Southern Polytechnic State University's rookie Supermileage Team won the Best Design Proposal Award at the annual Society of Automotive Engineers Supermileage Competition at the Eaton Corporation Proving Grounds in Marshall, Michigan.

More than 150 engineering students representing 23 universities from the U.S. and Canada participated in the event. The event challenges students to set world fuel economy records while getting experience in design and fabrication. Teams are required to design and build a one-person, fuel-efficient vehicle based on a small four-cycle engine. Teams were judged in two categories: performance run and vehicle design.

"I am very proud of this group," said Millard Davis, a professor in the Mechanical Engineering Technology department of Southern Polytechnic who traveled with the team. "In their first year, to make a mark like this, is a great achievement."

The design team started their vehicle last year around Christmas time and finished it in early June, before their first trip to the Supermileage Competition. Team members included Lee Childers, Jin Lee, Bradley Lee, Sandra Wooten, Chris Higgins and Jeff Shaw. According to Davis, the team is hopeful of participating in future Supermileage competitions.