Posted on Friday, March 31, 2023
Before starting a racecar, igniting a jet engine or launching a rocket, a dedicated group works behind the scenes to confirm that everything runs on all cylinders. Middle and high school teams participating in the Diverse Power Grand Prix, a Greenpower USA event that promotes STEM education, must also rely on each other to ensure that their hand-built cars operate without a hitch.
“The Diverse Power Grand Prix gives middle and high school students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom in a relevant and meaningful activity that takes different skills and abilities where teams must work together to be successful,” said Matthew Graham ’04, teacher and coach of Cougar Strong Racing at Long Cane Middle School and Greenpower coordinator for the Troup County School System. “It's really a model for what they will experience when they enter the workforce, and it gives them the opportunity to develop soft skills that will attract employers.”
The competition, set for Saturday, April 15, on LC’s South Campus, will have 40 teams, with a total of over 400 students coming from as far away as Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Local teams participating this year include Troup High School, Callaway High School, ThINC Academy, Long Cane Middle School, Callaway Middle School and Gardner Newman Middle School.
“This year will set a record for the largest Greenpower USA race event held in Georgia,” he said. “It's great to see that 25% of the teams are from right here in Troup County, and it is evidence that the West Georgia region is establishing itself as the second largest concentration of Greenpower USA teams in the country, behind Huntsville, Alabama.”
At the Diverse Power Grand Prix, students will compete in a team presentation and an endurance race, which includes a stock division, modified division and a custom division.
“These events will count for 50 percent of each team’s overall score,” Graham said. “An independent panel of judges scores the presentations that were submitted by the participating schools. In the endurance race, competitors travel as far as they can in 90 minutes. The team with the highest number of laps in each division wins the endurance race.”
He said this year’s competition will have four 90-minute race heats (two for high school teams and two for middle school teams).
“Each team's best performance between the two heats will be used for scoring,” Graham said.
He said he is thankful for Greenpower’s partnership with the college.
“LC has been fantastic to work with for the four years we've held the race event there, and the Callaway Campus is a fantastic setting for our 0.67-mile course,” Graham said. “The location allows participants and spectators the ideal proximity to restaurants, hotels and businesses while they are here in LaGrange for the event. It also showcases LC as a fantastic choice for students who plan to go to college.”
He said the institution holds a special place in his heart because it led him to his wife, Serenity, and his first post-graduate teaching job.
“It was ultimately Serenity that helped me see that a career in education was the right path for me,” Graham said. “I interviewed for my job at Long Cane Middle School on the day of graduation practice in 2004 and was offered the position that same day. My professors prepared me to be successful in the classroom.”
Kyle Veatch M’10 and Danny Beasley ’76, M’13, coaches of Greenpower teams at Callaway and Troup High School, said the race events are beneficial for their students.
“Many of our students have never used tools before, and this program opens their eyes to the way things work,” Veatch said.
“Involvement with Greenpower promotes many life and career skills for our team members such as problem solving, developing mechanical and electrical knowledge, public speaking and fundraising,” Beasley said.
Graham said he enjoys guiding his students through the building of their race car.
“They learn so much through the process almost without even realizing it because what they were learning was relevant, fun and exciting,” he said. “The students love to brainstorm how we can innovate and fine-tune things to make the car faster and more efficient. I’ve seen the positive impact this has on them.”
People unable to attend the Diverse Power Grand Prix can watch it online thanks to a collaboration between OHS Jacket Media from Oxford High School and Callaway High School Media.
3-Justin Muller, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
9-Drew Cantrell, Athletics (Tennis)
10-Richard Soash, History
12-Sara Peterson, Library
14-Lisa Cornell, President’s Office
17-Nicole Maddox, Admission
20-David Wiggins, Library
21-C. Delores Harrell-Brinkley, Psychological Science
21-Sandra Blair, Nursing
24-Ryan Dickson, Athletics (Men’s Soccer)
Born in LaGrange, Lethenia Joy Baker followed in the footsteps of her father, LaGrange College trustee Dr. George Baker '74, and earned her Pre-Med degree from LC in 2002. She attended Morehouse School of Medicine, completed her residency at Grady Health System, and in 2019 returned to her hometown as a board-certified OBGYN for Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center. She remains an active member of the LC campus community by serving on the Alumni Executive Committee.
Join Dr. Baker in supporting the LaGrange College Fund.
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Get to know LaGrange College. Reserve your space for Spring Preview Day, Saturday April 15. Visit kongtiao11.com.
Men’s Lacrosse
LaGrange brought an unstoppable offense that resulted in a 23-2 victory against Brevard on Saturday, March 25. Senior Klein Woods led the charge for the Panthers with six goals while freshman Luke Young registered five scores. Sophomore Andrew Brown would help to fuel that offense, not only with four goals of his own but four assists for eight points. On Wednesday, LaGrange steamrolled its first-time competitor Huntingdon 17-7 at home. Woods and sophomore Ryan Comeau contributed four goals each, followed by senior Ben Bryan with three goals.
Sophomore Andrew Brown was named USA South Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week. On the season, he has 24 goals and 12 assists for 36 points in just nine games.
Freshman Luke Young earned his third USA South Men’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Week. On the season, he has come away with 23 goals and 10 assists for 33 points.
Golf
Following Day 1 being wiped out due to severe weather, LaGrange came in 14-of-15 at Wynlakes Invitational, shooting a 304 on Tuesday, March 28. Freshman Garrett Armbrust led the Panthers with a round of 74 to tie for 29-of-77 with freshman Jeremy Edmunds right behind him in a tie for 37th with a 75.
Beach Volleyball
The Panthers dropped a pair of 5-0 decisions to Stevenson and first-year program Lynchburg on Day 1 of the Berry DIII Beach Bash on Friday, March 24. The top duo of senior Bailey Moss and freshman Zentrina Choice would push the defending AVCA Small College National Champions as they narrowly dropped the opening set 21-17 to Stevenson before falling 21-10. After Lynchburg took the first set 21-15, junior Carmen Hamilton and freshman Meredith Orton battled their way to a back-and-forth 25-23 victory in the second frame to force a decisive third set. The match would go to extras and Lynchburg narrowly escaped with a 16-14 victory. On Saturday, LaGrange closed out the 2023 campaign with a pair of 5-0 losses to national runner-up Hendrix and host Berry. Senior Vianca Colon-Gonzalez and freshman Rhaya Harwell had the most competitive match of the day as they pushed Hendrix at the fourth position. Gonzalez and Harwell would also deliver the strongest performance in the season finale against homestanding Berry. They posted a 21-14 decision in the opening set before narrowly falling 21-18 in the second at No. 4.
Baseball
LaGrange delivered a 9-4 victory against Covenant on Friday, March 24. Senior Joe Ruth scored a double, triple and three RBIs. On Saturday, the Panthers picked up 15-7 and 7-1 victories to complete the series sweep over the Scots. In the first game, freshman Curt Bonner delivered a career game with two triples, a double, four RBIs and three runs. In the second game, Senior Rhett Mixon contributed two RBIs, a double, walk and two runs. On Tuesday, the Panthers posted a 4-3 victory at Berry. Bonner led with two RBIs on a double, Ruth went 3-for-4 with an RBI and sophomore Jorge Fragoso was 2-for-4 with a walk, RBI and run.
Senior Joe Ruth earned his second Collegiate Conference of the South Baseball Player of the Week honor. On the season, he is hitting .407 (37-of-91) and slugging .659 with 13 doubles, two triples and a pair of homeruns to go with 27 RBIs.
Freshman Curt Bonner received his second Collegiate Conference of the South Baseball Rookie of the Week honor. On the year, he has an on-base percentage of .500 with four doubles, two triples, a homerun, six walks and 16 RBIs in 17 games.
Men’s Tennis
The Panthers suffered a 6-3 loss at Maryville on Saturday, March 25. The match was decided by a three-set battle between MC and freshman Nic Bodin at the fourth position. MC claimed the opening frame 6-1 before Bodin answered with a 6-3 win to force a decisive third set which went to the Scots by a narrow 6-4 margin. With the result no longer in doubt, MC put the finishing touches on the 6-3 final with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over freshman Peyton Beasley at No. 6.
Women’s Tennis
LaGrange could not keep pace with Maryville as they dropped a 9-0 decision on Saturday, March 25. Junior Journey Oden challenged MC at No. 1 before falling 6-3, 6-1 to clinch the match. Senior Kirsten Boyd would put up a fight at the second spot against MC before eventually succumbing 6-2, 6-3. Freshman Olivia Dusterdieck delivered the most competitive match at No. 4 as she fell 6-3, 6-4 to MC. The Scots then closed out the 9-0 victory with identical 6-0, 6-1 decisions at the fifth and sixth positions.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Saturday, April 1 – Softball (Home) vs. Belhaven, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., LC Softball Complex
Saturday, April 1 – Men’s Lacrosse at Greensboro, 1 p.m., Greensboro, North Carolina
Saturday, April 1 – Women’s Tennis at Berea, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Berea, Kentucky
Saturday, April 1 – Men’s Tennis at Berea, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Berea, Kentucky
Tuesday, April 4 – Baseball (Home) vs. Berry, 6 p.m., Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium
Thursday, April 6 – Baseball (Home) vs. Belhaven, 7 p.m., Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium
Category: Community, College, Events
Keywords: Education, Research, Innovation
