In 1999, the Solar Challenge expanded its educational outreach to students who have gone beyond the scope of the original project. Daniel Sandt, former team captain of the Northview High School Solar Car Team (Covina, California), rejoined the Challenge as the first Student Intern. Daniel's untiring efforts brought new perspectives to the race, and demonstrated interns can serve a vital, unbiased role in the administration of the Challenge.

For more information about the intern program, check out the Intern Program.

	Nadia Auguste Intern since 2022 College: University of North Florida Major: Marketing Former Team: Western HS Solar Car Team, Davie, Florida (2018-2021) I wanted to become an intern to continue to see the change that the Solar Car Challenge brings for students. As a student racing back in high school, being able to get insight from other teams and interns made all the difference in my personal relationship with engineering. I hope that by being an intern, I get to help students in a fraction of the way the interns at the time helped me. I would say my main hobbies are reading, watching reruns of my favorite shows, and crocheting.
	Will Cabell Intern since 2023 College: Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas Former Team: Prosper Solar Car Team, Prosper, Texas I became an intern for the Solar Car Challenge to give back to a program that did so much for me. When I'm not busy with work and school, I enjoy pursuing aviation as both a hobby and a career interest.
	Anika Escobar Intern since 2024 College: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering Former Team: Iron Lions Solar Car Team I wanted to be an intern because the solar car community played a huge role in my journey into engineering. It is quite rewarding to help out and hopefully inspire other students the way I was inspired. My current hobbies are playing lacrosse for WPI, and my interests include watching Formula 1 and soccer.
	Matthew Bolding Intern since 2025 College: University of North Texas, Denton, Texas Major: Pursuing a PhD in Computer Science, BS in Computer Science and a BS in Mathematics. Former Team: All Saints Solar Car Team (2015-2018) I find that having participated in the Solar Car Challenge as a student contributed greatly to my own personal development, due in part to the engineering challenges faced but also to my advisors and the Challenge's staff pushing us to meet requirements and ultimately succeed. I hope that interning with the Challenge will give me an opportunity to return the benefit to the next generation. In my spare time, I like reading with my cats, working on my homelab, and going to the gym. If I have more time, I enjoy traveling, cooking, and photographing TCU sports and spirit teams.
	Sebastian Gonzalez Intern since 2025 College: East Texas A&M University, Commerce, Texas Major: Music Education Former Team: Iron Lions Solar Car Team, Greenville, Texas (2020-2024) The Solar Car Challenge has completely changed my life. Through their relentless dedication and unwavering devotion to student success, Dr. Marks and his race staff have made me more compassionate, productive, and determined. It is for this reason, among numerous others, that I wish wholeheartedly, to the best of my ability, to contribute to an activity that has given me so much in every aspect of my life. I firmly hold that, when paired with an adventure, education is the key to unlocking a truly fulfilling and impactful life, and being an intern for the Solar Car Challenge will permit me to put my philosophy into action. Some hobbies of mine include anything music-related, whether it is teaching, playing, listening, or composing. I also enjoy traveling, hiking, spending time with friends and family, cooking and baking, seeking new knowledge on random topics, and, of course, the intricate and captivating world of solar cars.
	Gianna Chiappini Intern since 2026 College: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts Major: Mechanical Engineering I wanted to become an intern because it combines my passion for mechanical engineering with the opportunity to inspire others. Seeing that spark of excitement in others reminds me why I love this field so much. I am a cheerleader and have been involved in cheerleading for the past six years.
	Ian Choi Intern since 2026 College: Reed College Major: Social Psychology Former Team: Blazin' Bulldogs Solar Team When I first arrived at the Solarcar Challenge I was fascinated by the positive environment and attitude which was present throughout the entire community. I am excited to join the intern team to do my part in facilitating that unique social environment. My hobbies include listening to music, reading, designing, being outdoors, and cooking/eating great food! I look forward to meeting every one of the participants in this year's event!
	Natalie Duda Intern since 2026 College: Southern Methodist University Major: Master's degree in Engineering Management, Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering I want to be an intern for the Solar Car Challenge as an opportunity to utilize my mechanical engineering background to contribute to a team environment fueled by determination and persistence. It is such a unique experience to be involved in and support the advancement of solar-powered vehicle applications while providing a one-of-a-kind educational event inspiring the next generation of engineers. As a previous judge for the 2025 Solar Car Challenge closed track event at the Texas Motor Speedway, I particularly enjoyed scrutinizing vehicle structural integrity for compliance with engineering rules and safety. I look forward to participating as a 2026 intern and tackling the unique engineering challenges and logistics involved in the cross-country applications of the team solar cars. I am very interested in design, writing, photography, and CAD modeling. I love to travel and have visited several countries around the world, such as Japan, Switzerland, Austria, England, Italy, and Australia. I am also the current Marketing Lead for Hilltop Motorsports, the Formula SAE team at Southern Methodist University.
	Amogh Kaji Intern since 2026 College: Texas A&M University Major: Aerospace Engineering Former Team: Prosper Solar Car Team (2024-2025) I wanted to become an intern because I felt that the Solar Car Challenge gave me an experience that not only felt impactful, but also rewarding and compelling. I'm glad I participated in the challenge, and I hope to make new connections and pass on the experience to others. I love photography, cooking, and playing pickleball.
	Kennedy Nguyen Intern since 2026 College: New York University, New York, New York Major: Mechanical Engineering Former Team: Crowley Solar Car Team I want to serve as an intern because the Solar Car Challenge played a transformative role in my academic and professional development. I hope to contribute back by supporting race logistics, mentoring teams, and upholding the integrity of the competition as a team judge. I am especially interested in contributing to technical inspection, race operations, and helping ensure a positive and educational experience for all participants. For hobbies, I love photography, hiking, and exploration.
	Caden Pong Intern since 2026 School: Raisbeck Aviation High School Former Team: Seattle Solar Car Team (2024-2025) Solar racing has been such an impactful thing on my life, and it is the reason why I continue to pursue engineering. Because of this I really want to give back to the community and help anyone who may have also found their passion through this amazing challenge. It is really inspiring to see the amazing work of everyone involved. I still spend a lot of time working with solar cars, but outside of that I do a lot of skiing, hiking, backpacking, and running, as well as other personal engineering projects such as power converters or motor controllers.
	Wael Salem Intern since 2026 College: Alfred University Major: Mechanical Engineering Former Team: Holy Solars Team I want to be an intern for the Solar Car Challenge because it perfectly aligns with my dedication to renewable energy and engineering safety; I'm excited to support the next generation of engineers while learning the ropes of race operations and vehicle design. Outside of my studies, I enjoy morning runs, working on cars, and 3D printing, which help keep my problem-solving skills sharp both on and off the track.
	Caitlin Woodrow Intern since 2026 College: Texas A&M University, Galveston, Texas Major: Ocean Engineering Former Team: Prosper Solar Car Team Solar cars were such an impactful part of my high school life, and the program changed me for the better. I don't know where I would be today without it. Being on the team became so much more than I had originally expected, and the Solar Car Challenge gave me a family I didn't even know I was looking for. Ever since my first Solar Car Challenge Competition, I loved that the previous students came back and supported the program by being interns, and I knew then that I would want to do the same. The Solar Car Challenge made me a more analytical thinker, a stronger leader, and a better friend, and I would love the opportunity to help another round of students grow as both engineers and people. In my spare time, I love to scrapbook and crochet.
	Isa Wu Intern since 2026 College: University of California, Riverside Major: Electrical Engineering Former Team: TCHS Heliotech Solar Car Team (2024-2025) My studies really feel like a continuation of my work done in my solar car team. Outside the classroom, I indulge in video games and television shows. I'm excited to say that with this new year, my streak of attending the Solar Car Challenge continues; this year will be my first time interning at the race. As an intern, I'll be able to pay forward the inspiring events I've experienced as a competitor. Of course, this will also be an opportunity for me to reconnect with all the friends I've made at the racetrack. Most importantly, I can continue to learn more about solar cars, engineering, and other skills while I do all that I've mentioned before.
	Justin Adams Intern since 2026 College: Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama Major: Electrical Engineering Former Team: Winston Solar Car Team My experiences in the Solar Car Challenge are the reason why I am working to become an engineer. I want to be able to give back to the program which has had such a positive impact on my life. My current interests range from PCB creation and manufacturing.

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