Kingswood Oxford School will celebrate ‘National Drive Electric’ Week with a showcase on Sept. 8 on the West Hartford campus.

Submitted by Jackie Pisani, Kingswood Oxford School

Are you an owner of an electric or hybrid car and want to learn more about them? Are you intrigued by robotics and a STEM education? Come join us at Kingswood Oxford School on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for an electric vehicle showcase and robotics demonstration. Admission is free.

To celebrate National Drive Electric Week (Sept. 8-16), the Kingswood Oxford award-winning robotics team, Wyvern 36 Robotics, is promoting the conversion to sustainable electric vehicles and STEM education programs in the Hartford area in collaboration with the West Hartford Clean Energy Commission. Wyvern 36 Robotics wants to motivate young people to become science and technology innovators who will engineer the electric vehicles of the future.

The event will feature a variety of electric vehicles from local dealerships and community leaders like Art Schaller Jr. (Owner of Schaller Auto World), Oz Griebel (gubernatorial candidate), and Thomas Dillow (Head of School – Kingswood Oxford). In addition to electric cars, a number of local solar installers will be on site because the source of the energy that powers electric vehicles vehicles is equally as important as driving them. Food vendors such as SPoT Coffee, Nana’s Ice Cream Truck, and others will be on hand. Participating dealerships include Schaller Auto World, Hoffman Auto Group, and Carter Chevrolet. The presenters are Sunrun Solar, Mark’s Motorsports, CT Green Bank, Delamar Hotel, and Butler Equipment.

One goal of the EVent (pun intended) is to support Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) of New Haven, an organization that helps in resettlement efforts. The event gives refugees and the local community an opportunity to participate in an interactive, mentor-based STEM programs.

Matt Safalow ’19, organizer of the event, said, “The importance of hosting an event like this is to not only convince members of the community to switch to clean, sustainable energy by showing off some fantastic electric vehicles, but to also promote the importance of a STEM education. All proceeds raised at the event through donations from individuals and dealerships will go towards our efforts of working with newly-settled refugees in the New Haven area to teach them about robotics and STEM. Committing to the future of STEM and teaching underprivileged youth about robotics ensures that the talent to create the electric vehicle technology of the future will be readily available.”

The Kingswood Oxford campus is located in the heart of West Hartford, Connecticut at 170 Kingswood Rd., conveniently located off of I-84, Exit 43. Please use the Trout Brook Drive (Roberts Theater) entrance directly across from the Delamar Hotel. For best GPS results use: 832 Trout Brook Dr., West Hartford, CT.

Parking is in the Roberts Theater parking lot on Trout Brook Drive. Make your way up to the green. Cars and vendors will be located around the “green” area.

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