Discover what’s going on in the Alternative Energy Club

The Alternative Energy Club is a long running club at the high school advised by Mr. VonDauber which focuses on providing all students with access to the great tools and equipment that our school’s Project Lead the Way workshop offers.

This year the club has been working towards restarting a project left behind by students years ago: a car built to compete in the Shell Eco Marathon.

The point of the marathon is to create the most efficient car possible. For perspective, the world record has been set by a team from Switzerland at an equivalent of 13,000 miles per gallon of gasoline. That’s enough to drive across the United States about four times. 

While our school’s car is currently not in shape to drive, yet alone to compete, the goal is that in the next few years the car can get all of the updates it needs to once again be functional and ready to compete.

One of the major challenges the club is facing is where to get the money to renovate the car. That’s why the club is running many creative fundraisers this year like the customizable photo Christmas ornaments and class of 2026 ornaments that were sold in early December.

Something great about the club is that it can be whatever you want it to be; whether you want to “get more hands-on work with stem related activities” like junior Lin Khine, or you want to “be a part of more collaborative projects that utilize digital software to create amazing [things]” like junior Jackie Chen.

The goal of the club is to just get students engaged in using all of the great technologies we have at the high school, whether it be 3d modeling and printing, laser engraving, robotics, or working on the car.

The great thing about joining the club is that it can look like whatever you want it too. Whether you want to work solo on a project you have in mind, or you want to join a team that already has a project in the works, the possibilities really are endless.

If you’re interested in joining the club, reach out to Mr. VonDauber to get the Google Classroom code so you can join the next meeting.