create electric go-karts to ultimately compete in an action-packed race against other teams.

Students learn valuable STEM principles like battery management, electrical wiring and even mechanical engineering to create the most efficient go-kart.

“We want to incentivize students to consider further education and career pathways in the STEM field after they graduate,” says Isabella Burckhardt, Community Relations Specialist with FPL. “We believe that investing in education and hands-on experiences like Electrathon will inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and innovators.”

To-date, FPL has supported 25 schools across the state including South, Central, East, Southwest and Northwest Florida.

With this program, students embark on an educational journey beyond traditional classrooms and into the exciting world of electric vehicle racing. With FPL’s support, these aspiring engineers delve into the Electrathon competition, designing and building their own electric vehicles. The exposure to STEM principles, teamwork and collaboration gives students a chance to think about future careers in the STEM and mobility fields.

“I think it’s really cool to see all the different types of skills to be able to get together,” says Lyman High School student Matthew Oglesby. “Electrical … Welding … It’s really cool to see it all come together.”

The months-long build, which FPL supports every step of the way, culminates in racing competitions during the FPL Electrathon Speedway Series, where high school, college and private teams hit the track at locations including Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Sebring International Raceway and the Daytona International Speedway.

The goal of the competition is not to create the fastest vehicle, but the most efficient one that can travel the farthest distance on a single battery charge.

“I’ve always been a STEM guy, stuff like this, I love it,” remarked Erik Guillen from Miami Lakes Education Center. “I feel like anyone that hasn’t been a part of STEM, I feel like it could be a great opportunity for them to grow more of an interest because it is very interesting to be able to actually build a car and drive it on the racetrack.”

The Electrathon initiative goes beyond merely fostering competitive spirit; it instills crucial life skills in students such as teamwork, problem-solving and critical thinking. This hands-on experience allows students to translate their classroom knowledge into real-world applications, embodying the true spirit of STEM education.

Educators say it’s a can’t miss opportunity to inspire their students.

“We can’t really have a strong community without public education,” emphasizes Christian Carranza, STEAM Administrative Director for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “Having students that have these types of activities available to them so that they can really expand their horizons and become the leaders we need.”

FPL’s continued support for the program underscores its commitment to nurturing Florida’s next generation of STEM leaders and innovators. It also unlocks new pathways for students who may want to get a head start in thinking about their career trajectory.

“They’re learning not only about the future of sustainability but also how to be important collaborators and leaders in our community,” adds Burckhardt.

To learn more about the Electrathon program visit FPL.com/Electrathon.

Join us at Drive Electric Florida in celebrating the achievements of these young engineers and the vital role FPL plays in offering opportunities for students to explore careers in STEM. Here’s to another year of racing towards excellence!

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7zw3AJsglI