A team of students from MSOE took third place in the 2016-17 WSGC Collegiate Rocket Competition. The team is part of MSOE’s student chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and was advised by Dr. Anand Vyas. Congratulations to (pictured, left to right): Nicole Jackson, Jared Maraccini, Frederick Rosenberger, Jordan Petrie, Zach Runte, Collin Rink and Trevor Niemcyzk. Not pictured: Travis Ballard and Tyler Braun. All are majoring in mechanical engineering, with the exception of Rink, who is majoring in electrical engineering.

The annual competition is sponsored by the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium. It is intended to give university students with the opportunity to demonstrate engineering and design skills through direct application. It allows the teams to conceive, design, fabricate and compete with high powered rockets. The restrictions on rocket motors and dimensions are limited so that knowledge, creativity and imagination of the students are challenged. The end result is a great aerospace experience for students.

For more information about the WSGC and scholarship opportunities as well as other aerospace and robotics projects, contact Dr. William Farrow. Farrow also serves as the faculty advisor for the AIAA student chapter.