Project SYNCERE hosted its 7th annual ENpowered Games on April 26 at Wintrust Arena. This year’s competition, themed “Advanced Autos – Driving Towards Innovation,” convened over 400 students from 13 Chicago-area schools to build on the excitement around autonomous design, such as the technology Tesla used for its autopilot vehicles. Student teams competed in two challenges:
- Advanced Autos Challenge: Teams designed autonomous cars using the engineering design process to navigate obstacles on the road. Judges evaluated designs based on efficiency, obstacle navigation, and adherence to road signs.
2. Coding Efficiency Challenge: Students collaborated to program their autonomous vehicles with the least number of coding blocks. This challenge emphasized strategic thinking and coding optimization.
| The winning schools were: 1st – Jane Addams Elementary | The winning teams: 1st – Henry O Tanner Elementary 44 |
| 2nd – Bronzeville Classical Elementary 3rd – James E McDade Elementary Classical | 2nd – James E McDade Elementary Classical 10 3rd – James E McDade Elementary Classical l13 4th – Bronzeville Classical Elementary 17 5th – Charles Sumner Math & Science 28 6th – Mariano Azuela Elementary 53 7th – Jane Addams Elementary 2 8th – Jane Addams Elementary 3 9th – Robert L Grimes Elementary 31 10th – Bronzeville Classical Elementary 18 |
WHY: The ENpowered Program, a partnership between Project SYNCERE and local schools, aimed to enhance students’ interest and skills in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Students engaged in engineering-based activities, developing their critical thinking, collaboration, and engineering design skills.
“We were thrilled to witness the culmination of months of hard work and dedication from these talented students,” said Jason Coleman, Co-Founder, and Executive Director of Project SYNCERE. “The ENpowered Games not only highlighted their engineering skills in a fun and exciting way but also inspired them to pursue further opportunities in Engineering fields and the STEM industry.”
“Events like these are crucial in empowering students to explore their potential in engineering and technology. We are proud to support Project SYNCERE and the ENpowered Games,” said Gil Quiniones, President and CEO, at ComEd.
“We are proud to support Project SYNCERE and the ENpowered Games as a legacy sponsor,” said Bernice Billups, executive director of Boeing Global Engagement. “The ENpowered Games, and other hands-on STEM activities and competitive events like these, are crucial in empowering students to explore their potential in engineering and technology.”
WHO: The ENpowered Games are powered by the support of Project SYNCERE’s partners, including local schools, individual donors, and the following corporate sponsors: Department of Education, ComEd, The Boeing Company, Molex, Polk Bros. Foundation, Inc., Allstate, Kathy Bolhous Foundation, Verizon, Donley Foundation, Walmart, Peoples Gas Community Fund, Epstein Community Foundation, James Dyson Foundation, Milhouse Engineering and PepsiCo.
Project SYNCERE (Supporting Youth’s Needs with Core Engineering Research Experiments) is a Chicago-based non-profit organization that prepares underrepresented students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Through innovative project-based programs, Project SYNCERE engages students in using technology and engineering-based principles to solve real-world problems. Founded in 2009, Project SYNCERE provides year-round programs that inspire and empower students to pursue their interests in STEM fields.
For more information, visit www.projectsyncere.org.