City College of New York Tops National Mobility Index, Celebrates Innovation with “VitaVroom” Victory

CCNY’s Engineering Talent Drives Success at Chem-E-Car Finals, Showcasing Excellence in STEM

The City College of New York (CCNY), established in 1847, has long been dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable education to generations of New Yorkers across a broad range of disciplines. Furthermore, empowering its role in driving social change, CCNY has earned notable recognition for its impact on upward mobility. According to Opportunity Insights, a Harvard-based research organisation, CCNY ranks 1 out of 369 selective public colleges in the United States on the overall mobility index. This index evaluates both access and outcomes, specifically measuring the likelihood that a student at CCNY can move up two or more income quintiles.

In addition to its role in social mobility, the education research organization Degree Choices ranks CCNY as the top university nationally for economic return on investment, benefiting both its students and the wider community. With more than 15,000 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools and divisions, CCNY is driven by a strong commitment to funded research, creativity, and scholarship. In 2023, the College launched its most ambitious fundraising campaign to date, titled "Doing Remarkable Things Together." The campaign aims to bring the College’s Foundation to over $1 billion in total assets. This initiative supports CCNY’s mission and its continued commitment to fostering diversity, innovation, and academic excellence, reflecting the dynamic and visionary spirit of New York City itself.

Recently, The City College of New York's Grove School, through the student-designed, chemically-powered vehicle "VitaVroom," secured the institution's place in the finals of the prestigious Chem-E-Car competition. This achievement followed a top-four finish at the AIChE Mid-Atlantic regionals in Maryland earlier this spring. The Chem-E-Car competition challenges students to build a shoebox-sized car that can travel and stop at a precise distance using two distinct chemical reactions. This year, the target distance was set at 26.62 metres. VitaVroom successfully stopped just 31.8 centimetres from the target distance. Cornell University’s entry, “Under Pressure,” won the competition by reaching within 12.4 cm of the target, followed by Centro Universitário FEI from Brazil (15.2 cm) and the National Technical University of Athens (19.3 cm). Nanjing University of Science and Technology from China finished in fifth place with a distance of 45.2 cm.

The CCNY team consisted of Luna Silva (junior), Daniel Steininger (senior), and Shaedil Dider (junior electrical engineering). Their dedication to the project was evident as they worked tirelessly to create a world-class car. Their coach expressed immense pride in the team's efforts, highlighting that this was their first competition since the pandemic. CCNY's history in the Chem-E-Car Competition includes notable achievements such as a fourth-place finish in 2019 with “Manganese Prime,” third place in 2018 with “Zincotron,” and a second-place finish in 2013 with “REAKTER.” Additionally, the team has earned multiple Spirit of Competition awards in previous years, further cementing its reputation in the competition.

The City College of New York continues to excel in fostering innovation and academic excellence. The success of the VitaVroom team in the Chem-E-Car competition marks CCNY’s efforts to prepare students for real-world scenarios and encourage them to build careers in STEM fields.

Editor's Note:

The City College of New York (CCNY) continues to lead in education and innovation, as shown by its impressive performance in the Chem-E-Car competition. With a strong focus on helping students move up the income ladder, providing a high return on investment, and supporting STEM careers, CCNY is shaping the future of engineering and problem-solving. The success of the "VitaVroom" team highlights the dedication and creativity that make CCNY a center of academic excellence.

Skoobuzz congratulates CCNY for its achievement in the Chem-E-Car competition as this victory is an example of how it will continue to inspire the next generation of engineers and leaders.