First Year Design Challenge
Inaugural Year - Compete to Win $250
Are you an engineering or computer science major who started Fall 2025 or Spring 2026, taking your first-year major coursework? You’re eligible to stretch your brain, grow your skills, and win $250 in one or both First Year Design Challenge projects!
Register for one or both challenges. One registration per team.
Important Dates
- Register by Wednesday, Feb. 11
- Pick up Kits/Materials Monday, Feb. 23 from 4:30-5p in Bollier 120 (right before the Renouard Lecture)
- First Workshop Wednesday, Feb. 25
- Car Challenge: 12:15p, Boillier 103
- Code Challenge: 4:15p, location TBD
- Second Workshop Wednesday, Mar. 4
- Car Challenge: 12:15p, Boillier 103
- Code Challenge: 4:15p, Boillier 119
- Third Workshop Wednesday, Mar. 18
- Car Challenge: 12:15p, location TBD
- Code Challenge: 4:15p, location TBD
- Compete Saturday, April 11 10a-12p, location TBD
Enter One or Both Challenges!
Spring-Powered Mobility: A 3-D Printed Vehicle Design Challenge
Do you want to learn how to design for 3-D printing? Design and build your own car powered by a mousetrap. Race it for speed and distance. All teams receive materials and free 3D prints.
Register for one or both challenges. One registration per team.
Code What Matters: A Sensor Design Challenge for the Common Good
Have you ever made your own GPS unit or something that connects to Bluetooth?
Working with a microcontroller like Arduino can be really fun and surprisingly easy. You are only limited by your imagination.
The first workshop will show you how they work and many of the things you can do. Then you can choose a project for the coding challenge. All materials provided.
FAQ
Yes! You're only limited by your imagination.
Sorry, you can only win one.
1-3 students may be on one team.
You will be given the spring drive mechanism. The rest is up to you!
- For the car challenge: You will get the spring drive mechanism and hardware (screws, etc.)
- For the coding challenge: You will get a basic Arduino kit to use in the workshops. After you decide which project you want to do, you will get specific material to complete it.
- For the car challenge: You design and then 3D Print in the Maker Space all parts to complete the car.
- For the coding challenge: You will be given everything you need to complete your project.
The workshops are for you to learn the necessary skills to help you complete and do well in the challenge.
For the car challenge: A point system will decide the winner based on:
- How far your car can go
- How fast your car travels
For the coding challenge:
- How well it works/efficiency of code
- Complexity of sensor integration
- How well the sensors package can be used for the common good of society
You will be given the rules when you receive your kits. They will also be available on this web page in PDF format.