Highland Park High School Wins Chicagoland Regional Of Chrysler Group's 'Build Your Dream Vehicle' Competition

    CHICAGO, March 21 Highland Park High School's teamwork,
dedication and imagination contributed to their triumph as they took first
place in The Chrysler Group's 2001 "Build Your Dream Vehicle" educational
competition.  The first-place team's concept vehicle, Epic, earned $3,000, a
1st Place trophy and the opportunity to compete at the National Finals on
May 1 at DaimlerChrysler's North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.
Seven other teams presented their projects during an all-day event on March 20
at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.
    Highland Park's winning concept vehicle, Epic, is designed as an atypical
Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).  The Epic is powered by a gasoline-electric
hybrid system, allowing for optimal gas mileage and low emissions.  The
students said that ample seating for seven-passengers and sleek exterior
design would allow it to appeal to families looking for both comfort and a
sporty look.
    Created in 1994, the "Build Your Dream Vehicle" program's integrated
curriculum challenges high school students to use teamwork and creativity to
conceive, design and present an innovative, environmentally-friendly vehicle
-- complete with a three-dimensional model or drawing and a marketing and
financial plan.
    St. Charles East High School in St. Charles earned second-place in the
Chicagoland competition, receiving $2,000 and a trophy, and H.L. Richards High
School in Oak Lawn was honored with third place, winning a trophy and $1,000.
    The winning team's instructor, John Connelly, of Highland Park High
School, said, "We are honored to win this competition and we look forward to
competing in the National Finals in May.  The students really came together as
a team and I'm very proud of their hard work and dedication."

    Students and coaches on the three winning teams are:
    Name of High School            Concept Vehicle    Students and Coach
    1st Place - Highland Park      Epic               John Connolly (teacher)
        Highland Park, IL                             Harris Cohen, David
                                                      Goltz, Kevin Green, Mike
                                                      Mastrangelo, Joseph
                                                      Sidorowicz, Matt Stewart

    2nd Place - St. Charles East   Genesis            Ron Brown (teacher)
        St. Charles, IL                               Matt Bowgren, Jim
                                                      Cowell, Jeremiah
                                                      Johnson, Hemal Patel,
                                                      Casey Robinson, Greg
                                                      Strom

    3rd Place - H.L. Richards      Prophecy           Jim Baker (teacher)
        Oak Lawn, IL                                  Jason Schultz, Jim
                                                      Schultz, Steve Pallotto,
                                                      Scot Bort, Brian
                                                      Reardon, Jim Schmitz

    Twenty-eight Chicagoland teams sent their "Build Your Dream Vehicle"
entries to DaimlerChrysler headquarters in January for preliminary judging.
Eight teams were chosen to compete in the Chicagoland regional finals
competition.  The teams have been working on their "dream" vehicles since the
beginning of the 2000-2001 school year.  Student teams from Miami, Houston,
Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Washington D.C./Baltimore, Detroit and
Atlanta are also participating in regional competitions with each city's first
place team advancing to the National Finals on May 1.
    For more information about DaimlerChrysler's "Build Your Dream Vehicle"
program, educators should call 1-888-839-BYDV (2938), or visit the Web site at
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/bydv .