As part of the Environmental Science Magnet School at South Plantation High School all magnet students are required to be involved in an independent or group project that will culminate their magnet experience. Four years ago, several of our eleventh grade magnet students were interested in the field of engineering but were reluctant to begin an environmental engineering project. Nothing seemed to spark their interest until they found the Dell-Winston Solar Challenge. After reading about the competition and the wide variety of solar cars which compete, the students were inspired to build their own solar car and compete against other high school teams in a race across the United States! This talented group of students quickly began building the Solar Knight I, South Plantation High’s first solar car. The car, which the students spent hundreds of hours building, ran completely off the energy captured by the huge solar panels mounted on top of the car. The Solar Knight I went on to participate in the Dell-Winston Solar car race that summer which began in Texas and went cross-country. Today, that small group of students has grown into a club of nearly twenty students as well as a Solar and Alternative Energy research class. The Solar Knights have gone on to build the Solar Knight II and is making plans to build the Solar Knight III in the upcoming school year. In addition to building solar cars, many of the students have also built other alternative energy projects including a solar cooker, candle power radio, electric car, etc. The students meet every day after school to work on modifications of the car, raise money, work on other projects, etc. Community outreach has become a huge part of who the Solar Knights are. The Solar Knight Project has impacted over 4,500 students, 100 teachers, and thousands of people throughout South Florida and our local community. Through demonstrations done on engineering days, our magnet camp for freshmen, our magnet open house, car shows, the “Speed” exhibit at Museum of Discovery and Science, Water Matters Day and other community venues and showcase opportunities we have educated thousands of people in our community about environmental issues and environmentally friendly energy alternatives. One “shining” example of the Solar Knights community involvement was the Junior Solar Sprint hosted in April of this year. Over 100 eighth grade students and 8 eighth grade science teachers at New River Middle, Seminole Middle, Plantation Middle and Driftwood Middle School were introduced to the concept and application of solar power. The Solar Knights presented an exciting, hands-on curriculum to middle school students about renewable energy and inspired them to think about building their own solar projects. Each middle school was given five Junior Solar Sprint Solar Kits complete with materials needed to build their own mini solar cars. A month later the schools were asked back to race their solar cars against the other school teams. Each school was received an award at the end and many of the students are now looking forward to joining the Solar Knights when the reach high school. Currently, the Solar Knights are excited about improving the Solar Knight II in an attempt to compete in the cross country race starting in Texas and racing through New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado this summer in the Dell-Winston Solar Car Challenge. The Solar Knights won the competition last year and are the current reigning National Champions. Their goal is for this year is to maintain their title. These students have sacrificed hundreds of hours after school, during summer and winter vacations, spring break, weekends, and holidays building and modifying the Solar Knight II. While competing in a solar car race is extremely challenging, the students are always willing to take this project a few steps further.