RT-C Solar Team Takes 2nd at National Challenge
The Solar Car Challenge is a cross-country national event in which high school students design, build, and race solar-powered roadworthy solar cars. The Solar Car Foundation has been named one of the most inspirational S.T.E.M. initiatives in the country. It is one of America’s top 10 most innovative and inspirational education programs for students interested in science and engineering. It also serves to increase alternative energy awareness.
Students from Round Top-Carmine High School joined teams from around the country at Texas Motor Speedway on July 15. Teams faced several days of inspections, testing, and scrutiny by judges and officials of the Solar Car Challenge before receiving approval to drive their cars on Texas roadways. The Round Top-Carmine Team was in the Top Ten Teams to pass all the inspections and qualify for the road race beginning on June 19.
The road race spanned five days beginning in Fort Worth with overnight stops in Palestine, Round Rock, Fredericksburg, San Angelo, and finishing in Fort Stockton, Texas, covering over 630 miles. At the end of the race, the Solar Car Challenge organizers held a closing banquet at the Fort Stockton Convention Center. RT-C enjoyed a wonderful meal and had the opportunity to spend time with their team and new friends.
RTC Solar Team was awarded the prestigious Lockheed Martin Award for Engineering Excellence. Their efforts on day five of the race paid off as they completed the most miles in the cruiser division and received the Daily Milage trophy. The team was also presented with a commemorative challenge coin for displaying the “spirit of competition.” Team captain, Peter Kieke, was named to “The Order of the Solar Cell,” which is an elite award presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership, knowledge and enthusiasm during the event.
The RT-C Solar Car Team went on to win 2nd Overall in the Cruiser Division of the Solar Car Challenge. This was the first year for Round Top–Carmine to enter the competition with their vehicle named “Hephaestus” (which is the ancient Greek God of blacksmiths, metalworking and fire). The fourdoor, four passenger cruiser is completely solar powered and built in its entirety by the RT-C Solar Team, made up of students that attend Round Top-Carmine High School. Team members competing in the race and pit crew are Peter Kieke, Grant Kieke, Luther Bockman, Nathan Johnson, William Neese, Miles Neese, Caden Tovey, and Daisy Visser. Other pit members unable to attend the race were Cooper Riley and Elliott Cone.
This event, along with having the cars maiden voyage in the Round Top 4th of July Parade, was a great way for the team to celebrate a year of hard work, dedication, and commitment. The team would like to thank RT-C High School for their support and for the use of the Ag Mechanical facilities. They also send thanks to their title sponsor, The Round Top Carmine Education Foundation, for their encouragement and support throughout the year. In addition, the team is most appreciative to their generous local sponsors: Second Chance Emporium, Pirtek, Romco, Round Top Real Estate, and many other individual sponsors, family, friends, and our community. Lastly the team would like to thank the parent volunteers who mentored the team throughout the year and accompanied them to the race.
RT-C ISD
All registration, enrollment, an “back-to-school” night information for the new 2026-27 school year is now available at rtcisd.net.
JB Royer Fundraiser
On Sat. night, July 25, at the Round Top Rifle Hall, the Round Top community came together to show their love and support for JB Royer who was burned in a grease fire on July 4. A fundraiser event was held from 6-8 p.m. to raise money for his medical expenses. Almost 600 people attended. Over 40 people donated their time to volunteer for set up, to work during the event, and to clean up afterwards. Every single aspect of the event was underwritten or donated.
Thank you to all the donors and underwriters who gave to help make this fundraising event possible.
Round Top Rifle Hall
The Monday Night Burger Social at the Round Top Rifle Hall will be held Monday, Aug. 3 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. with good food, cold drinks, and great company. All are welcome.
Shakespeare at Winedale The Shakespeare at Winedale performances for this weekend will be Friday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m. for Love’s Labour Lost; Saturday, Aug. 1, at 10:30 a.m. for Henry IV Part 1; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. for Romeo & Juliet; Sunday, Aug. 2 at 10:30 a.m. for Love’s Labour Lost; and Sunday,Aug. 2, at 7:30 p.m. for Henry IV Part 1. For tickets and more info, go to shakespeare-winedale. org.
Round Top Family Library Round Top Family Library invites the community to participate in a Puzzle Swap on Aug. 8 from 10-11 a.m. Bring your gently used, complete puzzles and exchange them for a different one. It’s a fun, free way to refresh your puzzle collection while sharing with fellow puzzle enthusiasts. The Puzzle Swap is free and open to the public.
Registration for the Fall 2026 Semester of Children’s Programs opens on Tues., Aug. 11. RTFL will partner again with Arts for Rural Texas to bring engaging and enriching opportunities to local students. The new semester will begin the week of Sept. 14.
If you are looking for a fun way to support RTFL, consider purchasing a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of three exciting prizes while helping support the library’s programs and services. Raffle tickets may be purchased at the library or online at ilovetoread. org. Winning tickets will be drawn on Sept. 12 during the RTFLAnnual Gala. Prize winners do not need to be present to win.
As the library prepares to move into their new Children’s Wing and begin renovations to the existing library, patrons may notice temporary changes to the hours of operation over the next few weeks. You may also see construction activity as work continues to improve the facilities. RTFL would like to ask that all please excuse the temporary disruptions as they work to create an even better library for our community. They are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible and will post any changes as they become available.
Round Top Lion’s Club
Registration is now open for the 10th Annual Round Top Lions Club Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot. The Round Top Lion’s Club hopes you will join them this Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 26, for another memorable event filled with fun, fitness, and community spirit. You can register to participate on AthleteGuild. com. For any questions, please contact Pam Langford at (979) 530-5086.
Round Top American Legion The next meeting will be held on Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Round Top American Legion Hall located at 1503 N. State Highway 237; Round Top, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
“Howlelujah” Tour
The “Howlelujah” Tour Launch Event will be held on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 6:15 p.m. at the Saint Cecilia’s Chapel in Henkel Square in Round Top. All proceeds and donations will go the Gardenia Janssen Animal Shelter in Fayette County. A reception will follow. This event is free and open to the public. For more information go to: Howlelujah. org.
Sunday Morning Services Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Round Top, at 9:30 a.m.; Chapelwood United Methodist Church, Round Top, at 10:30 a.m.; Round Top Church Christian Fellowship, Round Top, at 10 a.m.; St. Cecilia’s Episcopal Church, Round Top, at 8:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.; St. John’s Lutheran Church, Warrenton, at 8:30 a.m.; St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Shelby, at 8 a.m.
Celebrations
Happy Birthdays to Roxanne Fricke, LaVerne Albers, and Keith Brown on July 31; Gemma Goebel on Aug. 1; Shannon Hetzel, Jeff Wunderlich, Greg Eckermann, Lloyd Nelius on Aug. 2; Eugene Hall, Melissa Nedbalek, David Pietsch on Aug. 3; Stehpanie Keng on Aug. 4; Mike Peters, Mike Roecker on Aug. 5; Katherine Brown on Aug. 6.
Have News?
Round Top area, please send any news you wish to share to SherryPen@icloud. com by Monday morning for the following Friday’s paper.
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