July 25, 2026 Issue, Page 9 of 16

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NEWS The Elk City News SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2026 • 9 Collegiate Teams Travel 1,500+ Miles on Solar Power Across US Heartland as Part of America’s 250th Anniversary News Provided By Double Yolk Collegiate solar car teams and dence — situating the 2026 event Innovators Educational Founda- FSGP is an annual three-day Semiquincentennial, the 250th Consultants their vehicles gather with nation- at the intersection of American tion. “Every solar car that arrives solar vehicle track race. The 2026 anniversary of the signing of the al and team flags for the event’s invention, infrastructure, and at the track represents thousands event marks FSGP’s first year at Declaration of Independence. It Elk City will be hosting the traditional all-teams aerial photo engineering education. of college student hours of engi- Brainerd International Raceway is spearheaded by the congressio- final overnight stop of the entire — a field that travels from across The series opens with the Elec- neering, manufacturing, fund- in Brainerd, Minnesota. Teams nally-appointed U.S. Semiquin- event — and the venue is the Na- the U.S. and internationally to trek Formula Sun Grand Prix raising, and more. Then those ve- must successfully complete a centennial Commission and its tional Route 66 Museum (2717 compete. (FSGP), July 21–23, 2026, mark- hicles must pass a scrutineering multi-day technical and safety sole-supporting nonprofit orga- W 3rd St), during the Route 66 2026 Electrek American Solar ing FSGP’s first year at Brainerd inspection process and qualify inspection process — known as nization, America250.org, Inc., Centennial. Solar cars finish the Challenge, Supporting Partner of International Raceway in Brain- during the track event to partic- scrutineering — before earning together known as America250. Carthage–Elk City stage on Fri- America250 and Route 66 Cen- erd, Minnesota. Teams that pass ipate in the Electrek American the right to take to the track. In This multi-year effort kicked off day, July 31, then depart Elk City tennial Project, marks 25 years technical and safety inspections Solar Challenge — which first addition to crowning track win- with America’s Invitation on July the morning of Saturday, August since first traveling Historic and meet on-track benchmarks traveled Route 66 twenty-five ners, FSGP serves as the qualify- 4, 2023: a national public en- 1 for the final run to the finish in Route 66 qualify for the Electrek Amer- years ago.” ing event for the Electrek Ameri- gagement campaign inviting all Amarillo. Every solar car that arrives at ican Solar Challenge (ASC), “America’s 250th anniversary can Solar Challenge. Americans to share their stories Public viewing at the the track represents thousands July 25–August 1, 2026 — a is an opportunity to celebrate and their hopes and dreams for Route 66 National Museum: of college student hours of en- cross-country event tracing the the ingenuity, innovation, and ABOUT ELECTREK AMER- the future of this country. Lead- Friday, July 31: 11:15am– gineering, manufacturing, fund- Great River Road and historic determination that have driven ICAN SOLAR CHALLENGE ing up to July 4, 2026, Ameri- 8:00pm — cars arrive staggered raising, and more.” Route 66 through the American our nation forward for genera- (ASC) ca250 is working to provide op- throughout the afternoon; — Gail Lueck, Innovators Ed- heartland. tions,” said Jen Condon, Exec- ASC is a multi-day, portunities for all Americans to evening charging (6–8pm) is ucational Foundation Both events test engineering utive Vice President of Ameri- cross-country solar vehicle event pause and reflect on our nation’s the best time to see the cars MN, UNITED STATES, June and endurance. At FSGP, cars ca250. “The Electrek American held every two years. Solar-pow- past, honor the contributions of up close and talk with teams 24, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ complete as many laps as possi- Solar Challenge showcases the ered vehicles travel a fixed route all Americans, and look to the Saturday, August 1: 7:00–9:15am -- The 2026 Electrek Formula ble on a closed track; ASC sends talent and creativity of the next over multiple stages, with over- future we want to create for the — morning charging and the Sun Grand Prix and Electrek qualifying vehicles onto public generation of engineers while night checkpoints in host cities next generation and beyond. To 9am stage start as teams launch American Solar Challenge are on roads to cover hundreds of miles honoring America’s legacy of along the way. The 2026 route learn more, visit America250. the final leg. track to be the largest field in the stage by stage, running on sun- exploration and technological follows the Great River Road org. A rare convergence - the Route program›s history. Collegiate en- light and the energy their teams progress, making it a fitting part and historic Route 66 corridor 66 Centennial, and 25 years since gineering teams from across the have learned to store and spend. of the Semiquincentennial cele- through the American heartland. ABOUT INNOVATORS EDUCA- solar cars first traveled Route United States, joined by interna- Behind every car are thousands bration.” TIONAL FOUNDATION (IEF) 66. Recruiting partners include tional entries from Canada, Bel- of hours of student engineering “Route 66 has always repre- 2026 CONFIRMED PART- IEF is a nonprofit organiza- Tesla, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and gium, and the Netherlands, will — part competition, part rolling sented innovation, movement, NERS & SPONSORS tion that organizes and operates Wattch. compete this summer across the laboratory. and the spirit of exploration,” Title Sponsor: Electrek the Formula Sun Grand Prix and ASSETS: Broadcast-ready American heartland. That rigor feeds directly into said Bill Thomas, Chair of the Track Partner: Brain- the American Solar Challenge to b-roll and drone footage, The event arrives at a rare con- the commercial pipeline. The Route 66 Road Ahead Partner- erd International Raceway advance hands-on engineering on-camera students and event vergence of anniversaries: 2026 skills students master — battery ship and Commissioner for the Presenting Partner: Siemens — education and accelerate the de- leadership, and start-line and marks the 250th anniversary of and solar integration, vehicle Route 66 Centennial Commis- presenting partner of the Sie- velopment of solar and electric checkpoint access — available the signing of the Declaration dynamics, systems engineering, sion. “Seeing collegiate teams mens Challenge, a $10,000 de- vehicle technology. Founded by before, during, or after the event. of Independence, the centenni- and energy efficiency — are why travel this historic corridor pow- sign competition awarded to the volunteers from across the solar al of the designation of Route recruiting partners include Tesla, ered entirely by the sun is a pow- top-performing team in an onsite vehicle community, IEF has been TEAMS LINE UP WITH THEIR 66, and the 25th anniversary of SpaceX, Wattch, and Blue Ori- erful reminder that the Mother engineering challenge at the track a launching pad for engineers SOLAR CARS FOR A GROUP the American Solar Challenge gin, and why these events serve Road is still a living laboratory Sponsors: Ansys, Blue Origin, now working at the leading edge PORTRAIT first traveling the Route 66 cor- as a launch pad into students’ for American ingenuity. As we Generac, IOSiX, MathWorks, of the clean energy and aero- The University of Illinois’ so- ridor. The Electrek American careers. celebrate 100 years of Route 66 Caterpillar, Donaldson, La Ma- space industries. More informa- lar car “Calypso” (No. 22), built Solar Challenge has been named “Team registrations this year and look toward the next cen- cuca LLC, SunCat Solar, SpaceX, tion is available at www.ameri- by the collegiate solar car team, an Official Route 66 Centenni- are shaping up to be the largest tury, this project connects our Tesla, Wattch, SolCast cansolarchallenge.org. shares a public road with every- al Project and is a supporting field we’ve seen, and we’re excit- shared history with the future of The Formula Sun Grand Prix day traffic as it passes the Ten- partner of America250, the na- ed to bring the Electrek Formula clean transportation and engi- ABOUT AMERICA250 is not in any way associated or nessee State Capitol during the tional, nonpartisan organization Sun Grand Prix to Brainerd In- neering excellence.” America250 is the national affiliated with the Formula 1 2024 Electrek American Solar charged by Congress to lead the ternational Raceway for the first nonpartisan initiative working to companies, FORMULA 1 racing, Challenge — a student-engi- commemoration of the signing time,” said Gail Lueck, Event Di- ABOUT ELECTREK FORMULA engage every American in cele- or the FIA Formula One World neered vehicle of the Declaration of Indepen- rector and Operations Director, SUN GRAND PRIX (FSGP) brating and commemorating the Championship. Oklahoman elected national SkillsUSA college/postsecondary president An Oklahoman will lead the Conference in Atlanta, Geor- first place where I realized that the skilled trades, I know my fu- National SkillsUSA college/post- gia in June, but her path to being different was not some- ture will always involve serving secondary division this year. national office began in Okla- thing to overcome. It was some- others through manufacturing,” Rachel Worthen, Autry Tech- homa. The process began with thing to embrace. It gave me a she said. “Wherever my career nology Center, has been named screening and online training place where my passion for lead- leads, I know I will love every the SkillsUSA national college/ and then a national officer can- ership, public speaking, man- minute of it.” postsecondary president. didate election at the Oklahoma ufacturing and serving others SkillsUSA, one of seven Worthen, who completed the SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills could all exist together.” co-curricular CareerTech stu- welding program at Autry Tech Conference, said Renee Reed, That desire for a place to fit dent organizations, is affiliated and graduated from Chisholm Oklahoma CareerTech trade and in is also what drew Worthen to with trade and industrial edu- High School in Enid in May, said industrial education program welding at Autry Tech. When she cation. The other six CTSOs are she sees national office as a “plat- administrator. toured the tech center in eighth Family, Career and Community form for hope.” After the national confer- grade, she said, the sparks, heat Leaders of America (family and “I truly believe life is built ence, the elected students go to and creativity in the welding consumer sciences education), on hope,” she said. “If we stop a national officer training retreat shop fascinated her, and she kept FFA (agricultural education), hoping for a better tomorrow, where they go through a series of finding reasons to sneak back DECA (marketing education), we stop believing that change interviews and interact with the in. Although she was afraid she HOSA (health careers educa- is possible. SkillsUSA gave me team. The officers are chosen for would not be good enough, she tion), Business Professionals of that hope, and because someone specific roles after that, said Lau- added, the welding shop felt like America (business and informa- believed in me, I have the op- ren Holmes, Oklahoma SkillsU- home. tion technology education) and portunity to believe in someone SA state adviser. Now a high school graduate, Technology Student Association else.” Worthen has been in Skill- Worthen plans to return to Au- (science, technology, engineer- She was first inspired to run sUSA only two years, but has try Tech to study CNC machin- ing and mathematics). for national office at her first already served as a chapter offi- ing to become what she calls “a National Leadership and Skills cer and briefly as a state officer more complete manufacturing OKLAHOMA CAREERTECH: Conference when she was 16, she before being elected to national professional.” OKLAHOMA’S WORKFORCE said. The desire was confirmed office. She finished in the top 10 “Understanding both welding LEADER during the 2025 Northwest Dis- in the national prepared speech and machining will help me be- The Oklahoma Department of trict Leadership Conference, contest and also competed on a come a stronger engineer by giv- Career and Technology Educa- when she stepped in to help pre- welding fabrication team. ing me a broader understanding tion provides leadership and re- pare leadership contestants. Some of her favorite memo- of how products are designed, sources and assures standards of Two of the contestants were ries, she said, were working un- manufactured and brought to excellence for a comprehensive women who were also study- der a welding hood next to her life. I know skilled professionals statewide system of career and ing welding, Worthen said. She best friends and learning that never stop learning,” she said. technology education. The sys- spent time practicing speeches, leadership is as important in the After completing the CNC tem offers programs and services preparing official dress and help- shop as it is on the stage. machining program, she plans to in 29 technology center districts ing them find the confidence to “Rachel is definitely a leader pursue a degree in welding engi- operating on 63 campuses, 394 go on stage. and an exceptional public speak- neering at LeTourneau Universi- PK-12 school districts, 20 skills “Watching them campaign re- er and represents Oklahoma ty in Longview, Texas. centers campuses that include minded me so much of myself. well,” Holmes said. She will take the things she’s three juvenile facilities and 49 They did not need someone ex- Hope has been a part of learned and the things she adult education and family liter- traordinary standing in front of Worthen’s SkillsUSA experience loves about SkillsUSA with her acy providers. them. They just needed someone since the beginning. throughout her education and The agency is governed by the who believed in them,” Worthen “I joined SkillsUSA because I career. State Board of Career and Tech- said; that’s when she told her ad- was looking for hope,” she said. “Whether I am designing nology Education and works viser, Cheryl Cooksey, that she “Growing up, I often felt like blueprints, leading manufactur- closely with the State Depart- wanted to run for national office. I did not quite fit anywhere. I ing teams, advocating for career ment of Education and the State Rachel Worthen, right, an Autry Technology Center welding graduate, is Worthen was elected as a na- was unsure of who I was, what and technical education or sim- Regents for Higher Education to serving as the SkillsUSA national college/postsecondary president for tional officer at the SkillsUSA I wanted to do or where I be- ply encouraging another young provide a seamless educational 2026-27. With her is Cheryl Cooksey, an instructor and SkillsUSA adviser National Leadership and Skills longed. SkillsUSA became the woman to believe she belongs in system for all Oklahomans. at Autry Tech.