Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Enriching Education: Club Athena

 Summer camp at the award-winning STEM education program, Club Athena powered by Athena Racing, will put girls in the driver’s seat of their careers as they learn from lauded and celebrated industry experts. Developed specifically for girls in middle school and high school, FABcamp is a  resume builder that provides personal stories of fabrication, design, and engineering for college application essays and interviews at trade schools. 100% of Club Athena members have been accepted into all colleges applied to because of the incredible portfolio pieces and experience gained.

 

This online virtual program, FABcamp, available to girls across the USA, was instituted during the Covid summer lockdown of 2020 and has become the pinnacle program of the nonprofit. FAB, short for fabrication, is the focus of the camp. In the past three summers, select members have worked in the shop crafting unique and customized vehicles from scratch - a drifting trike, a robotic assistant pitched at an International Innovation Competition, and the conversion of a full-sized BMW 318i into a driving simulator. This year, each member attending camp will have the opportunity to work from their home to convert their bicycles into an e-bike while showcasing their unique individuality with customized and themed creations. This hands-on design, engineering, and fabrication project will be their prized portfolio piece to spotlight in college essays and when applying for internships. A key element in standing out from their peers in the crowded competitive landscape of young adults seeking jobs at technology-changing companies such as HRE Wheels, Aptera, Zero Motorcycle, LTA, and REGENT.

 

The virtual camp will cover five transportation sectors - bicycles & motorcycles, automotive, racing, marine, and air & space - during our one-week live virtual camp. Each day will feature five speakers who are leading industry experts.

 

The camp speakers and companies include:
Alan Peltier, CEO, HRE Wheels
Patrick Moran, Creative Director, HRE Wheels
Roy Epperson, Director of Special Projects, HRE Wheels
Chip Foose, Automobile Designer and Artist, Foose Design
Dave Marek, Executive Creative Director,  Acura
Chris Anthony, Founder, Aptera Solar Car
Mark Stemmy, Founder, Optimized Cycling Solutions
Brent Curry, Software Developer, BikeCAD
Chloe Lerin, Race Data Engineer, Unicornium Engineering 
Jasmine Nichols, MotoAmerica Junior Cup competitor 
Ginger Baker Hull, NHRA Dragster Pilot and former CMO of NASCAR’s Ryan Newman team
Jackie Heinricher, Heinricher Racing Team Owner, the first female-owned and female-raced team in IMSA
Steve Brown, Maritime Transportation, Logistics & Management Dean, CSU Maritime Academy
Dinesh Pinisetty, School of Engineering Dean, CSU Maritime Academy
Michael Selter, International Yacht Company, Sales Consultant
Tom Kelly, CEO of Evona, Space Sector Staffing & Recruitment

 

The fabrication project during the one-week live, virtual camp will be led by Mark Stemmy of Optimized Cycling Solutions and Loxley Browne of Club Athena. This week-long two-part focus will take campers on the journey of bicycle history, design, aerodynamics, mechanics, materials, and safety led by Mr. Stemmy. Congruently, the fabrication project shown by Ms. Browne will lead campers through the complete fabrication project by dismantling, refurbishing, and converting their bicycles into bespoke and fabulous e-bikes. “The skills that transfer across sectors are an element that will be showcased in our work at camp. My work as an engineer at Intel combined with my years of experience in all facets of cycling allows me to prepare them for the skills needed in 21st-century employment.  I am honored to educate and inspire these campers as we move into a new era of technology and professional opportunities. I look forward to helping the campers better understand both the bicycle as well as a bit about its historical significance.”

 

Supported by companies who are committed to developing a talent pipeline of skilled workers prepared for the 21st century, camp attendees are receiving first-hand instruction from the companies who are providing the financial means to produce a gold-star quality experience for students. “As a father and CEO, I see the disparity in female representation in the engineering and manufacturing industries. Young girls need to see that they can push beyond societal restraints and do the impossible. Our contribution to this program is our way of demonstrating to our daughters our support in following their dreams,” said Alan Peltier, CEO of HRE Wheels. With the generous support of HRE Wheels, Optimized Cycling Solutions, and Hayes Engineering, more girls in STEM will be shown career opportunities that best fit their strengths and skillsets.

 

Girls interested in discovering STEM careers are encouraged to become members of ClubAthena.org. The membership includes a private social media platform with weekly conundrums, monthly industry challenges, quarterly competitions, and the annual summer FABcamp. In order to participate in this year’s FABcamp, membership must be completed by July 1, 2023.

 

STEM Summer Camp Details
Date: July 17 - 21
Time: 9am to 1pm Pacific Time
Location: online at ClubAthena.org
Registration: https://athenaracing.org/member-application/
Registration Deadline: July 1, 2023

About Club Athena powered by Athena Racing:
Club Athena, an award-winning, 501(c)3 nonprofit STEM education program, is a virtual online extracurricular club. A social network where girls in middle school and high school develop a leadership mindset, prepare for college, explore careers and learn essential skills. While “getting our hands dirty!” our elite membership of 1,000 girls explores professional career tracks in the specialties of invention, design, engineering, fabrication, and business in the transportation sector.
Visit ClubAthena.org to learn more.

 

About HRE Wheels:
HRE designs, engineers, and manufactures 1-piece, 2-piece, 3-piece forged, CRBN® as well as cast FlowForm® aluminum alloy and carbon fiber wheels for Racing, Performance, Luxury cars & SUVs. Produced in our San Diego, California-based, TÜV-approved facility, HRE’s build-to-order forged wheels offer a customized choice of offsets, widths, and finishes, resulting in a uniquely personal style and performance solution for each customer’s application. 
Visit HREWheels.com to learn more.

 

About Optimized Cycling Solutions:
Founded in 2010, OCS has since its start been at the forefront of modern cycling. Combining leading-edge technologies with old-school craftsmanship and detail, founder Mark Stemmy has built OCS' reputation as the go-to source for bespoke bicycles, wheels, and services. Catering to the most passionate of cyclists, OCS employs a data-driven approach that has been called "techno-holistic".
Visit OptimizedCycling.com to learn more.

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