Naomi Zepeda, 14, (left) and her sister Alyssa Zepeda, 15, build a solar-powered model car with Lego parts during the GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness for Undergraduate Programs) event Saturday July 14, 2012 at the YMCA in the 1200 block of Iowa Street. GEAR UP is designed to help the class of 2017 prepare for success in higher education. The program which gives incoming 8th graders a way to study the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) subjects is a partnership with the San Antonio Independent School Distric, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and the UTSA Interactive Technology Experience Center. While the students were building their cars, parents could attend college awareness workshops through the UTSA Mobile Go Center. Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News / © 2012 San Antonio Express-News