MARIETTA, Ga. | Mar 21, 2017

Engineering student team celebrates 25th anniversary with excellence

Kennesaw State University’s Motorsports Formula SAE Team, an engineering student competition team, is gaining distinction for more than vehicle design and racing ability. The team was recently honored with the 2016 SAE Honeywell Outstanding Collegiate Branch Award of Excellence.

Each year, SAE International, a global body of scientists, engineers and practitioners who advance self-propelled vehicle and system knowledge for societal benefit, recognizes outstanding SAE chapters from around the nation that excel in community outreach and inspire younger generations to pursue STEM careers.

The excellence award recognizes SAE collegiate branches for exemplary performance in the areas of technical meetings, networking opportunities and member recruitment, as well as for activities such as the SAE Collegiate Design Series and community service programs. The team is now in its 25^th year as a student organization.

“Everyone on the team is excited about this award,” said Sarah Carter, president of the KSU Motorsports - Formula SAE Team, a SAE collegiate branch. “This recognizes all of our volunteer hours and the events that we do for our communities to bring more attention to the field of engineering.”

In the past year, the team has conducted more than 800 volunteer hours by visiting high schools, middle schools and elementary schools in Cobb County. The team served as a mentor to the Wheeler High School Formula One team and participated in the Cobb County STEM Fair to encourage young students to pursue careers in these high-demand fields. During the fall, the team presented its own STEM Fair, which brought more than 300 high school students to the Marietta Campus to learn more about engineering.

Based on chapter membership, the KSU Motorsports Team, has more than 100 paid members, with about 65 actively involved in the design, build and testing of the team’s race car. In February, the team hosted the Formula South Invitational, an annual event that brings collegiate racecar teams from the Southeast to campus for friendly competition. The Invitational helped raise $1,600 for KSU engineering student scholarships.

“The team has grown significantly in the past year, and they have moved into the largest class category,” said Randy Emert, the team’s faculty advisor and assistant professor of mechanical engineering technology at Kennesaw State. “Over 500 collegiate teams compete each year for these coveted awards, so it is an honor for the team to be recognized.”

Last year, the team earned the 2015 SAE Honeywell Outstanding Collegiate Branch in the Class 2 category. The KSU Motorsports team will receive a plaque and a $100 prize.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.