OPPD's annual summer seminar teaches new instructors how to put together a Power Drive program, and gives veteran instructors an opportunity to share some of the lessons they have learned. The overall goal is to help instructors educate the workforce of the future.
Power Drive 2010 Competition Wraps Up
Students from Bancroft-Rosalie High School took home the overall championships for Advanced and Standard Class vehicles as the 2010 Nebraska Power Drive Championships competition concluded. The results were based on high scores in documentation, design, braking, endurance and maneuverability.
Students from 29 high schools and one community college put together a total of 50 vehicles for the Championships competition at the Mid America Motorplex outside of Pacific Junction, Iowa, on Saturday, May 8. It was the last of six rallies for the year (two additional rallies were rained out).
The swiftest vehicle belonged to Mid-Plains Community College competing in the Exhibition Class, which is reserved for college students. The Mid-Plains vehicle completed 23 laps of the 1.4-mile long Road Course to lead its class.
Volunteers from the Omaha Camera Club were on hand to take photos of the event. Their photos can be found here.
Snap-On Tools Contribution Students participating in the Power Drive Program have some additional incentive to invest time and effort in the documentation portion of the competition. Snap-on Tools is offering a wrapped tool box similar to the one shown to the teams that win the overall documentation segment of the competition in the standard and advanced classifications. Snap-on Tools Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer Ben Brenton heard about the Power Drive program during a recent business trip to Nebraska. It piqued his interest so he followed up by meeting with program organizers to learn more. He liked what he heard and thought it was a great fit for Snap-on.
"We see a real need for skilled employees in the crafts and trades, and that kind of education needs to start at the high school level,” said Ben. “Power Drive is doing a great job of educating students and encouraging them to develop skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. We’re excited about this opportunity to show our support for their efforts.”
The tool boxes will be awarded to the winning schools at the Power Drive championships May 8. Snap-on will later provide the winning schools with a customized wrap or sticker designed with their school colors/mascot that can be attached to the inside of the toolbox lid. Each toolbox is worth about $2,000, so this represents a significant level of support for the program.
“Documentation is one of several areas judged in determining the overall Power Drive championships," said Steve Anderson, Executive Director. "We consider it to be one of the most important parts of the competition, so it's worth a lot of points to schools if they do a good job. Snap-on’s recognition of our winners will help emphasize that to all of our schools, and we appreciate the support of this international company.”
Power Drive Program
The Power Drive Program is an educational effort that challenges high school students to design and build one-person electric vehicles during the school year. In the spring, these teams of students compete with one another at organized rallies in areas such as vehicle braking, maneuverability and endurance.
OPPD established Power Drive in 1998 to give high school students a hands-on way to apply their studies and to promote interest in automotive, electric and energy technologies and careers. Nebraska Public Power District added its resources and has remained a valuable Power Drive partner.
Based on the program's growth since its inception, it's clear that the students, their teachers and schools have embraced the concept.
The experience the participants gain through the program is important because they are the energy decision-makers of the future.
Young Professionals
Group Wins Award
OPPD is recognized for excellence in attracting, retaining and developing young professionals.
