Poly Students Chase Solar Car Dreams
A team of students has been working tirelessly for the past two years on something extraordinary: a solar-powered car, designed and built from scratch, with tremendous support from the community’s expertise and generosity. Led by Team Captain Jeremy Hsieh ’25 and coached by Upper School Math Teacher Dominic Rosato and mentor Deniz Armani, Poly’s Solar Car Team is preparing for its biggest challenge yet—the advanced division of the national Solar Car Challenge taking place at the closed-track, world-famous Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth beginning July 16.
Unlike their previous entry in the amateur division, this year’s car, the “Perihelion,” features a larger solar panel and a lithium-ion battery system, with cutting-edge carbon fiber components that required advanced fabrication techniques. “They’re learning every discipline of engineering—mechanical, electrical, materials science, even chemical,” said Deniz. “The students had to design everything, fabricate everything, and it's really great for them to quite literally get their hands dirty.”
For Jeremy, the inspiration to join came from a former teammate, Aria Wang ’24, who helped launch the first car in 2021. “What kept us going was the dream of building something faster and better using composites,” he said. “We’ve gained skills from welding to high-voltage safety, even corporate negotiations. Leading this team has taught me so much about project management and mentorship.”
Aikam Singh ’25 echoed that sentiment. “I joined because I wanted to do real, meaningful engineering work,” he said. “This project taught me how to think critically, communicate across teams, and lead by listening. Most importantly, it showed me how engineering can serve a greater purpose—like sustainability.”
The team has been hard at work leading up to the competition. Weekends have blurred into weekdays, and the garage lights stay on long after school ends. “It’s not just about the race,” Aikam added. “It’s about proving what young people can do when they believe in something and work together.”
As the team assembles in Texas, the Poly Solar Car Team isn’t just chasing a trophy—they’re chasing a vision of the future they’re helping to build.
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Unlike their previous entry in the amateur division, this year’s car, the “Perihelion,” features a larger solar panel and a lithium-ion battery system, with cutting-edge carbon fiber components that required advanced fabrication techniques. “They’re learning every discipline of engineering—mechanical, electrical, materials science, even chemical,” said Deniz. “The students had to design everything, fabricate everything, and it's really great for them to quite literally get their hands dirty.”
For Jeremy, the inspiration to join came from a former teammate, Aria Wang ’24, who helped launch the first car in 2021. “What kept us going was the dream of building something faster and better using composites,” he said. “We’ve gained skills from welding to high-voltage safety, even corporate negotiations. Leading this team has taught me so much about project management and mentorship.”
Aikam Singh ’25 echoed that sentiment. “I joined because I wanted to do real, meaningful engineering work,” he said. “This project taught me how to think critically, communicate across teams, and lead by listening. Most importantly, it showed me how engineering can serve a greater purpose—like sustainability.”
The team has been hard at work leading up to the competition. Weekends have blurred into weekdays, and the garage lights stay on long after school ends. “It’s not just about the race,” Aikam added. “It’s about proving what young people can do when they believe in something and work together.”
As the team assembles in Texas, the Poly Solar Car Team isn’t just chasing a trophy—they’re chasing a vision of the future they’re helping to build.
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