The first time he visited UConn, it was pouring rain. It’s an understatement to say Jake Gannon was not sold on the University.

“After that, I didn’t really want to go to UConn,” says Gannon ’27 (ENG).

Still, he applied, was accepted, and gave UConn another chance at UConn Bound day, the open house for admitted students. UConn Formula SAE, a student organization that builds and races their own Formula-style cars, had a car on display on Fairfield Way. After talking to students in the group, the deal was sealed for Gannon, who aspires to a career in motorsports.

“I actually came here because of this club,” he says.

Today, Gannon is president of the organization, which this summer was the only U.S.-based team to place in the top 5 for both its electric and internal combustion vehicles at international competitions sponsored by SAE International, formerly known as the Society of Automotive Engineers.