2012 has been delightful for speed lovers of every kind. With the U.S. once again hosting the United States Grand Prix, the first since 2007, many can’t stop the excitement and noise about the races, the teams, the speed and the skills behind each win. Internap is very much part of all the excitement through the sponsorship of Sahara Force India, but today the levels of exhilaration have reached extraordinary peaks.
Internap is proud to announce that it is the newest sponsor of F1 Team Shift, a student-based team that will be representing the United States in the F1 in Schools World Championship this month in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
F1 Team Shift members Kelly Fitzgerald, Anna Awald, Claire McCoy and Sabine Saldanha designed and built a CO2-powered, balsa-wood model of a Formula One racecar that will compete in a 65-foot track against student teams from 34 countries. During the championship, the team will also be judged on a verbal presentation, engineering interview, and the design and construction of a large team display.
The F1 in Schools program inspires students to study math, science and engineering concepts, and demonstrate leadership and the ability to work as a team. Some schools build the engineering program into their curriculum and students receive significant support. The members of Team Shift were not among them, as they did not receive special considerations from their school or from the state of Georgia. They managed the entire scope of the project outside of the classroom, at their homes and in a former teacher’s garage. Funding for the trip, materials and expenses are not easy on the families, however Team Shift realized that they are not alone in their endeavor, as some Atlanta-based companies quickly decided to jump in to support them.
For Internap, it was a natural fit given the nature of the project and because Team Shift’s commitment to innovation, performance and dedication mirror their own approach to technology. They have had the opportunity to not only apply their engineering, technology and design skills but also learn the power of teamwork. These are lessons that inspire and are worth nurturing and shaping so that others overcome challenges to keep their goals continuously present.
You can follow the team’s progress at https://f1-shift.com/ a website that was created and managed by the girls themselves, while being hosted and Powered by Internap.
Internap is rooting for the girls as they take on competitors from all parts of the world!
