SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Young engineers from Central New York are teaming up with professionals for an eight-week challenge. Friday was the kickoff for the ninth annual Sensis Student Engineering Contest.

Close to 95 students from several area high schools have signed on for the program. This year's challenge is to design and build a small wind-powered vehicle.

After two months it's hoped that many of the students will leave with a renewed sense of passion.

"The goal behind the contest is really for students to get involved in the engineering profession, get exposure to the engineering contest and in turn, follow a career in engineering," said program director John Clate.

"It gives you kind of a realization that although there's a demand in engineering, there are a lot of kids out there that are interested in the field. So there's good competition and I guess we just kind of have to show it here that we're willing to live up to what we're expected to do," said student engineer Shane Rahrle.

The student-made vehicles will be judged at a competition on March 27 at Liverpool High School.

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