The black and white flags have come down on the inaugural SuperGEMS (Girls Engaged in Motorsport and STEM) program, celebrating the unique ride these passionate high school participants have been on in 2025.
The team from Benowa State High School took home the first place trophy for their group project and presentation, with the SuperGEMS Stand Out Award going to Clairvaux MacKillop College's Sophie Hansen, presented by Supercars Senior Government and Stakeholder Relations Manager Renee Shawcross.
"This whole program and past year has been such an incredible experience and opportunity," Ms Hansen said.
"Being able to meet so many influential women within the industry has been amazing.
"As much as I've always loved motorsport, opportunities like this would not be possible without this program."
Established in partnership between Supercars and Griffith University, SuperGEMS has engaged Year 9 and 10 female students from the southeast Queensland region via several experience days throughout 2025, immersing more than 50 young women in the world of Supercars.
Students visited racetracks, team workshops, supplier facilities, and taken mentorship from leading experts in the sport, while facing real-world STEM-related problem-solving projects,
providing an inside view of what a career in motorsport entails.
Anita Brant, STEM Outreach Manager for the Science on the Go program at Griffith said "SuperGEMS creates real-world connections between education and industry.
"By engaging students in hands-on, motorsport-focused STEM activities, we aim to ignite their passion for science and technology while showcasing the exciting career pathways available in motorsport.
"Through the SuperGEMS program, we will be able to provide young women with direct access to the Supercars industry and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders who will drive the future of STEM and Supercars.
"A big thank you to our Supercars team, our teachers, industry supporters, and most importantly our wonderful young women who took place in this program."
The SuperGEMS Finals day celebrated the students' learnings from the program and featured a Q&A panel featuring Romy Mayer from PremiAir Racing, Sara Wiley from iEDM, Alice Buckley from Chevrolet, and Summer Rintoule from GT4.
The inaugural SuperGEMS cohort leaves with valuable insights into what a career in motorsport entails.
