Inaugural design competition introduces freshmen to engineering
October 8, 2014
STARKVILLE, Miss. – More than 80 Mississippi State freshmen kicked off their college careers as part of a new Bagley College of Engineering competition.
The Engineering Freshman Experience (EFX) Design Competition was introduced by the BCoE as a part of the 2014 Dawg Daze, an annual event hosted by the MSU Student Association. Although geared toward engineering students, the weeklong competition was open to students of all majors.
The EFX Design Competition consisted of three categories: the Future Cities Design Competition, Maroon Edition quizzes and a selfie scavenger hunt. In addition to the competitions, participants also attended seminars meant to aid future academic success. Topics included technical communication, time management, learning styles, and entrepreneurship.
EA Games donated 1,000 SIM City software licenses to support the competition. With the software, the eight student teams were able to use engineering to solve a potential transportation problem within the city layout and design an alternative energy source that had a limited impact on the environment.
The competition was led by Dr. James Warnock, interim associate dean for undergraduate studies; Robert Green, undergraduate coordinator, and assistant research professor Jean Mohammadi-Aragh.
Each team was judged on its solutions incorporated within the city design, an explanatory narrative of engineering’s contribution to the design, and a three-minute presentation of the city.
The five-person Dream Team II won the competition with what Mohammadi-Aragh described as “an excellent, well-rehearsed city design in addition to demonstrating a clear use of iteration, the engineering design process.”
In addition to Dream Team II, others placing in each category of competition and the grand prize winner, were awarded prizes including and iPad mini, high definition Kindle Fires, gift cards, and cowbells.
First place winners of the 2014 EFX Design Competition are (by hometown):
CLINTON, Miss. – Avneet Singh, civil engineering major and Dream Team II member
DIAMONDHEAD, Miss. – Hannah Stealey, biological engineering major and winner of Maroon Edition quizzes
HARTSELLE, Ala. – Kyle Alexander, civil engineering major and Dream Team II member
MANDEVILLE, La. – Rebecca Oppenheim, aerospace engineering major and winner of the selfie scavenger hunt
OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. – Kirsten Haynes, mechanical engineering major and Dream Team II member
OXFORD, Miss. – Matthew Huff, electrical engineering major and Dream Team II member
SAUCIER, Miss. – Brandon Plaisted, mechanical engineering major and grand prize winner
SLIDELL, La. – Nicholas Tymkiw, aerospace engineering major and Dream Team II member
For more information on the BCoE, visit www.bagley.msstate.edu.
By: Amanda Meeler