Second Annual A World In Motion International Fuel Cell Competition Winners Announced

WARRENDALE, Pa., May 2, 2012 - SAE International hosted the second annual A World In Motion® (AWIM) International Fuel Cell Competition on Thursday, April 26, in Detroit.  The competition focused on explaining scientific concepts to K-12 students in an easily approachable, hands-on environment.

Sponsored by the General Motors Foundation, the International Fuel Cell Competition invited more than 150 upper elementary and middle school students to compete in utilizing hydrogen fuel cells to power small car models.  The competition is judged in four categories:  endurance, endurance with weight, accuracy and speed.

Student teams electrolyzed distilled water in a reversible Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell to produce hydrogen that acted as an energy source for the cars’ electric motors.  With the assistance of teachers and professional industry volunteers, the International Fuel Cell Competition showed students the practical applications of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in real world situations.

Competition results were as follows:

2012 Grand Champion--Team 33 (Clippert Academy—Detroit, MI)

The grand champion is recognized as the overall highest scoring team in all four of the judged competitions.

Endurance

· 1^st - Team 5 (Lincoln Middle School—Warren, MI)

· 2^nd - Team 4 (Roosevelt Elementary—Keego Harbor, MI )

· 3^rd - Team 17 (St. Michael School—Livonia, MI)

Endurance with weight

· 1^st - Team 4 (Roosevelt Elementary)

· 2^nd - Team 17 (St. Michael School)

· 3^rd - Team 33 (Clippert Academy)

Accuracy

· 1^st - Team 33 (Clippert Academy)

· 2^nd - Team 32 (Clippert Academy)

· 3^rd - Team 31 (Clippert Academy)

Speed

       · 1^st - Team 10 (Lincoln Middle School)
       · 2^nd - Team 27 (Gompers Elementary/Middle School—Detroit, MI)
       · 3^rd - Team 32 (Clippert Academy)

“Recent studies show that the United States ranks 27th among developed nations of college students receiving undergraduate degrees in science or engineering,” said Vivian Pickard, president, GM Foundation. “The General Motors Foundation is committed to supporting programs like A World in Motion that take a hands-on approach to engage youth in careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics that are so important to our country’s economic development and future.”

“We are proud to partner with the SAE Foundation on an event that allows students to discover science and technology in a fun way,” said John Calabrese, VP Global Vehicle Engineering, General Motors. “Programs like A World In Motion® prepare today’s students to be the scientists and engineers of tomorrow, vital to the industry of the future.”

2012 marks the 25^th Anniversary of the SAE Foundation.  In that time, SAE programming has reached more than four million students in all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces and territories.

“We have to thank the General Motors Foundation for its longtime support of SAE and the International Fuel Cell Competition,” said Matt Miller, Director, SAE Foundation & Pre Professional Programs. “It is never too soon to spark inspiration. Programs like these tap the natural curiosity of school children and start them on the path to develop the technologies of tomorrow.”

About the GM Foundation
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to deserving American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM. The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2000. For more information, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

About the SAE Foundation
The SAE Foundation is the charitable arm of SAE International that strives to encourage and increase student participation and achievement in science, technology, engineering and math through educational programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™. SAE International is a global association of more than 133,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development.

- www.saefoundation.org-