Education
Paul Duke STEM High School Formula 24 Racing Team Forges a New Path, Assisted by McDonald’s Golden Grant
At Paul Duke STEM High School, their motto is to be trailblazers and make the path for new and creative ideas. That’s exactly what they are doing now, expanding the path of success and building something special with the Paul Duke F24 Racing Team. They are officially the only F24 Racing team in Gwinnett County Public Schools but with future success, they hope to see that change.
The PDS Formula 24 Racing Team got its start in September 2020 when a senior student, Marco Altamirano-Pacheco, approached the Career and Technical Education Co-Chair Stephen Cochran with the idea of starting a race team at Paul Duke STEM High School. Cochran responded with, “If you can find $5,000 then we will start a team.”
A few months later, Altamirano-Pacheco was driving by McDonald’s when he took a picture of a Golden Grant opportunity offered by the fast-food chain, funded by McDonald’s of Greater Atlanta Owners/Operators. This local initiative supports individuals, educators, programs and organizations serving students grades K-12 by assisting in funding for creative and hands-on educational and community-minded projects.
Altamirano-Pacheco and Cochran applied for the grant with the help of parent Tina Budnitz. They were notified in March 2021 that they had won a $10,000 Golden Grant and they promptly purchased the Greenpower Kit. The Greenpower starter kit provided by Greenpower USA F24 allows students grades 6 through 12 to build Formula 24 cars in a team environment and eventually race in competitions.
“A major influence that got me to join was the want to learn more about the mechanics of electric vehicles. I was interested in components of vehicles like motors, chassis, how to maintain the structural integrity of these types of vehicles, and other intricate parts,” Melecio Flores said.
The newly formed team spent the rest of May 2021 building the car, refining the car this summer and spending the first part of this school year getting the car ready for the first competition which was held October 4 in Lafayette, Alabama. The team took 3rd place in the Modified Division.
“The experience has been amazing. My teammates and generally the team as one, have brought me a good time on and off the track; to experience the thrill and adrenaline rush with them is just great and I wouldn’t really be here in this position without their constant effort in the car,” Darwin Ramirez said.
The PDS F24 Racing Team has learned a lot in the course of getting ready to compete and will continue to do so as the program progresses.
“Some challenges that I have faced in the construction of the body would have to be the fabricating of some of the very complex shapes and structures involved with the body design of our car,” Robert Syvertson said. “I overcame these challenges through perseverance, effort, time, and the exploration of different ideas and strategies to construct and design these systems.”
The team has a number of races to prepare for in the new year. To keep up to speed with the PDS F24 Racing team, visit pdsf24racing.com.
Race Schedule
December 4, 2021
Santa Sprints (F24 race)
Columbus, Ga.
January 15, 2022
Oxford Green Prix
Oxford, Al.
February 12, 2022
Columbus Grand Prix
Columbus, Ga.
April 16, 2022
Diverse Power Grand Prix
LaGrange, Ga.
The International Charter Academy of Georgia (ICAGeorgia) recently hosted its third annual Dining with the Scholars event on April 18 — an evening filled with celebration, culture and community spirit.
Held at Canton House in Duluth, the event welcomed over 200 attendees, including students, parents, teachers, board members, local sponsors and special guest, the Consul General of Japan.
Fundraising and performances
The purpose of the event was twofold: to raise funds in support of academic programs for the school and, most importantly, to honor and showcase the outstanding talents and achievements of ICAGeorgia students.
Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed a silent auction, dinner and dessert, as well as a vibrant lineup of student performances, a magic show and live music — creating a truly festive and memorable atmosphere.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the many local companies and organizations whose generous sponsorship made this event possible,” said Felecia Tucker-Jones, principal of ICAGeorgia. “[The] support helps us continue to grow and enhance our academic offerings.”
By all accounts, it was a night to remember — and a wonderful reminder of the strong, supportive community that surrounds the school.
Children’s Day Festival
On May 4, students, families and community members gathered at Thrasher Park in Norcross for a vibrant celebration of Children’s Day, a beloved Japanese holiday that honors children’s happiness, growth and well-being.
The Japan’s Children’s Day Festival 2025 brought together over 1,000 attendees for a full day of music, crafts, food and cultural experiences.
Visitors of all ages enjoyed traditional Japanese activities such as origami, kingyo sukui (goldfish scooping) and kimono try-ons, while kids played in bounce houses, participated in golf and soccer games and listened to story time in the park.
The festival’s stage was alive with performances from school choirs, dance studios and even a thrilling showcase of breakdancing and karate. Local vendors offered delicious international food — from pizza, tacos and paella to boba and shaved ice — while guests explored artisan booths and even online shopping options.
Culture and community
This festival was a beautiful reflection of cultural pride and community spirit and partnerships, with ICAGeorgia, local small businesses and generous sponsors bringing the vision to life.
“We’re deeply grateful to all our sponsors, performers, volunteers and families who made the day so special,” said Jeremy Williams, president of the ICAGeorgia PTO.
As Norcross continues to grow as a hub for diverse cultural events, Japan’s Children’s Day Festival stands out as a joyful, family-focused experience with the goal of continuing for years to come.
Follow Japan’s Children’s Day Festival (@JapansChildrensDayFestival) on Instagram and Facebook, and stay tuned for next year’s exciting event.
About ICAGeorgia
The International Charter Academy of Georgia is a statewide charter school available free of charge to any K–6 student residing in Georgia.
Located in Peachtree Corners, the school offers a dual language immersion program in both English and Japanese, a rigorous standards-based curriculum, extracurricular activities and multiple opportunities throughout the year to engage in cross-cultural community.
For more about the school, visit internationalcharteracademy.org.
Simpson Elementary School celebrated Exceptional Children’s Week (ECW) last month with five days of special activities to recognize their special needs population and all of their exceptional students.
April 14–18 is set aside each year to celebrate children with disabilities, gifts and talents. This year’s ECW theme was Bridging Gaps and Building Futures, and the school was happy to take part.
They highlighted each day of the week on the morning news with fun facts about notable people in society — and throughout history — who have overcome challenges with their disabilities, including actor Daniel Radcliffe (who has lived with dyspraxia for his entire life), Tom Cruise, Whoopi Goldberg, Frida Kahlo and Helen Keller.
Simpson Elementary’s technology team also pre-recorded various special needs classes reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every day of the week.
Guest speaker
To end their ECW with a bang, they invited former Simpson Elementary parent, State Representative Scott Hilton, to come in and speak to their K-2 classes about raising his son, Chase (who is autistic and now a student at Norcross High School), and how being different is okay.
“Showing kindness and being inclusive is the best version of humanity,” said Dr. Taffeta Connery, Simpson Elementary School principal, in a statement about the event.
“Simpson Elementary has a special needs population of 214 (23%) of 946 students. [And] … we strive to ensure that our students are valued, recognized and instilled with high expectations for all.”
For more about Simpson Elementary, visit simpsones.gcpsk12.org.
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