Western to celebrate 'WWU X PRIZE Team Day' at PAC Plaza today

Western Washington University will host ‘WWU X-Prize Team Day’ at 2 p.m. today, Oct. 8, on the campus’ Performing Arts Center Plaza to recognize the accomplishments of the team from the University’s Vehicle Research Institute and its incredible run through the Progressive Automotive X-Prize competition this past summer.

If it's raining, the celebration will be held in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room.

The VRI’s Viking 45 vehicle team was eliminated on the last day of competition in the $10 million contest to build a 100 mpg car that started with almost 140 entrants. WWU was the last remaining American university team in the competition and one of the last dozen still in the running, outlasting teams from both Cornell and MIT.

“The quest for excellence is central to everything we do at Western,” said WWU President Bruce Shepard. “And the incredible achievements by the VRI’s X-Prize team exemplify that excellence. They never gave up on each other and overcame daunting technical challenges to compete and succeed with the best in the world.”

A number of cars made by the VRI over the years will be on display at the event. The public is invited to attend, ask questions of the VRI and X-Prize students, and peek under the hoods of VRI cars from the past and present. Local dignitaries, including U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and WWU President Bruce Shepard will be on hand, and Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike will issue a proclamation naming Oct. 8 “Western Washington University X-Prize Team Day” in recognition of the group’s accomplishments.

To encourage the public to attend, campus parking permits are not required, and parking enforcement will be suspended from 1:30-3:30 p.m., except for reserved or disabled-only spaces. For more information on WWU X-Prize Team Day, contact the WWU Office of University Communications at (360) 650-3350.