LUMA sponsors 3rd electric go-kart race of ‘Power your Future’ program
LUMA Energy recently held the third edition of its “Power your Future” STEM program, where 35 female students from ninth to 12th grade at the Thomas Armstrong Toro Specialized School in Science and Mathematics in Ponce constructed their electric go-karts.
This edition featured the participation of 20 volunteer STEM coaches from LUMA, who assisted the students with their go-karts. During five extracurricular sessions at Ana G. Méndez University in Ponce, the students prepared for Saturday’s race.
“With today’s event, we celebrate Women’s History Month with the third edition, where we have witnessed the hard work and dedication of 35 talented young women who, with the support of their LUMA mentors, have embraced the challenge of building an electric go-kart,” said Shay Bahramirad, senior vice president of T&D, Strategy and Sustainability at LUMA. “As part of this challenge, students had the opportunity to work as a team and solve problems. We recognize the importance of encouraging girls’ participation in STEM fields from an early age, as this not only promotes gender equality but also enriches the landscape of science, technology, engineering and mathematics with diverse perspectives and talents
The UAGM School of Engineering delivered a lecture on “Solar Charging Station for Electric Vehicles” developed by its students, adding depth to the program participants’ experience.
The Museo de Arte de Ponce conducted a design and creativity workshop, where the students personalized helmets and go-karts. The activity is integral to the “People’s Choice,” highlighting creativity and individual expression.
“With the help of 20 LUMA mentors, they demonstrated that mathematics and science are not just concepts that exist in textbooks; they are the tools that can build a clean and sustainable future that Puerto Rico needs,” Bahramirad said.
To date, the “Power Your Future” program has reached more than 120 students, “inspiring the next generation of female engineers in Puerto Rico,” the company stated.
