ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Sandia National Labs held its annual electric car challenge, bringing together middle school students from across the state to showcase their STEM skills. The competition asks kids to build an electric car capable of delivering a payload weighing about as much as a salt shaker and complete a design challenge. There was also an optional research challenge defending their findings. Judges said they were impressed with what they saw. Story continues below News: New video shows scene BCSO deputies showed up to after Tijeras triple homicide Trending: ‘Rumor’ and ‘coincidence’ complicate discovery of human skulls in Jal Events: What’s happening around New Mexico November 15-21 Crime: Police ID victim in fatal downtown shooting as tattoo shop owner "It was just such a great day. They were so excited. Their builds were beautiful. They just blow me away. They're our future engineers," said Sandia Lab STEM Education Outreach Coordinator Debra Menke. Dozens of awards were also given away at the end of the competition, celebrating the teachers and students who dedicated months to preparing for the event.