A 14-member team of South Florida teenagers is redefining what workforce development looks like through 4-H at UF/IFAS Extension Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Instead of raising livestock or growing vegetables, these students are designing, welding, wiring and racing a solar-powered electric car from the ground up. Supported by a dedicated teacher and mentor, sponsors, community donations and funds raised by the team, they are developing skills in engineering, project management, fundraising, leadership, teamwork and problem-solving.

Meet the 4-H TechGarage Solar Car Club. Currently in its new home at South Plantation High School, the club is now affiliated with Florida 4-H Broward and Palm Beach counties. This brings the team’s intensive, hands-on STEM experience into 4-H’s youth development program built around learning by doing, leadership and preparing young people for their future.

It is all smiles before the miles as co-captain Emily Herman gets settled behind the wheel and ready for her turn on the next stretch of Texas highway.

Photo by Allan Phipps

“What this team has built goes far beyond a solar car itself. It’s a model for what learning by doing can look like at the highest level. We’re proud to welcome the team to 4-H,” said Kenan Bridges, 4-H agent at UF/IFAS Extension Broward County.

Their hard work has culminated in an achievement that only took three years. Over the summer, the team recently won its second consecutive national championship, beating some of the nation’s top and most established solar car teams.

The team also set a 760.5-mile track record in 2025, completed all 656.7 available miles of the 2026 Tour of Texas, earned two major awards and had two students inducted into the Order of the Solar Cell. Behind those accomplishments are thousands of hours spent designing, building, testing and racing the car while gaining real-world skills in engineering, electronics, data analysis, project management and teamwork.

Experiences like the Solar Car Challenge give students something a classroom alone cannot provide — the opportunity to apply the lessons learned in a traditional classroom setting to solve real problems, work as an engineering team, make decisions under pressure, and see the consequences of those decisions firsthand,” said Allan Phipps, team sponsor and mentor.

Sam Merlin in the driver’s seat, as team members Oliver Collins checks tire pressure on the left of the car while Jose Mercada verifies radios are ready.

Photo by Roddy Parkinson

Students aren’t just learning about engineering, advanced manufacturing, aerospace or renewable energy; they’re developing technical skills, teamwork, communication, adaptability and confidence those industries demand, he said.

“Experiences like this help students see themselves not simply as students studying STEM, but as future engineers, technicians, innovators, and leaders,” he said.

For students such as team co-captain Emily Herman, the experience turned an interest in STEM into a possible career path.

“The Solar Car Challenge has taught me far more than engineering. I’ve learned project management, marketing, teamwork, leadership, welding, telemetry systems, and countless other skills that I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” said Herman. “More importantly, this program helped me discover my passion for aerospace engineering and introduced me to incredible mentors and lifelong friends.”

For co-captain Aiden Phipps, the most important lesson far exceeds building the car.

“The hands-on engineering experience I’ve gained through the Solar Car Challenge goes beyond anything I’ve encountered in my university engineering courses at FAU High School,” said Phipps who has been dual enrolled in a program with Florida Atlantic University. “But what this program really means to me is community.”

That community extends beyond the TechGarage team. During the competition, students from different teams work alongside one another, sharing knowledge and helping to troubleshoot problems despite competing for the same championship.

“Our team welcomed every member, worked together through every challenge and built friendships that will last a lifetime,” said Phipps. “That sense of community extended beyond our own team. We worked alongside other teams throughout the week, helping them solve problems and encouraging them to push beyond what they thought was possible.”

The team’s new 4-H affiliation at UF/IFAS Extension Broward adds another dimension to that experience, connecting technical learning with the broader goal of helping young people develop skills, confidence and leadership abilities to succeed in whatever careers they choose. As members of 4-H, they are showing a new generation what learning by doing can look like.