STEM, Girl Power, Sustainability, Focus of ComEd’s Icebox Derby Challenge

Deborah Bayliss | As of Thursday, August 7, 2014

(L-R) Nakia Chappelle, 14, Jacquelyn Butler, 13, and Lauren Clay sit in the Icebox Car they are building with the help of mentor, Paula Corey, this summer as they participate in a collaborative initiative between ComEd, the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, Girls4Science and the Chicago Urban League, called The Icebox Derby, an educational competition where girls team up to build electric cars using recycled refrigerators and freezers over the course of six weeks as part of an effort to empower young women to explore opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
(L-R) Nakia Chappelle, 14, Jacquelyn Butler, 13, and Lauren Clay sit in the Icebox Car they are building with the help of mentor, Paula Corey, this summer as they participate in a collaborative initiative between ComEd, the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, Girls4Science and the Chicago Urban League, called The Icebox Derby, an educational competition where girls team up to build electric cars using recycled refrigerators and freezers over the course of six weeks as part of an effort to empower young women to explore opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Photo by Deborah Bayliss.

Girls from various parts of Illinois, including Chicago’s south and far south side, this summer are participating in a collaborative initiative between ComEd, the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, Girls4Science and the Chicago Urban League, called The Icebox Derby, an educational competition where girls team up to build electric car using a recycled refrigerators and freezers. The six week project is uniquely designed to empower young women to engage in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

“Our focus with this program is girls overall,” said Michelle Blaise, senior vice president of Tech Services at ComEd. We want them to be part of the next generation of creators and we’re also contributing to closing the gender gap in STEM (education and careers). We’re also integrating into this program, our commitment to sustainability and recycling by using the old refrigerators and (freezers) to make to the Icebox cars.”

According to the Department of Commerce, women hold only 24 percent of the STEM jobs in America.

photo
(R-L) Michelle Blaise, ComEd 's senior vice president of Tech Services, talks with Nakie Chappelle, 14 and Alexis Estes, 18, two members of the Nerds of Steel team, part of a collaborative initiative between ComEd, the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, Girls4Science and the Chicago Urban League, called The Icebox Derby, an educational competition where girls team up to build an electric car using recycled refrigerators and freezers over the course of six weeks as part of an effort to empower young women to explore opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Officially launched July 9 at the Derby Garage located at 451 N. Wood St., ComEd, issued a call within the company for engineering employees who were willing to donate their time and now have eleven mentors to help instruct and guide, teams of 4-6 girls ages 13-18.

Their journey will be documented as the refrigerators go from hunks of junk to cool rides, building up to the actual Icebox Derby STEM Cup 2014 race on Aug. 23 at The Field Museum (1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605), where friends, family and the public are invited to gather to cheer the girls on and watch them race their recycled refrigerators for the chance to win the STEM Cup and other prizes.

Nakia Chappelle, 14, Lauren Clay, 15, Jacquelyn Butler, 13, Alexis Estes, 18, and Nicole Beulah, 13, are all part of the Nerds of Steel team, and like the other teams will paint their white icebox to match randomly chosen logo colors, which for the Nerds of Steel are orange and green.

“I didn’t know I’d like engineering until I started in STEM,” said Chappelle. “We used math concepts to come up with the design. We put on the wheels and put in the (battery-powered) motor. I really enjoyed drilling the holes.”

Butler said math is what she likes most about STEM and that she and her team feel they have a real chance at winning the Aug. 23 race.

“We’re really delighted about our work so we will win,” Butler said with a big smile.

The young women take part in a series of six challenges every Wednesday night from July 16 – August 20 from 6-9pm where each team completes a new task to build a part of their Icebox Derby car.

“The teams are arbitrarily picked. I mentor the Nerds of Steel,” said Paula Corey who added the girls bonded rather quickly. “

So far, motors are installed, steering wheels have been added and the wheels are on the Iceboxes.

Social media will play a big role throughout the process. The Icebox Derby is designed to use online engagement to raise awareness and generate support for the broader STEM movement by encouraging the public to take part in the discussion using the #Empower.

There is also an interactive Tumblr website at www.theiceboxderby.com-which will document the girls’ progress and allow the public to support them throughout their journey.

All of the girls participating in the challenge will receive $1000 scholarship from ComEd.

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