Grant Extends STEAM Learning at Lombardi

Lombardi Middle School's Technology and Engineer Teaching Department held its annual CO2 car races on December 19, 2025, but this year, thanks to a grant from the Green Bay Area Public Schools Education Foundation, the races had an added boost.

The Education Foundation funded a new electric starter and timer in a recent grant cycle. At the starting line, lights signify a countdown and an automated system propels the CO2 cars. And at the end of the race, the timing of the cars flashes on the display.

This allows the class to accurately see who designed and made the faster car, and the automatic starter ensures both dragsters start at the same time. In addition, the class can participate in extension projects with the finishing times of the cars, such as finding the class average for time, and reflecting upon why certain cars fared better than others. 

In addition to the starter and timer, the grant funding provided the program with additional track to make the races more realistic, and it allowed it to purchase five high-quality sanders, so the students can finish sanding their cars with newer equipment.  

Lombardi's Pathway to Engineering classes, both advanced and regular, used a design process to make CO2 dragsters. They learn and use the CAD program Onshape to design their cars.

In their design, students needed to think about aerodynamics and weight to make the fastest car possible. Once the car was designed, students cut their cars out of a block of wood. After sanding and painting them, a tournament-style race is held to determine the class champion. 

Students use so many different components of learning in this project including science, math, art, engineering and construction.

The races are in honor of Clint Griffith, a Lombardi technology teacher who passed away. The track for the races is named the "Clint Griffith Memorial Raceway at Lombardi International Speedway."

Click on the photos below to see full size images from the competition.