Join the 2022 Northern Virginia Junior Solar Sprint!

Elementary and middle school students interested in having fun, while learning about STEM should consider signing up for the 2022 Northern Virginia Junior Solar Sprint.  This event will take place on June 25, 2022, from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology (TJHSST) in Alexandria, VA.

The Junior Solar Sprint is a hands-on experience. Students work in teams and use math, science, engineering, and technology to design and construct their own solar-powered cars. Finished cars will be raced at the event and awards will be presented for both design and speed.

This year’s event will be hosted by Ramya Reddy & Ram Reddy (TJHSST) and Pranav Bhimaraju (Marshall High School) in cooperation with TJ STEMbassadors, Young Scholars Circle, Technology Student Association (TSA), US Army Outreach Program (USAOP), and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL).  The three student hosts will be offering FREE Junior Solar Sprint workshops (self-paced and recorded videos)  to educate and inspire middle school and elementary students about solar energies.

Design, Build, and Race a Solar Car!

The Junior Solar Sprint provides a unique opportunity for students to enhance their skills and education while learning to work creatively as a team. All students in grades 3 through 8 are invited to participate.

During the event, special tools and materials are used as students work together to create small vehicles powered by a standardized solar cell and motor. Participants learn about renewable energy and how design affects functionality. This event provides insight into the learning process preferred by STEM schools like TJHSST, one of the world’s leading STEM schools.

Free Solar Car Building Workshop

Interested students are strongly encouraged to attend our free Solar Car Building Workshops prior to the event. These workshops provide a chance for students to learn about the proper design of a solar car.