Mouser Electronics, the New Product Introduction (NPI) leader empowering innovation, has announced it will sponsor the Mansfield (Texas) Independent School District (MISD) Shine Runners Solar Car Team in the 2024 Solar Car Challenge, taking place 11–17 July 2024 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Admission is free and open to the public.
Scrutineering of the Solar Cars is 11–13 July 2024, and the Solar Car races are 14–16 July 2024. Attendees must wear closed-toe shoes and full-brim hats for safety reasons. Mouser is joined in this sponsorship by its valued manufacturer partner, Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI).
The Shine Runners is a talented group of aspiring multi-discipline students from Ben Barber Innovation Academy of Mansfield. The team was founded in 2011 and has competed in more than seven previous races. In past years, the team has received the Guntis Terauds Award for displaying the highest level of courage in the face of engineering obstacles, along with the prestigious Lockheed Martin Award for demonstrating the highest level of engineering excellence.
“The Solar Car Challenge is an exciting educational endeavour, and we are always happy to help support the students at Ben Barber with their engineering and robotics programmes,” said Kevin Hess, Mouser’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. “Hands-on STEM programmes like the Solar Car Challenge teach valuable skills to students, like problem-solving, teamwork, and critical-thinking skills, all while having fun at the same time.”
The Solar Car Challenge was established in 1993 as an extracurricular programme with the initiative to motivate student interest in science, engineering, and alternative energy. The challenge teaches high school students around the world how to design, engineer, and build roadworthy solar cars.
Mouser’s sponsorship of the Ben Barber solar car team includes financial support. On alternating years, the teams race at the world-famous Texas Motor Speedway or drive cross-country to share their project cars with interested crowds along the way. At this year’s race, the Mouser-sponsored team from Ben Barber will compete with more than 20 teams from schools as far away as Oregon and New York.
The teams will travel to the Dallas-Fort Worth area for meetings, workshops, and racing.
