Senator Lugar Honors IMSTEA
Senator Richard Lugar visited the Technical Inspection for the 15th annual IMSTEA Super Mileage Challenge held at Vincennes University Aviation Technology Center, Indianapolis International Airport on Sunday, April 25, 2010. The Senator spoke with several of the teams competing in this year’s event and addressed the assembled students and faculty prior to the dinner provided by Vincennes University.
Senator Lugar praised the students and faculty for their ingenuity in achieving such spectacular mileage figures and expressed his expectation that the students continue to work for energy conservation in their future careers. He highlighted the nation’s continuing dependence on foreign sources of energy, and noted that many of the nations furnishing our energy are not that friendly to our country.
One highlight of the Senator’s visit was his presentation of his Lugar Energy Patriot award to IMSTEA for their work on the Super Mileage Challenge. Mr. Jim Thompson accepted the award on behalf of IMSTEA.
For the third consecutive year Mater Dei High School of Evansville, IN won the unlimited class of competition with a mileage figure of 1,004.20 mpg while Greenfield Central High School of Greenfield, IN won the stock class with 847.36 mpg. The event was held on Monday, April 26th at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis under cloudy skies with temperatures hovering near 50°F. Mater Dei is now a six-time winner overall with three wins in the stock class (2005.2006.2007) as well as their unlimited class wins.
Wind and cold temperatures reduced the mileage figures this year from the records of 1352.67 mpg set by Jefferson High School of Lafayette, IN in 2007 and the stock record of 1365.41 established by Mater Dei High School, Evansville, IN also in 2007. Thirty-seven Indiana high schools fielded 49 cars while a car from the University of Cincinnati ran for testing and demonstration of the cars used in the college-level competition. Mater Dei High School also ran two cars used in the Shell Eco-Marathon. These cars did not compete with the high school entries.
Other awards presented included:
Best Integration of Mathematics, Science and Technology to Jac-Cen-Del High School of Osgood, IN.
Best Design to Sullivan High School of Sullivan, IN.
Craftsmanship Award to South Spencer High School of Rockport, IN.
Sportsmanship Award to Warsaw High School, Warsaw, IN.
The Horizon Award (for the best performing first year car) to West Vigo High School of West Terre Haute, IN.
The Performance Concept Award (for the school coming closest to their predicted mileage) to PVETI Manufacturing Academy of Cayuga, IN.
Tenacity Award (for the school trying the hardest with little success) to Eastern Greene High School of Bloomfield, IN.
People’s Choice Award to Sullivan High School, Sullivan, IN.
The major sponsors of the event are:
O’Reilly Raceway Park - track and support personnel
Briggs & Stratton Corp – engines
Vincennes University – Technical Inspection facilities, Technical Inspection dinner, support personnel, financial support,
Dr. George Rogers – Purdue University, Department of Industrial Technology, Support personnel.
Dr. Richard Seymour – Ball State University, Department of Industry and Technology, Support personnel.
Indiana Department of Education – Personnel support and mailings.
Mr. Gregg Steele, Mr. Jim Thompson – trophies
Ohio Technical College – financial support.
A list of schools entered is attached.
Published by Indiana Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Alliance, P.O. Box 4150, Carmel, IN 46082, James M. Thompson, President