Motown students build and test a Factory Five ’65 Daytona Coupe as part of Ford Fund’s STEAM Education Learning Experience.
More than 50 Detroit high school students gathered to unveil a unique class project – a ‘65 Ford Daytona Coupe. The assignment – in which students assembled a working vehicle from nearly 1,000 parts – is the culmination of a learning experience created by Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. It was in collaboration with Detroit Public Schools Community District and Experience Aviation.
The hands-on project taught vital skills, and provided students an up-close look at how science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics come together in a modern work environment. It also increased awareness of technology-based career opportunities.
“Ford is proud to be a part of a collective effort to help Detroit Public School Community District students prepare for careers in STEAM,” said Shawn Wilson, multicultural manager, Ford Motor Company Fund. “Students who are inspired to learn are better prepared to reach their full potential in academics and in life.”
Students from the Detroit Public Schools Community District’s Breithaupt Career and Technical Center spent the past 18 weeks assembling the car. It features a Ford 306 engine that delivers 350 horsepower, a Ford TK5 transmission and a new independent rear suspension – all provided with support from Ford Fund. Factory Five Racing designed the car.
Experience Aviation provided instructional support for the students by applying principles from Ford’s STEAM Lab digital curriculum. The Ford STEAM Lab was launched in October 2014 to spark student passion for technology entrepreneurship, careers in traditional STEM fields, as well as automotive design and vehicle technology. STEAM Lab adds an arts component to the original STEM elements of science, technology, engineering and math to help students learn how creativity and innovation can be used in problem solving and collaboration.
Before the test track unveiling at Ford’s Dearborn Development Center, the students were challenged to reimagine how they would improve safety and sustainability through technology. Students from Douglas Academy joined them for Young Men in Detroit – one of the special STEAM Academies launched by Ford Fund’s Next Generation Learning initiative.
The mini hackathon and panel discussion featured award-winning pilot Capt. Barrington Irving, founder of Experience Aviation, who gained fame in 2007 when he became the youngest person to fly solo around the world.
“The significance of this project is the empowerment and industry knowledge it builds for students,” Irving said. “Now, each student can point the finger at themselves and say, ‘I am the scientist, technologist, engineer, designer and mathematician who made this happen.”
The session included a cross-section of Ford engineers and other experts from Ford Driving Skills for Life; Ford Fund’s education office; as well as Ford’s Automotive Safety Office and product development departments.
Ford Motor Company Fund invests more than $18 million a year in scholarships and other education initiatives globally. In addition to Ford STEAM Lab, Ford Fund educational programs include Ford Blue Oval Scholars, Ford Next Generation Learning, Ford College Community Challenge and Ford Driving Dreams Tour.
To learn more about Experience Aviation, please visit http://www.experienceaviation.org
For more information regarding Ford Motor Co., please visit http://www.corporate.ford.com