The College of Engineering hosted its annual Bot Bash on Friday, December 6, 2024, in Rivers Memorial Hall. This dynamic event marks the culmination of the semester for students in the Intro to Engineering course (ENGR 103).
This event is a celebration of innovation and creativity and is one of the College of Engineering’s hallmark events, dating back over 15 years, with the Bot Bash branding introduced in 2022.
"The Bot Bash offers first-year students an exciting, hands-on introduction to the world of engineering. It is the culmination of a period of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving, giving students the chance to apply the skills they've learned in a dynamic, fun and inclusive environment,” said Dr. Mike Rust, Director of Experiential & Entrepreneurial Learning and Professor of Biomedical Engineering. “It is our hope that events like this help build a sense of community and spark a passion for engineering that will carry through their academic journey."
This year’s Bot Bash brought together approximately 175 first-year students, primarily engineering majors, along with construction management students, to compete in two robotics challenges inspired by Olympic themes.
Relay Race Challenge: Teams control robots to complete baton handoffs with speed and precision.
Obstacle Course Challenge: Robots autonomously navigate a course using sensors and programming.
Congratulations to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners:
1st Place: Team 71: Ell Jensen, Natalie Colon, Mason Rodrigues, Pedro Bastos Leme, Tonio Sleeper and coach Professor ChangHoon Lee
2nd Place: Team 74: Alex Gatto, Noah Byron, Jeffrey Laplante, Khoa Vu and coach Professor ChangHoon Lee
3rd Place: Team 12: Beau Briere, Serena Elias, Yaxiel Lopez, Joel Maggs and coach Professor Arnab Purkayastha
In addition to the hands-on competitions, students delivered technical presentations on their designs. While there is an element of competition, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams recognized, the event focuses on celebrating the students' achievements and fostering a festival-like atmosphere.
More About Bot Bash and the Students Behind It:
Student Participation: This semester, students from Biomedical, Civil/Environmental, Electrical/Computer, Industrial, and Mechanical Engineering, along with Construction Management, will participate in teams of four.
What Happens to the Robots? Students keep their robots, which they purchase in lieu of a textbook, though a few donate them to the University for display in Sleith Hall.
National Impact of Engineering
Western New England University’s engineering graduates have gone on to work at prestigious organizations such as Boston Scientific, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Pratt & Whitney, and MassDOT. Nationally, engineering is an economic powerhouse, with the field contributing significantly to GDP. For every $1 in engineering and architectural revenue, $1.55 is added to the economy. Employment in engineering occupations is projected to grow faster than average between 2023 and 2033, highlighting the essential role of engineering in driving innovation and infrastructure development.
