Yuma Middle Schools Compete in Drive in the Desert RC Race
More than 120 students from seven Yuma County middle schools competed December 5 in the biannual Drive in the Desert RC car race, an event that had students design, build, maintain and race radio controlled cars. The competition, funded and supplied by the Arizona Business and Education Coalition, highlights hands on career technical learning and underscores community partnerships shaping local workforce pathways.
On December 5 more than 120 students representing seven Yuma County middle schools took part in the biannual Drive in the Desert RC car race, a practical competition designed to teach engineering fundamentals and shop safety. Students designed, built, maintained and raced remote control cars that were provided and funded by the Arizona Business and Education Coalition. Prizes included gift cards, Chapman Chevrolet goody bags, and medals for top finishers.
Teachers at participating schools reported measurable classroom benefits from the program, noting gains in technical skills, safer work habits in the shop, increased teamwork and greater student independence. Organizers framed the event as a showcase for career technical learning and as an opportunity to give students experience in a competitive setting. Schools plan additional races later in the school year to continue that experiential learning.
The event illustrates how school districts and community partners can extend learning beyond textbooks to create practical pathways into technical fields. Funding from a business education coalition covered materials and equipment, reducing barriers for schools with limited budgets and allowing broad student participation. Local business involvement, including in-kind support from a major dealer, also signaled private sector interest in cultivating future workers with trade skills.
For Yuma County that mix of classroom instruction and community support has several policy implications. Sustaining hands on career technical programs depends on stable funding streams at the district and state levels, and on continued cooperation between schools and employers. School board decisions about curriculum priorities and budget allocations will directly affect the ability of middle schools to offer similar programs. Voters and local officials who weigh school spending and workforce initiatives will shape whether these opportunities expand or contract.
Beyond classrooms, the event strengthens civic ties between families, educators and businesses by providing visible, tangible outcomes for students. Organizers and teachers say the competitions help inform students about technical career options while building skills employers seek. With future races planned this school year, the Drive in the Desert series will remain a local test case for how experiential learning can align education with regional workforce needs.
