St Columba College’s F1 In Schools teams conquer the 2023 SA State Finals yet again!

With the exhilarating and highly competitive F1 In Schools SA State Finals 2023 now behind us, it's time to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our students.

Representing St Columba College with unwavering dedication, professionalism, and remarkable sportsmanship, our three teams—Boost, Quantum, and Maverick—left a lasting impression on the competition. Their diligence and determination shone throughout the event, making us immensely proud.

The outstanding achievements of our teams were duly recognised at the award presentation. Accolades were bestowed upon teams Quantum and Boost, highlighting their excellence in enterprise, branding, innovation, and marketing.

Team Quantum—comprised of Year 9 students Alyssia Saliba, Hayley Robb, Brayden Hopgood, Ashton Hopgood, and Oscar Anderson—took home the awards for Best Team Portfolio and Best Managed Enterprise, as well as the Innovation Award for excellence in engineering.

Team Boost—consisting of Year 9 students Cameron Smith, Alysha Tanner, Charlotte Talbot, Jack Reidy and Rowan Powell—won Best Team Marketing, Best Graphic Design and Best Team Trade Display awards.

In the final standings, Team Boost secured an impressive second place, with Team Quantum in third. This remarkable feat not only showcased their exceptional skills but also earned Team Boost a golden ticket to the National Finals in 2024, which will take place right here in Adelaide.

Despite not receiving any awards, Team Maverick—consisting of Year 10 students Aaron Johnson, Elijah Marsden, Noah Patrick, Amos Pearce, and Logan Harris—demonstrated remarkable competitiveness throughout the competition and finishing in 5th place. The judges commended their efforts, particularly recognising the quality and aesthetics of their uniforms, car, and trade display. It is a testament to their dedication and passion for the F1 In Schools challenge.

In the racing category, all three teams demonstrated their prowess, advancing to the knockout rounds. Both Boost and Quantum even reached the semi-finals, demonstrating their exceptional speed and agility on the track.

Overall, this year's State Finals were a resounding success, with intense competition and an impressive number of participating teams.

As we reflect on this incredible achievement, it's essential to acknowledge the hard work, commitment, and teamwork of our students. They've not only represented our college with distinction, but also showcased the potential and talent that resides within the College.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the students who participated in the F1 In Schools SA State Finals 2023. Your dedication, professionalism, and sportsmanship have made us proud, and we look forward to cheering on Team Boost as they prepare for the National Finals in 2024. This journey is a testament to what can be achieved through passion, perseverance, and collaboration, and we eagerly anticipate the future successes that lie ahead for our F1 In Schools teams.

F1 In Schools is not just a competition; it's the world's largest STEM challenge that ignites students' passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, while also paving the way for career pathways in fields like engineering, enterprise, marketing, graphic design, and project management. At St Columba College, our commitment to excellence in STEM education has been proven time and time again.

In 2022, our College proudly clinched the State Champions title with Team Magnitude, who went on to represent us at the National Finals in Sydney this year. While they narrowly missed a ticket to the World Finals in Singapore, they left an indelible mark by winning accolades such as the Best Team Portfolio, Best Newcomer, and the title of Fastest Reaction Time.

Securing a fourth-place finish in their very first season of our F1 program was nothing short of astonishing, earning them the respect and admiration of the judges, and highlighting their immense competitiveness. Congratulations to Team Magnitude for their remarkable achievements, and we eagerly anticipate more groundbreaking accomplishments in the seasons to come.

We would like to express our greatest gratitude to our sponsors and supporters. Without our sponsors we would not be able to achieve success. Thank you to our sponsors below for their generous and passionate contributions to our F1 In Schools teams. We hope to continue our collaborations for National Finals and beyond.

Click the image below for more info about our sponsors:

Last, but not least, a big thank you to the organisers, RE-Engineering Australia (REA), for hosting such a prestigious and professional event.

Mr Ali Arifi | Learning Area Leader – Business and Technology