On Friday, March 28th, Students at Norwin got a firsthand look at real-world engineering when the University of Pittsburgh’s race car team brought their vehicle to campus. The visit gave students a chance to explore the car’s design, learn about its technology, and see how concepts from their classes apply to High-Performance engineering.

The University of Pittsburgh Formula SAE (Panther Racing) visited Norwin High School, and gave students in the Energy, Power, and Transportation classes a chance to see real-world engineering in action. The team, Officially known as Panther Racing, is a student run organization from the University of Pittsburgh that designs, builds, and races electric Formula One-style cars for Formula SAE competitions each year.

According to Pitt’s Swanson Engineering School:“At the University of Pittsburgh Formula SAE (Panther Racing), we design, build, and compete a formula-style race car against other schools from both the United States and abroad. We are always interested in more help, regardless of major! There are plenty of aspects of our team where knowledge in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Finance, and more all apply.”

One of the High Voltage subteam leaders, Joe Zaradzki, is a Norwin Alumni and current electrical engineering student at Pitt. He helped organize the visit to the high school. Zaradzki also owns Z Battery Solutions LLC, a company focused on battery technologies. The visit showed students who went that skills learned in high school can lead to other opportunities for them beyond High School. It also gave them an insight into how advanced engineering principles can be applied in real-world projects.

“I thought it would be a good opportunity for my Energy, Power, and Transportation students,” Ondayko said, “because, first of all, one of the team leaders (Joe Zaradzki) is an alumni of my classes and of Norwin. I thought it would be a good opportunity because they would be able to see the end result of teams work in developing a race car for their Formula SAE challenge. They could also apply some of the building strategies to their own projects they are working on in my class”

When asked what he hoped students would take away from seeing a real world engineering project, Ondayko emphasized the importance of problem solving and hands on application.

“I hope they gain an appreciation for the time and effort that goes into solving a complex problem, whether it’s related to a vehicle, a road, or any kind of transportation project,” Ondayko said. “I want them to understand the thought process behind building a project-not just coming up with a solution in their mind, but also applying it to testing it to make sure it actually works. That’s what I would like my students to take away from this experience.”

Experiences like this give students more than just a technical knowledge of the cars, they also help develop critical thinking and teamwork skills that can be applied in other areas of life. Whether students pursue engineering or another field, the ability to work hands-on with materials and solve real-world problems can be invaluable. Ondayko explained how these lessons can benefit students beyond the classroom.

“Regardless of a students career path or hobbies, hands on experiences like this can be recalled on later in life,”he said. “Whether there working with materials, collaborating with a team, or applying problem solving strategies in different situations, these skills can be valuable Beyond the classroom”

As that event came to a close, students walked away with more than just a closer look at a high performance race car, they also gained insight into the real world application of engineering and problem solving.

The visit from Panther Racing not only brought excitement about seeing the race car in action, it also gave students a meaningful look at where their education can take them. By seeing a Norwin Graduate like Zaradzki lead a major role in a competitive engineering project, students can connect the dots between their classroom lessons and real world success. Experiences like this one leave a lasting impression: one that may spark futures careers, hobbies, or inspire innovation to encourage students to keep pushing foreword with projects if their own.