The Automopeel: Teen Innovators Drive Creativity at Best Buy Charity Classic

September 30, 2025

The Automopeel: Teen Innovators Drive Creativity at Best Buy Charity Classic

This year, a team of teens from the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos presented a project at Best Buy’s Charity Classic event in Minneapolis for the second year in a row, making them the first Best Buy Teen Tech Center to achieve this milestone. Building on the success of last year’s “World’s Largest 3D-Printed Keyboard,” teen members Dean, Julian and Philip sought to raise the bar with a new challenge: designing and building a fully functional 3D-printed go kart. 


The result? The Automopeel—a banana-shaped go kart that’s as innovative as it is eye-catching. 



“It was great to be chosen a second time because it was an opportunity to show our improvement from one year to the next,” said 16-year-old member Dean. “Being able to showcase our abilities again and go back with an experienced approach was reassuring and gave me a boost of confidence for the second year.” 


Over the course of five months, the trio poured more than 200 hours– including Saturdays – into bringing their vision to life. Determined to grow in every category of last year’s project, they pushed the boundaries of design, tackled more complex 3D modeling and refined their 3D printing skills. 

“I’m most proud of building the exterior of the banana because it was one of the most challenging parts of the project,” Julian shared. “It really pushed me to work harder, and that was inspiring."


The banana body alone was composed of over 50 separate 3D-printed pieces, fused together through plastic welding, sanding and Bondo, a putty-like filler used to smooth and fill gaps, before being painted bright yellow. But they didn’t stop there. Every detail was crafted with intention, including a blue velvet interior, upgraded battery, custom gearing, under glow lighting and a working horn. 

“I didn’t expect that working in a team environment can sometimes be difficult or feel slow because there are moments when you have to wait on partners to finish up a part of the project before you’re able to start on yours,” explained Phillip, a newcomer to this year’s showcase project team. “This taught me patience, as well as problem-solving and creativity skills because there were times when there wasn’t a clear answer to issues we encountered on the project, training my brain to come up with makeshift solutions.” 

In June, the team brought their creation to Minnesota to attend Best Buy’s largest philanthropic event of the year. Hundreds of guests from leading tech companies, including Google and Apple, gathered to learn about the Best Buy Foundation, which supports Teen Tech Centers across the country. Out of dozens of submissions, only six were chosen to present at the gala, our teens included! 


Throughout the evening, Dean, Julian and Philip engaged with leaders and C-suite executives from multiple industries, including Best Buy’s CEO, Corrie Barry. And to make their display interactive, they paired the large Banana go kart with a fully 3D-printed RC banana car track, giving guests the chance to race mini versions of their go kart. 

For Dean, Julian and Phillip, the Automopeel was more than a project – it was a chance to grow, experiment and push their limits. “It taught me to think more critically and challenge myself, but also to be patient when working with others,” Julian reflected. The project tested their creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills, all while giving them the confidence to tackle bigger challenges in the future. 

About the Best Buy Teen Tech Center powered by Sony: 


Our Best Buy Teen Tech Center, powered by Sony, is located in the Teen Center of BGCSM’s main Jennifer Loscher Branch. The space houses state-of-the-art software and equipment, offering teens, ages 13-18, with opportunities to explore and collaborate with technology through project-based learning. Featuring a fully-outfitted sound studio, 3D printers, a laser engraver, vinyl cutters, high-powered computers and more, members can explore several different areas of technology as they build skills in innovation, design and problem-solving. 


See innovation in action! Schedule a tour of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center and discover how our members are turning ideas into real-world creations. 

Schedule a Tour

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