²ÝÁñÉçÇø

More than a hundred well-wishers showed up to congratulate the Western Washington University X PRIZE Team during a recognition ceremony on campus Thursday, Aug. 5. Team members, recently returned from the finals of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE competition at Michigan International Speedway, were at the event along with their car, Viking 45.

During the finals of the contest, Viking 45 achieved the equivalent of more than 110 miles per gallon with ultra-low emissions. ²ÝÁñÉçÇø finished in the Top 10 of more than 130 cars that started the competition.

"There were three universities competing worldwide," said ²ÝÁñÉçÇø President Bruce Shepard as he addressed the crowd. "Cornell, MIT and Western. From the semifinals, only one university was left. It wasn't MIT, it wasn't Cornell. It was Western. That kind of excellence pervades the university, wherever you look. We not only compete with the best, we beat them, wherever in the university you look. We thank the VRI for getting that message out to the wider public."

The statement drew loud cheers from the crowd.

"Their accomplishments are incredibly impressive," said Arlan Norman, dean of the College of Sciences and Technology. "They have competed against teams from the very best automotive companies, some of the best universities, and they have shown that they really have what it takes. The achievements of the X PRIZE Team have been incredibly impressive, they've been incredibly exciting. They've reflected extremely well on our students, the College of Sciences and Technology and the university."

Eric Leonhardt, director of Western's Vehicle Research Institute, lauded the students for their dedication and willingness to sacrifice time, energy and sometimes sleep to complete the project.

"They were incredibly dedicated, they worked at all hours, they never gave up," Leonhardt said. "I pushed them relentlessly, they pushed themselves relentlessly, and in the end, we showed the world how great Western students are."