Last year, AFX Racemasters introduced a new tradition into KY STLP Racing to the Future™, with the addition of the “AFX Champion’s Trophy”. The AFX Champion’s Trophy is awarded to the student that won the Racing Competition in each age group.
Every winner of the trophy gets their name and year they won, engraved on the trophy. We take the trophies to each champion’s school and present their prize during their school assemblies or award days. The school gets to display the trophy for a year. We go back and collect the trophies before the next championship event. We give the schools a plaque with the student’s name and the year they won, to help inspire the next group of students to participate in KY STLP and Racing to the Future™.
This year we had three new champions and Monroe County had the Elementary School Champion and the Middle School Champion. Fayette County, whose students are always contenders took the High School Championship, and by a first time student racer! We were able to visit each of the schools and present the champions their award. So let’s see the Racing to the Future™ Champions!
The 2014 KY STLP
Racing to the Future™
Elementary School Champion
Ezra Pitcock
Ezra Pitcock was this year’s Elementary School Racing to the Future™ Champion. He received his award at his school’s morning assembly in front of the whole school! He won his competition by staying calm and not fouling at the starting line. He also had a very, very fast car! He’s already preparing for next year’s event!
Principal Christie Biggerstaff from Gamaliel Elementary School, introduces Ezra to the assembly. Then we presented him with his trophy! They were already clearing a spot in the school’s trophy case, to display Ezra’s big win!
The 2014 KY STLP
Racing to the Future™
Middle School Champion
Jonah Ford
Just a short hop up the road, we visited Monroe Middle School to present Jonah Ford his Racing to the Future™, AFX Champion’s Trophy. Jonah received his trophy with his STLP class present. Principal Harlan was on hand for the presentation. He noticed there were still several blank name plates on the trophy and was encouraging the students to try and keep the AFX Champion’s Trophy at their school next year!
Jonah’s mom, dad and little sister were there to congratulate the family’s champion student racer. We found out that Jonah’s dad had volunteered to get Racing to the Future™ started in the Monroe County STLP. Jonah not only took first place, but Alayna Collins took the Middle School competition in Engineering and Design (she came in a close 3rd in Racing) and you already saw Ezra’s big win. Looks like Monroe County schools may be building a dynasty of great student racers!
The 2014 KY STLP
Racing to the Future™
High School Champion
Kevin Maestre
Next we traveled to Fayette County and Eastside Technical Center to present the High School AFX Champion’s Trophy to Kevin Maestre. This was Kevin’s first year in KY STLP and Racing to the Future™, and man, did he leave his mark! He was totally prepared and was the picture of concentration at the starting line. You could have popped a balloon behind him, and I don’t think he would have noticed. But when that light turned green, he was ready to go and so was his car!
Kevin received his AFX Champion’s Trophy during his school’s award day. One important note about Kevin’s big win. He had four, COUNT ‘EM, FOUR previous Racing to the Future™ Champions in his age group! For his first competition, he did fantastic! And yes, he’s looking forward to putting his name on that trophy again next year.
Congratulations to all our trophy winners! You did a fantastic job!
So that wraps up our Kentucky Student Technology Leadership Program and Racing to the Future™ for the 2013-2014 season. We will be setting up the race track and introducing new students and teachers to STLP and Racing to the Future™ at various events this year. We have already been invited to several science fairs, school STEM Days and we will even be speaking about our program at the Innovations For Learners Conference this Fall. And of course we will be at the STLP Fall Regional Events across this great Commonwealth of Kentucky.