Grounded in Electric Energy
Junior Emma Hughes (Agribusiness; Morristown, New Jersey) will be leading the Purdue Electric Vehicle Grand Prix Organization as President next year. This year, the electric kart teams had their first practice on April 9th and raced on April 18th. The championship breakdown is a little different for this race than the Purdue Grand Prix; the champion is based on 50% race position, 30% design and 20% efficiency.
Emma has been serving as Director of Sales and Sponsorship. As a first-year organization, she focused on laying the foundation for future partnerships. Emma spent a great deal of time researching potential sponsors, developing outreach strategies and defining the future of their sponsorship.
She shared, “Being part of a first-year student organization taught me how to navigate uncertainty and build something from the ground up. It pushed me to be adaptable, take initiative and think long-term about growing the organization. The mission of the Purdue Electric Vehicle Grand Prix to promote environmental sustainability also strongly resonates with me, especially as a College of Agriculture student, and has made this experience even more meaningful.”
Some of her favorite memories include watching team members come together to compete. Emma says their energy and dedication are incredibly motivating. She has also cherished the small-team bonding moments, like bowling, that have fostered their Purdue Electric Vehicle community.
Emma summarized, “This experience really strengthened my leadership and communication skills. I learned how to approach professional outreach, collaborate across teams and stay persistent even when things don’t come together immediately.”
