Engineering students honored with the top prize in the nation earlier this month for their hybrid vehicle and mechanical know-how are returning to UC Davis on Tuesday, June 24.After two years of intensive research, innovation and design, student engineers at UC Davis beat out all other students at the top engineering schools in the country in this year's FutureCar National Challenge held in Michigan and Washington, D.C.Davis students modified a Ford Taurus, converting it to a reformulated gasoline and electric-powered hybrid. They won the nation's highest honors for fuel efficiency, low emissions and the application of advanced material and technology. Their vehicle has a driving range of 1,000 miles before refueling or recharging.On Tuesday, the student team will drive up to the front entrance of the Engineering Building II on campus at 11 a.m. for a celebration with UC Davis officials."This was certainly the highlight of my academic career," said Brian Johnston, team captain of the 30-member group with both graduate and undergraduate students. "It was a challenging experience taking concepts taught in the classroom and applying them to a sophisticated automotive problem."