Busy Ivy Leaguer working on sustainable vehicle propulsion at Princeton says NDP inspired him to always aim high and set big goals.
Notre Dame alum Max Schwegman is with the Formula Hybrid vehicle, a high performance open-wheeled race car built at Princeton University to specifications that called for a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 2.9 seconds.
He’s a fast runner, to be sure, but running is not the only way Schwegman, now a senior, has been swiftly moving through the university, which has won three indoor and two outdoor Ivy League championships during his tenure at Princeton. A mechanical and aerospace engineering major, Schwegman also has been heavily involved with the Princeton Racing Electric (PRE), a student organization dedicated to advancing and developing sustainable energy drive systems and efficient, high-performance vehicle design.
“As part of Princeton's Formula SAE team affiliated with Princeton Racing Electric, we competed in the Formula Hybrid Competition, April 27-30, at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway and took second place after some unfortunate gearbox malfunctions,” Schwegman said.
Schwegman and other Princeton student-athletes traveled to Vietnam to volunteer for Coach for College, a global initiative aimed at promoting higher education through sports.
All of his work with vehicle propulsion, etc., has not gone without notice as General Motors picked up Schwegman for some summer work. “I will be working full time for the next three months there on vehicle performance.”
Another busy summer for sure, but very different from how he spent last year’s break.
During the summer of 2016, seven Princeton student-athletes, including Schwegman, were selected to travel to the Hau Giang Province in southern Vietnam to volunteer for Coach for College, a global initiative aimed at promoting higher education through sports.
The students taught academics, sports and life skills over the course of three weeks to disadvantaged youth at various secondary schools in Vietnam. The Princeton Varsity Club provided funding for the majority of the necessary expenses associated with the charitable service trip, with the remainder of the funds being raised by the individual participants.
"I have really come to a deeper understanding of myself and my values as a result of my participation in Coach for College,” said Schwegman, who added that he hopes to get the opportunity to return as a director one day. "I feel more aware of what's going on in the world around me, and I have learned how to cautiously but with charisma embrace and learn the ways of another culture — which I consider to be invaluable."
Schwegman is a sprinter on the Princeton Tigers track team.
“Through academics and athletics, NDP taught me the importance of aiming high and striving toward goals that may seem out of reach,” he said. “With a little support, a bit of faith, and a lot of hard work, many of these ambitions and goals become very achievable. Notre Dame provides its students with community and faith, and in turn, it inspires drive and perseverance that will always be with me. For this, I'll always be grateful, ‘and our hearts forever, praise thee, Notre Dame.’”
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.