MIAMI — Florida Power & Light is helping students at Miami Carol City Senior High School gain hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering and math by donating an electric vehicle build kit to the school’s Electathon program.

The donation allows students to build an electric go-kart over the next month, giving them real-world exposure to automotive and electric vehicle technology.

Senior Lanyla Conley, now in her second year in the Electathon program, said the experience has helped her develop skills that go beyond the classroom.

“I’ve learned how to work in an automotive environment, like an actual garage where there’s cars being worked in and worked on,” Conley said.

At the end of the school year, students will compete in an Electathon race presented by FPL at a professional racetrack, according to Isabella Burckhardt, a community relations specialist for the utility.

Miami Carol City Senior High is one of five Miami-Dade County schools partnering with FPL to expand access to the STEM-focused program. Principal Bridgette McKinney said the program creates a direct pipeline to careers in automotive, energy and related fields.

“They can work for FPL, they go into the work force for automotive they can even go into the started program for tesla because this is the premise,” McKinney said. “They have to have the basics.”

For Conley, the program is shaping future goals that may include a career in automotive technology or aviation.

“It’s an eye-opener for one,” she said. “It’s like one minute you would never do something like that the next minute you’re in it and say this is very interesting.”

As part of the experience, students will get an up-close look at electric racing Friday ahead of the Formula E Miami E-Prix at Hard Rock Stadium.

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