Jemicy's 20th Kinetic Sculpture Race : The Ultimate Experiential Learning

For 20 years, Jemicy has had a love affair with the American Visionary Art Museum’s Kinetic Sculpture Race. The human-powered, visually vibrant vehicles race over land, water, sand, and mud.  The spectacle attracts national attention for its wacky, wonderful, and oh so Baltimore, charm. This event holds a place in our hearts for many reasons, but especially because it is the ideal place to showcase the traits that make our students so exceptional–creativity, ingenuity, resilience, teamwork, and determination.

 

This year Jemicy entered four of the 29 vehicles in the race. The student teams calmly navigated challenges such as mechanical breakdowns, capsized vehicles, and ferocious mud pits under the steadfast guidance of August DiMucci who teaches the industrial design class in which the vehicles are created. The race is the ultimate example of the experiential learning that is the foundation of a Jemicy education.

 

At the end of the day, this race is not about coming in first. As a matter of fact, the “winner” is the vehicle that comes in dead center, and the most epic fail is celebrated with its own coveted award. Jemicy won “Best Bribes” for the wooden Lego people made in the likeness of the judges. Additionally, our alumni pilot, Jeff Krannebitter ’10, won the Ace Award, and senior pilot, Kai Hines, came in 2nd overall despite capsizing in the Inner Harbor. 

 

Thank you, AVAM, for celebrating the joy of being unique and redefining success beyond crossing the finish line first! We are already looking forward to next year.