Somewhere off Morgan Johnson Road, down a drive flanked by "Keep Out" signs in a brick building they call simply “the 800,” the engineering/racing team Slipstream constructs a wind tunnel to test the aerodynamics for itslatest creation. Fresh off a May win in national competition, the team is in the design phase of the racecar members hope will net another gold medal finish at the international competition in Abu Dhabi this coming November.

Here’s the catch, all five members of Slipstream are yet to graduate high school.

No, they’re not dropout savants; the team of high schoolers–Merritt Kendzior, Madelyn Kumar, Hannah Figueras, Domenic Aluise and Victoria Sinclair–are all competitors in the world finals of Formula 1 in Schools, an international science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) contest pitting students from around the globe against each other in a battle to create the best car, best display and best overall campaign for their team. Although the races are the centerpiece and watching the carefully engineered models hurtle down the track, blazing through 20 meters in the blink of an eye, is doubtless thrilling, the competition tests far more than a team’s engineering prowess.

“We’ve all competed in other STEM competitions and what we see with this program is that it encompasses so much more,” said Sinclair, graphic designer and manufacturing engineer for Slipstream. “You learn things about how you work with other people, you learn things about the world around you, you learn how to collaborate.”

While the team has certainly had to test their engineering skills, led by design engineers Kendzior and Aluise, they’ve also had to enter the world of marketing and networking, with Kumar writing press releases and making contacts and the team presenting work in front of crowded rooms, describing projects in a way that feels more like a sales pitch than a high school project. Sitting around the wooden table at the 800, the team looks more like a company board than a group of teenagers.

Since their win at Nationals, the students allowed no resting on their laurels, instead jumping back into the project with fresh ideas and lessons learned. Aluise connected with an engineer from Daimler, swapping notes and extracting tips and advice from the judge who was impressed by Slipstream’s performance. The team has even wrangled help from Yoshi Suzuka, an aerodynamics expert heralded throughout the racing world for his expertise, who arrived yesterday to assist in the wind tunnel construction.

“Usually to do these types of roles, we would have wait to until we’re adults, but with F1 in Schools, we can do everything a professional Formula 1 team is doing as teenagers,” said Kumar, resource manager for the team. “For my role, I have to create a marketing strategy and we were able to collaborate with a professional advertising agency. So many real-world applicable things come through this competition.”

But while Slipstream has earned its spot in the World Finals and the members are hard at work on a new design, they still have to actually get to Abu Dhabi. Community sponsors have stepped up and shown their support, with Two Scoops Ice Cream donating the building that became their headquarters and Ramm Recycling lending funds alongside local businesses such as Coastal Orthopedics and Net Biologics, among others, but the team is still seeking support to finance the production of their entrant.

For more information or to lend your support, follow the link to Slipstream’s website below. 

Slipstream

Escape to Bloom Organics Day Spa and Boutique for an ideal reprieve from the wilting humdrum of your weekly grind. An eco-chic petit retreat off Siesta Drive, Bloom Organics provides a verdant garden of all natural skin care products devoid of harsh chemical ingredients. Whether you slip into a Bloom Body Cocoon, indulge in a Fire and Ice Stone Treatment, or melt away built-up tension with a lava-filled Tiger Clam Shell Massage, rest assured you’ll leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

 Owners, Yasmin and Gerry Farrell acquire the finest quality products including skin care lines from Dr. Hauschka and Éminence. The Arctic Berry Peel and Peptide Illuminating System from Éminence is a favorite among customers, brimming with Cloudberries, Arctic Roseroot, Meadowsweet and Juniper. With the power of peptides and anti-aging plants, the three-step, at-home routine exfoliates, activates and illuminates to give your skin a natural radiance.  

Bloom Organic Day Spa and Boutique, 2065 Siesta Drive

Bloom Organics

Moved From: Washington, DC metro area. My Profession There: Interior Design. Friday Nights There: Dining with friends and relaxing

Why I Moved: My spouse's job and gorgeous weather! Now I Am: Trying to build my business in the South, networking with local, talented professionals. We are excited about our recently completed home renovations. The style is very open and characteristic of Florida design. Friday Nights Now: Many things to see and do here. Enjoying the slower, more relaxed pace.

First Impressions: Sarasota is incredibly cultured. We are proud to welcome our out-of-town guests and show them spots like Myakka and Selby Gardens. The wildlife and flowers are beautiful. Biggest Community Mistake: The appearance of commercial thoroughfares, i.e. Tamiami Trail. The billboards along Tamiami are an eye-sore and detract from the area’s beauty. I would love to see more tropical flowers and greenery planted around town. My Vision: Continuing to meet new friends and develop more relationships—both business and personal. 

Blalock Walters, P.A. announces that the firm has expanded its services into Pinellas County.  In an effort to continue to serve clients regionally, Blalock Walters has increased the number of locations to three. Blalock Walters was founded in the early 1920’s, opening its first office in downtown Bradenton, where the firm is still headquartered.  In 2005, Blalock Walters opened its Sarasota location at One Sarasota Tower.  Most recently, an office in St. Petersburg was opened to serve clients in the greater Tampa Bay area.

Blalock Walters

Robert K. Lincoln, a member of the law firm of Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg, P.A., has recently become Board Certified by The Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law, making Mr. Lincoln one of the 249 Florida Bar attorneys who have achieved board certification in this area; only nine of whom practice in Sarasota. A member of Icard Merrill since 2004, Mr. Lincoln is recognized as one of America’s Best Lawyers in the areas of land use and zoning law, as well as land use and zoning litigation. He was also named by Florida Trend as a Legal Elite in Environmental and Land Use Law. 

Icard Merrill

The "Where the Votes Are" presentation by Jacob Ogles, the Senior Editor of SRQ | The Magazine and SRQ Daily at SRQ Media Group's corporate headquarters this past Wednesday morning attracted many of Sarasota County's political players to discuss the August 26, 2014 primary election. Now you can download the presentation containing his in-depth analysis, key highlights and findings. 

Download the WTVA Presentation

Our inaugural signature soiree, Bal Masqué, is SRQ The Magazine’s biggest event of the year. Your all-inclusive ticket includes your donation to one of our event beneficiaries, cocktails, dinner and amazing performances. Introduce your palette to Venetian fare from Fête, wine from The Bijou Café, and cocktails from Siesta Key Rum and Tito’s Handmade Vodka before the performances from the Circus Arts Conservatory, Fuzión Dance Artists, and Sarasota Cuban Ballet School, begin at 10pm. Don formal attire with a Venetian masquerade twist and get excited for a magical evening at the Sarasota Opera House. Get your ticket and select your beneficiary from: the Circus Arts Conservatory, Child Protection Center Inc., Suncoast Charities for Children and Suncoast Science Center. This years Bal Masqué is dedicated to children. #srqbalmasque 

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