Mill Creek Elementary Greenpower Racing Team Wins National Championship

Mill Creek Elementary School‘s hard work and dedication to Greenpower Racing came to fruition this year as the team emerged as National Champions in the Goblin division.

The school, located in Madison City Schools, races three cars and two ended up in the top 10 in the country. One car took the number one spot while the other finished at number 10.

The team’s amazing achievement is a testament to their perseverance and commitment to excellence, along with excellent guidance from their teacher, Ms. Jacqueline Smith.

The team consists of 14 students in fourth and fifth grades, which competed four times during the 2022-23 season. Each competition includes three driving races and a presentation.

The races include the slalom, which zigzags between cones to get to a finish line, a drag race and a circuit race around an oval. The presentation is judged based upon specific requirements for each individual contest.

Mill Creek Elementary won a total of 17 times this season. The school has competed for six years, but never won a first or second place in any race before this year. 

The team’s coach and Mill Creek Elementary fifth grade STEM teacher, Ms. Jacqueline Smith, attributes their success to comradery and dedication.

“These students have worked so well together since the fall. They come to practice ready to go, listen to each other’s feedback and have cheered each other along the entire season,” said Smith, a National Board Certified Teacher. “This incredible group of students and their supportive families have made this season one to remember. It’s been fun watching the students grow in their confidence and skills since day one.”

After the last race of the season, which took place in late April, the team with the most points wins the national championship.

National rankings are determined by a team’s top scores from three competitions.

Schools in the top 10 nationally were from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas. More than 100 elementary school teams compete in Greenpower Racing. 

Greenpower USA is headquartered in Huntsville, AL, but teams across the country participate. The Goblin division is for grades 4-6 and is an opportunity for students to learn critical thinking, effective communication and the basics of driving safety, repair and green power. 

Greenpower Racing is supported nationally by Siemens; however, each team is responsible for covering their own race entries, tools, replacement parts, travel and other expenses.

Mill Creek Elementary School’s team includes: 

5th graders

• Clark Asher
• Eli Brown
• Sophia Brown
• Devansh Goyal
• Lillian McFadden
• Evelyn Mustell
• Julius Whitehorn

4th graders

• Savannah Barnard
• Tyler Barnard
• Harrison Bock
• Austin Brown
• Peter Gosier
• Jaiden Lawrence
• Jack Nivens

Mill Creek Elementary School’s wins this season include:

• Choccolocco Park Green Prix
  • 1st place Circuit
  • 2nd place Drag race
  • 3rd place Circuit
  • 1st place Overall Champions
• Huntsville Cup
  • 1st place Circuit race
  • 1st place Presentation
  • 1st place Drag race
  • 2nd place Slalom race
  • 1st place Overall Champions

• Trojan 30’s Race
  • 2nd place Drag race
  • 2nd place Slalom race
  • 1st place Circuit race
  • 3rd place Overall
  • 1st place Overall Champions
• Greenpower Splash
  • Top 15 Overall
  • 4th place Overall
    
  • 2nd place Overall

Anyone interested in supporting the Goblin division National Champions, Mill Creek Elementary, through a tax-deductible donation, should contact Jacqueline Smith, 256-679-7919 or jksmith@madisoncity.k12.al.us.