Thanks to the enthusiasm and determination of technology teacher Bill Gilmore, students at Auburn High School will have the opportunity to construct an electricity-powered vehicle. Dubbed “Project EVA” (Electrathon Vehicle Auburn), the car will be raced in competitions with other high schools, colleges and electrathon organizations.

Gilmore devised the idea for the project while he was a senior at SUNY Oswego. Always a big automotive fan, he seized an opportunity to develop an independent study project with two other students, designing and constructing a vehicle that would use alternative energy sources. The trio completed the project in less than three months, but never had a chance to race the car in competition due to graduation in 2006.

Hired to teach technology at Auburn High a few months later, Gilmore was still enthused about the electrathon project. The timing also seemed right as the district was undertaking the new Project Lead the Way technology and engineering curriculum. He broached the idea with his students, and they were very excited about the hands-on opportunity to apply their class lessons and the chance to compete. Technology colleagues Ian Burke and Justin Herrling, building principal David Roth and assistant superintendent of Curriculum Carolyn Hirst-Loucks also saw great potential in the project.

Relying upon his experience at Oswego, Gilmore began to approach businesses, collecting names of people and vendors who may be interested in helping. The networking resulted in promises of materials and monetary donations from several local businesses.

His efforts recently paid off in an exciting way when Ford Trucks donated $2,000 towards the project. Impressed by the teacher's proposal, company executives also invited him on an all-expenses paid trip to Dearborn, Michigan to tour their F150 plant with engineers, designers and sales personnel.

“It was an incredible, invaluable experience,” according to Gilmore. “I viewed the entire Ford manufacturing process, from a design concept on paper to the finished product. They showed us the latest concept cars, and I even got a chance to drive a 2010 truck.

“I also spent four hours in the Henry Ford museum. He has the largest personal collection of American historical artifacts in the world #- items like presidential furniture, the bus that Rosa Parks sat it, the first McDonald's sign. It was amazing. This is my first day back, and I've been talking about the trip with my students all day.”

With enough funds to buy the chassis and body, Project EVA is about to get underway. It will be held three days per week after school for 2-3 hours per meeting. Opportunities will exist for approximately 50 students to participate in a number of areas: design, production, business operations, promotions, publicity and Web site management. A basic team of 9-10 students is in place. Students will begin ordering parts and dealing with business aspects of the project, particularly fund-raising, within the next week or two.

Working with the Auburn Education Foundation, Gilmore hopes to secure additional funding to underwrite the remaining start-up costs of the project. Anyone interested in supporting this project, may contact Gilmore at Auburn High School at 255-8300 or the Auburn Education Foundation at 255-8827.

Leslie Leary is a foundation consultant for the Auburn Education Foundation.