UC hosts national engineering competition

On Mar. 13, the University of Cincinnati hosted nearly 300 high school students for an engineering competition. TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science) is a national competition designed by the Technology Student Association that challenges students to apply math and science to real-world problems.  

Thirty-one teams representing 13 high schools participated in the event, which was coordinated by the College of Engineering and Applied Science Office of Undergraduate Enrollment.

“The event really pushes students toward developing their interest and their skills in STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics],” said UC program coordinator Clayton Trette, who organized this year’s competition.

UC is committed to engaging with and empowering students in the local community. The TEAMS event reflects the urban impact platform of UC’s strategic direction, Next Lives Here. 

Teams of eight students prepared weeks in advance for the competition, studying competition materials with their teachers. In addition to gaining STEM skills, students learned to work as a team.

“The core mission of it all is to show individual skills are good, but being able to work together on a project is really where you’re going to shine,” said Trette.

The day of the competition consisted of two parts: a multiple choice test and a hands-on design challenge. The design challenge required students to build a robotic arm to pick up a stuffed animal bear, simulating the engineering aspects of an animal rescue mission. 

In addition to proctoring the tests and design challenge, UC also provided information about college life through tables and college tours. Engineering Tribunal, the student governing body of the college, also hosted an egg drop.

New this year was a presentation given by representatives from the 1819 Innovation Hub. UC representatives focused on the hub’s Venture Lab, a startup ecosystem that accelerates the process of getting UC technologies to market. 

The event concluded with an awards ceremony; UC rewarded teams with college scholarships ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

“TEAMS is a really good event to be a part of,” said Trette. “It’s great to be able to support students as early as their freshman year continue to pursue STEM throughout high school.”

Featured image at top: Engineering Tribunal, the student governing body of the college, hosted an egg drop as part of the day's events. Photo/Corrie Stookey/CEAS Marketing