Students gear up for Go Baby Go

Mercer's Engineering Honors program hosted its semi-annual “Go Baby Go” event on Saturday, Oct. 19, in the University Center. The event allows students to build toy cars specially designed to be accessible to children with ability challenges.

Philip McCreanor, professor of environmental and civil engineering and director of Engineering Honors Program, explained that “Go Baby Go” began as a small classroom event with nine cars in 2016. In February of this year, however, students built the event’s 150th car. This was Mercer’s eighth year hosting the event.

Many participants return to the event several years in a row, which allows the Mercer students to form interpersonal relationships with the children as the cars are designed, assembled and tested by their new drivers.

McCreanor said he has personally seen the impact this service has on families as a whole. He recalled that one participant with mobility challenges found herself unable to join her sisters on adventures in their neighborhood until she received a car from the Go Baby Go event.

“The traditionally enabled daughters would ride bicycles in the neighborhood and she couldn’t ride with them,” McCreanor said. “Well, as soon as she had a car, all three of them are now spending time together in the neighborhood exploring.” 

The opportunity to develop their sense of independence and exploration is life changing, McCreanor said. "That ability for a child to independently explore their environment is critical for emotional, social and intellectual development."

For the Mercer students who take part in building the cars, the event can provide them their first experience with hands-on engineering while doing good for their community, Masha Popovic '27 said.

"Seeing how we can use it for the better good, that’s what I’m most excited about,” Popovic said. “While I’m a bit scared because I’m a beginner, I’m looking forward to being challenged.”