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ShopGirls team, USA
Dansil Green heads up the first all-girls team at Shell Eco-marathon Americas, showing that engineering is not just for boys. The hands-on competition helped inspire one of her predecessors to study engineering at the prestigious MIT University. Now their driver is treading the same path. Meet the students as they finalise their car, the Iron Maiden, ahead of the 2013 event and see how education is getting a boost.
Team facts |
|
| Team name: | ShopGirls |
|---|---|
| Average age: | 15.5 |
| Car name: | Iron Maiden |
| Class: | Prototype |
| Engine type: | Diesel |
| Unique car features: | An ergonomic cockpit with an extra roll-bar over the driver’s legs for added safety. The drive train is an electronically-controlled, programmable Nuvinci CVT (continuous variable transmission). |
| Years in the competition: | 4 |
| Record to beat: |
221 km/l (520 mpg) |
Who's on the team?
Teagan Ruth Fife
Teagan Ruth Fife is the team’s safety manager. She is shooting for the ShopGirls to win the competition’s safety award for the fourth year running. Known as Tigger, she is full of energy and can help with any job. She likes sleeping in when she can – not easy in the run-up to the competition. A pianist, Teagan’s motto is “Life without music would Bb (flat)”!
Pooja Sethi
Seventen-year old Pooja Sethi is the team driver and handles public relations. Determined to succeed, she believes that “When you really want something to happen, the whole world conspires to help you achieve it.” Passionate about mathematics and science she joined the team to learn more about engineering – and has since made “amazing” new friends. As the oldest member of the team she shares her experience and stays calm under pressure.
Dansil Green
Team manager and reserve driver Dansil Green is known as Dance by her friends. She may have shown her dance moves when she recently celebrated turning 16. With a determined character, her motto is: "I will strive to be the very best that I can be today". Dansil brings her knowledge of electronics to the team.
Samantha Lynn Miner-Ball
Fifteen-year old Samantha Lynn Miner-Ball is responsible for getting the team organised, as well as offering her skills as an engineer and welder. As she explains: “I may be a girl, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not allowed to get down and play in the mud.” Her happy, helpful nature is invaluable in working on the car. Outside of Shell Eco-marathon her passions are track & field, racing cars and cooking.
Kylee Hayter
Testing manager Kylee Hayter is proud to be on an all-girls team: “Anything boys can do girls can do better,” she says. Aged 15, she has been interested in joining Shell Eco-marathon for many years. She sees the competition as a chance to challenge her brain.
Michael Werner
Michael Werner, who received top honours in his machining apprenticeship in the Swiss Air Force Technical School, served as a helicopter mechanic during military service. He brings experience both of working in the aviation industry and machining race car engines. Combining creativity with practical skills, he is makes wooden art pieces using a lathe. He is proud to have organised the first ever all-girl team in Shell Eco-marathon Americas and believes “students that are engaged have fun learning very hard things”.
