From wind power to race car design, competition teams propel students toward winning careers.
How do you get a concrete canoe to float?
That’s what K-State’s concrete canoe team figures out every year. Comprised of students from nearly all engineering disciplines, the team also taps the brainpower of business, theater, accounting and math majors.
“The goal is to design, produce and propose a prototype,” explained Kayleigh Bednar, team vice president. “We function as an engineering design firm. With this in mind, we really value having different perspectives in the same room to work together.”
Carl R. Ice College of Engineering competition teams tackle all sorts of designs: wind turbines, steel bridges, robots, various vehicles, fountains and even a quarter-scale tractor. Teams reinforce classroom learning in a practical way, helping students build skills that lead to successful careers.
“These students develop communication skills, leadership abilities and the capacity to resolve conflicts, all of which are essential in professional settings,” said Helal Uddin, teaching assistant professor in chemical engineering and advisor to the ChemE car team. “And at competitions, stu-dents get to network with industry professionals and potential employers.”
What makes a winner? It’s not just cool designs. Competition teams rely on donors for essential equipment and funds for travel to competitions.
Your turn
Help students get a pinnacle experience through competition teams.
Support engineering teams: ksufoundation.org/gfks/competitionteams
