Last updated on March 16th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
BAINBRIDGE, Ga. — Add an element of fun to any lesson, and it’s no longer a chore.
So, when the lesson is college-level engineering concepts such as velocity or aerodynamics taught to high schoolers, students didn’t start by cracking open textbooks. Instead, they started thinking about cars.
This was the tact taken by Georgia Institute of Technology faculty as they worked with three high school classrooms in rural Southwest Georgia. Funded by Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing (Georgia AIM) through its regional partner, the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission, the project challenged students to design and build their own Pinewood Derby-style race cars. Georgia AIM is a statewide program led by Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2) and the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI).
Lessons culminated earlier this month when the students gathered at Southern Regional Technical College for the final challenge: A real race.
“A year ago, this was just a crazy idea we had,” says Kyle Saleeby, a research engineer at GTMI and one of the program’s key developers. “It’s truly amazing to see it all come together at an event like this and impact so many students.”
Partnerships with Purpose
This pilot program, dubbed Advanced Manufacturing Pathways, is one more way Georgia AIM’s partnerships are developing STEM-related career pathways in the region. High schools in rural Mitchell and Colquitt counties now have advanced training simulators in firefighting, heavy equipment operation, human anatomy, and manufacturing thanks to Georgia AIM funding. Also, Southern Regional Technical College opened two advanced manufacturing labs and new academic programs as part of its partnership with Georgia AIM and the Technical College System of Georgia.
Now, with this program, students at Thomasville High School, Thomas County Central High School, and Bainbridge High School have access to new CNC machines and specialized instruction on prototyping and engineering principles. Teachers at the schools received training from Georgia Tech faculty. The program also combined in-person lessons from high school teachers with remote instruction from Georgia Tech faculty members.
On race day, the community came out in force — one more example of the power of Georgia AIM’s roots throughout the community. Local manufacturers and elected officials in attendance say they understand the benefits of programs like this, as students realize they don’t need to leave their community for a job in engineering or computer science.
“If a program like this is able to highlight the potential engineering pathways and really develop talent in Southwest Georgia, you’re more likely to want to come back to continue to develop your career here,” said Matthew Hilliard, a plant manager at Danimer Scientific in Bainbridge. Hilliard grew up in Southwest Georgia and said he knew he wanted a career close to home, but not everyone is suited for small-town life. He’s seen several young engineers leave the area after just a couple years.
Planting for the Future
The goal with STEM-focused projects such as this, say local educators and officials, is to help students see that technology can be just as applicable in rural areas as it is in cities. As students learn about AI, smart manufacturing, and coding, they can begin to see how these skills can be put to use in their own community.
That spark was lit for Thomas County Central High School student Jared Castillo, who grew up watching his brother work with computers and robotics. He was excited by the prospect of designing his own race car.
“When I started modeling my cars on the CAD software, it all just clicked for me,” he said. “I just knew I wanted to go into that in the future.”
Castillo, who clocked the fastest overall time at the race and received first runner-up for Best Engineered Car, now plans to study computer engineering at Georgia Tech.
The program served 250 students across three schools, and it’s now launched a new cohort serving students in additional districts. With a successful launch from Georgia AIM and local partners, it’s one more way the community is reflecting a shared commitment to growing talent in Southwest Georgia.
“Because we’re from a rural area, we believe you have to fertilize not just your fields, but the fields around you,” said Amy Zock, director of instructional and innovative technology at Decatur County Schools, home of Bainbridge High School. “The more schools that get involved, the more that they do, the better our students will be.”