The Blue Ridge Soap Box Derby Fall Classic is now in the wind, but it would be remiss to not highlight the drivers and participants in this year’s event.
Top 8 Bracket winners follow:
•Levi Davis, first;
•Elizabeth Evans, second;
•Brandon Fuzi, third;
•Francisco Saldana, fourth;
• Isaiah McCormick, fifth;
•Cason Mitchell, sixth;
•Alli Wynns, seventh; and,
•Ashton Carder, eighth.
Bottom 8 Bracket winners include the following:
•Colton Caddell, first;
•Jayden Hefner, second;
•Brayden Hamilton, third;
•Brooklyn Owenby, fourth;
•Melanie Garcia, fifth;
•Maxwell Scott, sixth;
•Bryson Wright, seventh; and,
•Gideon Scott, eighth.
The fall classic saw 64 participants and 32 cars, and they were able to raise $3,000 for STEM education in Fannin County Schools.
The Blue Ridge Soap Box Derby is a registered non-profit organization created to benefit local STEM education.
After debuting in the spring of 2019, and taking a hiatus as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the reintroduction took place September 25.
A spring event is in the works for next year along with a Harry Norman STEM Challenge Event.
The challenge will include teams of four Fannin County school students, and surrounding counties, and an adult mentor to involve the demonstration of the STEM process in building a car, a final product and a speed test.
The details of the event are still being ironed out as Blue Ridge Soap Box Derby Co-Founder Mike Sullivan works with Fannin County school system CTAE Director Lucas Roof.
In addition, Sullivan said, “I’ve just reworked our Bylaws to add a Junior Board Member position, and we will be putting together an application process for a high school junior to be selected to be on the Blue Ridge Soap Box Derby Board of Directors – yes, with full voting rights and responsibilities. I came up with this idea a month ago as I think this will be a great thing for a student to be involved in with learning about nonprofit organizations – how they’re formed, do business, etc.”