Hard work, dedication and skills pay off for students at national competition
Students at the Price Faculty of Engineering are no strangers to placing well at national competitions. 2024 was no different as four out of five UM teams achieved podium finishes at the Canadian Engineering Competition (CEC), hosted by the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary this year.
The CEC is a highly regarded annual competition that brings together the most innovative engineering students from across Canada. The competition serves as a platform for students to showcase their problem-solving skills, creativity and technical expertise in various engineering disciplines involving civil, mechanical, electrical, software, computer and other specialized areas within the field of engineering.
Students must first compete locally in the University of Manitoba Engineering Competition which is held in early fall. The first-place teams compete at the Western Engineering Competition (spanning British Columbia to Manitoba) and then the top two teams qualify for CEC to compete nationally in their respective categories. Students may be in any year of their degree to compete.
Competitors can look forward to enhancing their critical thinking skills, their ability to analyze complex problems and devise innovative solutions on a clock. It may be initially stressful or overwhelming for some, but the experience gained far outweighs it. Not only do you develop valuable skills, but there are also ample opportunities to network with industry members and fellow competitors from across Canada, which is an incredible learning experience.
Design classes in the faculty are given credit by students as contributing to their high placements. Presentability, practical application and critical thinking from classes had bridged the gap between the theoretical classroom learning to real-world problem solving. Team members stated, “There’s a deep satisfaction in knowing our hard work, dedication and skills were recognized at the national level.”
“Set that step and compete. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. If competition is intimidating, you continue to step on through. Formulate a team that you will have fun with! This competition cycle is meant for students to learn and expand themselves into bigger and better problem solvers.” – Syed Abraham Ahmed
Congratulations to the competitors!
First place in Programming: Syed Abraham Ahmed (Computer Engineering), Daigh Burgess (Computer Engineering), Connor Pagtakhan (Computer Engineering), Garizaldy Gerra (Computer Engineering)
First place in Consulting: Mila Lobato de Faria (Biosystems Engineering), Siobhán Scott (Biosystems Engineering), Rosemary Wilson (Mechanical Engineering), Camryn McMillan (Biosystems Engineering)
Second place in Debate: Duncan Lamont (Electrical Engineering), Luke Qually (Civil Engineering)
Third place in Re-Engineering: Mustafa Khan (Mechanical Engineering), Shannon Campbell (Electrical Engineering)
Non-podium in Communications: Hassan Ashraf (Mechanical Engineering), Aayush Vij (Mechanical Engineering)