WVU EcoCAR team teaches more than 1,000 K-12 students about sustainable transportation

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – School-age students in West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania, have a better understanding of the term “eco-friendly,” thanks to West Virginia University’s EcoCAR team.

One of the team’s goals was to educate K-12 students about alternative fuels and the importance of being environmentally conscious. As the team approaches the end of its second year of competition, it has reached approximately 1,100 K-12 students.

Five public relations students from the P.I. Reed School of Journalism and several College of Engineering students organized school visits in Monongalia, Marion, Preston and Harrison counties in West Virginia, and Allegheny and Greene Counties in Pennsylvania. The team traveled to eight different elementary, middle and high schools.

Several of the team members visited their alma maters to talk about EcoCAR, and their roles in the competition.

“When I visited my former high school to talk about EcoCAR, the teachers’ and students’ feedback was amazing. Everyone seemed very interested in our project and had so many questions. I could have stayed there all day, and I bet my former teacher or the students wouldn’t have minded,” said Alan Kuskil, a senior mechanical engineering major from South Park, Pa.

Team members emphasized the importance of studying math and science. The team also included a presentation about sustainable transportation and greening the environment.
“We really wanted the kids to come away with a better understanding of the competition, and how their generation is going to play a major role in helping the environment we live in,” said Cate Mihelic, a senior public relations major from Shinnston, who spearheaded the education outreach.

According to Mihelic, more than 60 letters were sent out to public school principals throughout West Virginia. The level of response was so high that the team had to re-schedule some visits for next year, when the team will be in the third year of its four-year competition.

The WVU EcoCAR team will travel to Yuma, Ariz., and San Diego in May for the Year 2 competition finals.

-WVU-

mm/03/26/10

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CONTACT:
Nicole Fernandes, Outreach Coordinator
(304) 932-6585
EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge
West Virginia University
ecocaroutreach@gmail.com
www.ecocarchallenge.org