This story rocks:

Eighteen months ago, Hauger set his students' eyes on what ought to be an absurd competition for a small, underfunded high-school club to enter: the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE.

The competition requires entrants to create an affordable car that gets 100 mpg and can be mass-produced. They must also submit a business plan detailing where and how the car will be produced and how it will be marketed for sale.

The contest will award $5 million for the best four-door economy car. Two prizes of $2.5 million each will go to top winners in a two-seater category. West Philly submitted applications in both classes.

Of the 111 international contest entrants, 21 dropped out. The remaining 90 submitted plans to X PRIZE judges early this year.

Last month, the West Philly team was among only 43 given the green-light to remain in the contest. Their competition includes teams from Cornell University, Tesla Motors and Tata Motors, to name a few heavyweights with access to massive resources and funding.

MIT - ahem - did not make the cut.

"West Philly is the only high school in the competition," says X PRIZE spokeswoman Carrie Fox. "We're very excited to have them on board."

I don't have anything to add except thanks to our young people, their families and their teachers. Between the West Philly groundbreaking and this story about the Automotive Academy being one of 43 finalists for the $10 million X Prize competition, these youth are helping redefine the possibilities and opportunities of our youth. All of our hopes and good will go with you!

Oh yeah, and you can donate online to help them get to the final round. And, ahem, it'd be great if our electeds and other city officials took up that effort as well.