West Palm Beach's Suncoast High School Designs Dream Vehicle For Chrysler Group

           Annual Design Contest Yields Top Prize for Area Students

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 23 Teamwork, dedication and
imagination contributed to the triumph of Suncoast High School during the 2001
"Build Your Dream Vehicle" educational challenge in Miami.  Teams from
Suncoast earned first and second place honors, trophies and cash prizes
totaling $5,000.  The day-long contest was February 22 at the Miami Museum of
Science and Space Technology.
    The first place team was awarded $3,000 and an opportunity to compete in
the national finals in May at the Chrysler Group's North American headquarters
in Auburn Hills, Michigan.  The winning dream vehicle, Atlantis, is described
as a retro sport utility vehicle with features similar to the Prowler and P.T.
Cruiser.  According to the team, the vehicle was designed for high performance
and superior handling.
    The Chrysler Group launched the "Build Your Dream Vehicle" program in
1994.  The contest challenges high school students to use teamwork and
creativity to conceive, design and present innovative, environmentally-
friendly vehicle concepts.
    The contest requires that all entries include a marketing strategy,
financial plan and a three-dimensional model or drawing of the dream concept.
    Of the eight competing teams, Suncoast High School also earned second-
place and a cash award of $2,000.  Miami Killian Senior High School was
honored with third place and a $1,000 cash award.
    The winning team's instructor, Richard Filsinger, is a drafting teacher at
Suncoast High School.  He said his team was honored to participate in the
competition.  "The significant life lessons my students have learned by
working together have been the most valuable prizes of the competition,"
Filsinger said.
    Students and coaches on the three winning teams are:

    Name of High School      Concept Vehicle     Students and Coach

    1st Place - Suncoast     Atlantis (SUV)      Joshua Goodman, Gray
                                                 Kirkmyer, Ashley Glenn,
                                                 Michael Persson, Eric
                                                 Schmitt, Thomas Smith,
                                                 Michael Strivelli, Kristen
                                                 Ullman, Aron Zingman,
                                                 Richard Filsinger

    2nd Place - Suncoast     Titan (car)         Eric Schwartz, Kevin
                                                 Hauser, Taurin Hurley,
                                                 Connie Rizzo, Kate
                                                 Gonzalez, Daniel Stein,
                                                 Fredrico Tewes, Sara
                                                 Kirkmyer, Richard
                                                 Filsinger

    3rd Place - Miami        Chrysler 4.0 SC     Jason Suite, Cassem
                Killian      (car)               Barakat, Jairo Feria, John
                                                 Vega, Greene Ramkisoon,
                                                 Ryan Sevick, Carmen
                                                 Garcia

    Road to Victory
    Student teams began working on their "dream" vehicles at the start of the
2000-2001 school year.  In January, twenty Miami-area teams sent their "Build
Your Dream Vehicle" entries to Chrysler Group headquarters for preliminary
judging.  As a result, eight teams were selected to compete in the Miami
regional finals.
    Beginning now through May, student teams in Houston, Seattle, San Diego,
Los Angeles, Washington D.C./Baltimore, Detroit, Atlanta and Chicago are
preparing to present their dream concepts at regional competitions.  First
place winners from each city will advance to the national finals in May.
    For more information about Chrysler Group's "Build Your Dream Vehicle"
program, educators should call 888-839-BYDV (2938), or visit the Web site at
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/bydv .