CBSDFW.com Photo by Chuck Schechner

ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - What could be more exciting than racing a scale version of a Formula One racer? What about starting by designing it from scratch.

That’s what the UT Arlington engineering design team is doing.  The team creates an open-wheel race car that they will compete against other colleges with, giving students a hands-on approach to engineering.

This year’s design team is headed by 20-year old Lena Gerry, the only girl on the team.

She’ll oversee the car from concept to racing it on the track at Texas Motor Speedway.

Professor Bob Woods says it’s not hard to recruit students into this program.  “It’s a very interesting competition to develop their professionalism and their engineering education in ways that we could never teach in a classroom.”

Gerry had a background in ice hockey, but didn’t see that as a career.  “Some girls may shy away from engineering just because it is a male dominant major, male dominant career as well.  I think if it’s something that you like, that’s not going to stop you.”

She holds a national title for UTA racing and now looks to her future.  “I would love to get into the automotive industry, that would be something that I would enjoy.  But I am also perusing a material science and engineering minor.”

KRLD’s Chuck Schechner Reports:

UT Arlington has had the program for 30 years.  Read more about the UTA Racing team.