Zoom zoom, y'all! Manatee students compete at F1 in Schools World Finals in Texas

Students from Southeast High School and Lakewood Ranch High School are gathering with other young engineering and racing enthusiasts from around the country and around the world for the 2013 F1 in Schools World Finals in Austin, Texas. 
Allegiance Racing, the team of five Manatee County high school students, have been in Texas since Nov. 8. Its members are Aly Paige Cote, Sean Martin, Sheel Patel, Joey Kamor and Merritt Kendzior.
The students are spending Veterans Day presenting their model cars and preparing to see how fast their car go in timed trials. The cars are C02-powered models made from lightweight balsa wood. They are capable of running a 60-foot track in a second.
The team finished the engineering interview portion of the event  Monday morning. Describing their car designs in intricate detail pumped them up for their timed trials. The students had been in interviews from around 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. 
Margi Nanney, a long-time volunteer for the Formula 1 races and the Technology Student Association, said professional engineers from around the world grill students on their designs, from conception of their cars to what equipment was used to build them. 
"It is very intense," Nanney said.  
As of Monday at 11:15 a.m., the Manatee County Allegiance Racing team stood in third place out of 38 teams, but Nanney said that is subject to change throughout the day. 
"The judges love them," Nanney said. "There has been real camaraderie between the teams." 
The competition concludes Wednesday, November 13 with an awards ceremony. 

Allegiance Racing team members Aly Paige Cote, Sean Martin, Sheel Patel, Joey Komor and Merritt Kendzior in uniform and ready for the F1 in Schools World Finals in Austin, Texas.   

Allegiance Racing team members Merritt Kendzior, Aly Paige Cote, Sheel Patel, Joey Komor and Sean Martin.

Allegiance Racing team members Merritt Kendzior, Joey Komor, Sheel Patel, Sean Martin and Aly Paige Cote pose with classic American cars before the F1 in Schools World Finals in Austin, Texas. 

Aly Paige Cote and the Allegiance Racing pit display at the F1 in Schools World Finals. 

Merritt Kendzior, Aly Paige Cote, Sheel Patel, Sean Martin and Joey Kamor pose for a picture in the Capitol building in Austin, Texas.

A rendering of a car designed by Allegiance Racing students. 

United Way kicks off its 'Live United Week' by helping local schools

It is still only July, but before Manatee County students know it, they will be heading back to school, and there is still much to be done in the meantime.
The United Way of Manatee County is beginning its "Live United Week" next week with  volunteer opportunities at Manatee County schools. The Giving "Back to School" Days is a three day volunteer blitz that focuses on school campus beautification projects,  including cleaning, landscaping and organizing.

United Way of Manatee County volunteers work on an outside project for the Fed Ex Volunteer Day at the Community Haven for Adults and Children with disabilities. Photo Provided.   

 Manatee District schools targeted for volunteer help include Mills Elementary, Rowlett Elementary, Able Elementary, Palma Sola Elementary, Wakeland Elementary, Blackburn Elementary, Bayshore Elementary and Rogers Garden Elementary. These schools were chosen because they responded to the United Way with specific campus project needs. This is the first time the United Way is on-site doing labor-type volunteering at local schools during their give "Back to Schools" Days. 

United Way Reading Pals volunteer Michelle Detweiler helps a student at Daughtrey Elementary. Photo Provided.

"We are working to strengthen our relationship with schools in Manatee," said Angela Moore, the vice president of resource development at the United Way of Manatee County. "This benefits the schools at a time of need. It is our opportunity to give additional resources."
The Giving "Back to School" Days are in preparation for the schools' new year beginnings in August. The volunteer effort is scheduled for Monday, July 22, Tuesday, July 23 and Wednesday July 24. 
The United Way will also  launch its annual fundraising campaign with a kick-off breakfast on Thursday, July 25, at 7:30 a.m. at the Renaissance on 9^{th.
The free breakfast is in partnership with the Manatee Chamber of Commerce Coffee Club.
Main fundraising efforts of the United Way campaign is through the workplace campaign, giving employees opportunities to talk to representatives and make donation commitments through payroll deductions, and the residential campaign, which seeks individual contributions. 
The United Way of Manatee County is currently looking for volunteers for "Live United Week" as well as volunteers to read to students during the school year through the Reading Pals Program.}
For more information about volunteering, call the United Way of Manatee County at 941-748-1313.