PALMETTO, Fla. -- Five Manatee County high school students are headed to Singapore for the Formula One in Schools World Finals in September.

  • STEM student will represent U.S. in international competition
  • The 5 highschoolers will travel to Singapore in Sept.
  • To support the Manatee Co. team, click here

"I mean, you’re looking at kids that are designing and building an entire formula one race team. From the ground up," said Palmetto High School engineering teacher Brian Kendzior.

Using STEM skills, the students have designed and built a miniature replica of a Formula One racing team.

"We definitely want to be the international champions and we have to do whatever it takes," said senior Alex Kumar.

Jaxson Bunes was in charge of designing the race cars.

"I've been working over a year and a half on this project just trying to get the car as best as it can possibly get," he said.

"We put hours and hours of work into this competition because there's a lot of stuff that needs to get done," said Cassandra Atzrotd, a high school senior.

Each team member was in charge of something different, like coming up with logos, marketing and budgets.

They first qualified for the World Finals after placing second in nationals back in June.

But they almost decided not to take the trip overseas.

"Because of funding we thought that maybe we wouldn't be able to go to worlds," Atzrotd said.

So, the nonprofit Manatee Education Foundation stepped in to help with fundraising.

"This is a world stage that they're going to be on. So we're excited to do it," said Manatee Education Foundation president Mary Glass.

Now, the team just needs to make sure their car goes faster than the world record of 0.916 seconds.

"We have a really great team, we love working with each other and its been a great experience, so we'll be happy with whatever the result is," said high school senior Ahmad Ibsais.

For Kendzior, who's put just as much time into the project as the students, it's been worth every minute.

“I wouldn't change it. It's worth every opportunity for these kids because what they get out of the program is immeasurable," he said.

The students still have some funds to raise before the competition on Sept. 5.

To help, click here.