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GREENSBORO, N.C. -- It's the last week of school for Guilford County students. While many are spending it taking finals and signing yearbooks, students at one high school are being recognized for their ingenuity.

A handful of the 800 students in Weaver Academy's Advanced Technology Program are learning the ABC's of automotive technology. Last month, the team entered the SMARTT Challenge, or Students Making Advancements in Renewable Transportation Technology. It is a national competition designed to teach teens about alternative fuels. This particular team’s mission was to convert a $400 gas-powered Mazda RX7 into an electric car.

"We had to buy an electric motor, the batteries, the control package, basically an electric gas pedal type of thing," said David Johnson, one of the instructors for the program.

The car took six months to complete, dozens of students and the combined expertise of three instructors, including Johnson. "There was a lot of trial and error type of work we really didn't have a model to go by,” said Johnson. “We did the best that we could."

The team walked away with six trophies including honorable mention and rookie of the year.

"It's definitely a pretty big deal for us,” said Ben Waegerle, a rising junior at Weaver Academy. “It's the first time we've been in this competition and a lot of the other schools have been in it for 16 years."

The teams were judged on several categories, vehicle safety, design, overall appearance and the biggest test of all just making sure the car would run. But they couldn't let just anyone drive it. "We actually do an autocross, which is actually a speed race through a course in a parking lot," said Johnson.

Next school year, the team plans to build a solar-powered recharging station for the car, said Johnson.

If you're interested in sponsoring this next project, you can call Weaver Academy at (336) 370-8282.