South Dakota State Dominates Regional Human Powered Vehicle Challenge, Winning Six Awards

For Immediate Release

South Dakota State Dominates Regional Human Powered Vehicle Challenge, Winning Six Awards including Three First-Place Honors

NEW YORK, April 9, 2018– South Dakota State University wowed the field in the Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC) held last week at the ASME E-Fest West in Pomona, Calif., winning six awards, including three first-place prizes in major categories.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers was sponsor of HPVC, which was held March 24-25, 2018, during a fun-oriented weekend of design competitions, career development programs, and networking at the Fairplex fairgrounds in Pomona.

Members of the South Dakota State HPVC team, with Jackrabbit, on the course at E-Fests West

South Dakota State’s pedal-powered Jackrabbit, designed and built by engineering students, competed against 16 other college teams in a series of rigorous speed and endurance challenges on a course laid out at Fairplex. After judges tabulated the results, South Dakota State came away with a total of six awards, including best overall performer and first place finishes in the innovation category and women’s speed event.

Human-powered vehicles are aerodynamically-designed “superbikes” that have been developed to present environmentally friendly transportation options for the future.

“The HPVC program provides an opportunity for engineering students to apply engineering principles in the development of fast and efficient transportation systems,” said Charla K. Wise, president of ASME. “ASME congratulates all contestants.”

South Dakota State students at the awards ceremony held at the conclusion of the Human Powered Vehicle Challenge.

The competition was held in conjunction with E-Fest West, an event that allowed engineering students to showcase their technical skills while connecting them to thought leaders and practicing engineers for career advice and guidance.

Teams judged as winners in the HPVC appear below.

Best Overall

1. South Dakota State University
2. California State University, Northridge
3. University of California, Berkeley

Best Design

1. Universidad Nacional de Mexico
2. University of California, Berkeley
3. South Dakota State University

Innovation

1. South Dakota State University
2. California State University, Northridge
3. University of Hawaii, Manoa

Women’s Speed Event

1. South Dakota State University
2. California State University, Northridge
3. University of California, Berkeley

Men’s Speed Event

1. University of Southern California
2. South Dakota State University
3. California Polytechnic University, Pomona

Endurance

1. California State University, Northridge
2. South Dakota State University
3. University of Southern California

Sportsmanship

1. Universidad Nacional de Mexico
2. Craftsmanship
3. University of California, Berkeley

About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world. For more information visit www.asme.org.