Racing ahead

Since 1999, students enrolled in the college's electro-mechanical engineering technology program have worked in teams to build and manufacture their own working cars. The vehicles, which resemble go-karts, are assembled from the ground up; students work together to design and manufacture all of the components, from frames to suspension and steering to body panels.

They also get to test their skills against students from other top colleges in the country when they compete in the Mini-Baja competition each spring. In 2006, five Penn State Altoona students traveled to Wisconsin for the Mini Baja mid-west competition. For the first time since Penn State Altoona began competing, the "Go Lions" team placed in the top half of all competing teams.