TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Local high school students shared their thoughts on taking part in a worldwide energy efficiency competition that was held in late April.

The Shell Eco-Marathon Competition gave participants the opportunity to build automotive vehicles with the goal of achieving the highest possible fuel efficiency.

The students from Terre Haute South achieved 619 miles per gallon and were the fastest-finishing public high school in their local division.

Several of the students spoke about the lessons learned and the benefits of this competition.

“Yeah I think a lot of the things you learn here carries on to college and after that, I’m going to Rose to be an engineer there, so a lot of things here will help me there, and after that, whatever job I pursue,” said Carson Dillion, a junior Terre Haute South high school.

A contestant and a senior at Terre Haute South, Chase Meadors described a part of the process of the competition.

“The challenge of thinking about how we’re doing everything and then actually doing it, so like when we cut all the cars all the way apart about, we had to figure out how to put it back together, how we were gonna mount the engine again, and all that stuff. And that was just really cool to work on and then see it all work.”

The students also said they more than doubled their fuel efficiency this year with 619 miles per gallon compared to last year’s 300 miles per gallon.