IT’S ELECTRIC

by Lance Suzuki

After months of planning, sweat, and tears, a dedicated group of Maryknoll High School students entered Hawaiian Electric Companyís 7th Annual Electron Marathon on March 23, 2002. Students were required to design and build the body and engine of an electric vehicle, with the only requirements being the laws of physics, two batteries as a power source, and their imaginations. They sacrificed their weekends and ñ especially as race day drew near ñ their hours after school to complete the car, test its components, and troubleshoot the inevitable problems that emerged.

Dominic Wong ’62 volunteered to guide the students through this process and tirelessly aided students in their efforts. He not only provided invaluable advice in vehicle design but also made efforts to teach engineering and scientific principles.

The competition took place over two days, as vehicles were judged for their construction, safety, documentation, and oral presentations. Of the 27 schools entered, Maryknoll placed 8th in oral presentation, 4th in construction and safety, and 16th overall.

Mr. Wong has vowed that the learning experience for next yearís students will be much richer and will build on this yearís success. ■ Lance Suzuki served as the faculty advisor to the Electron Vehicle team. He teaches math and social studies at the high school, and coaches Maryknollís math team.

January 5, 2002: The beginning stages of the moldcardboard stage. November 11, 2001: The team builds the stationary wheel apparatus.

January 11, 2002: Plas-Tech, Inc. workers flip over the mold.

February 9, 2002: Early on a Saturday morning, the crew bleeds the brakes.

March 15, 2002: Finishing the circuits of the car. March 21, 2002: TraciAnn Harada and Aaron Wong give the oral presentation at McKinley High School.

2002 ELECTRON VEHICLE TEAM MEMBERS

WILLIAM BOW í03 JULIA CHEN í02 MICHAEL CHONG í02 LYNN CHIKASUYE í02 RENA CHOCK í02 TRACIANN HARADA í02 JENNIFER HO í03 JASON KENNEDY í03

KENNETH LEE í03 KEVIN LUU í05 KRYSTLE MONTALLA í03 DAVID SERIGUCHI í02 BRIAN TABATA í05 AARON WONG í02 STACEY WONG í03

March 8, 2002: Putting on the Plexiglass top just before testing, while driver Rena Chock adjusts her helmet. March 23, 2002: The electron vehicle race team at Ford Island on race day ñ (Lto R) Jennifer Ho, David Seriguchi, Domonic Wong í62 (advisor), William Bow, Michael Chong, Brian Tabata, Aaron Wong, Rena Chock, Kenneth Lee, Lynn Chikasuye, Julia Chen, Krystle Montalla.