UPEI’s Baja SAE design team seeks sponsorship and donations
A team of students from the University of Prince Edward Island is seeking sponsors and donors to support its entry in the 2016 Baja SAE Competition. Baja SAE challenges students to design, build, and market a robust Baja-style vehicle, which is judged using a number of criteria.
“We have an enthusiastic team and are confident that we will be competitive in our inaugural year,” said Andrew Simmons, a student member of the UPEI Baja SAE team. “There are a lot of bright, creative minds on our team and we are fortunate to have the full support of our faculty in this venture.”
The Baja SAE competition offers a valuable experience for all members of the team, encouraging the development of skills such as problem-solving, project management, and teamwork. The team is mainly comprised of students from UPEI’s new School of Sustainable Design Engineering, with additional members from other faculties. The team operates in small groups to design the various subsystems of the vehicle, which will be integrated into the overall design.
“The students have taken a lot of initiative in this project, and the design is developing rapidly,” said Jeff Bowser, a design technician in the School of Sustainable Design Engineering, and supervisor of the UPEI Baja SAE team. “The team has the support of the school and really just needs the help of sponsors to make this vehicle a reality. Many of the team members are going to be in the first graduating class from the new Engineering School so this is an amazing way for them to show what they are capable of. ”
The team will take their vehicle to a competition next spring in Rochester, New York. The competition consists of two segments. A static portion awards points based on design, cost, and a sales presentation. The dynamic events of the competition awards points based on vehicle performance under in vigorous field tests, including a four-hour endurance race.
The team is seeking sponsors at all levels to help them reach their fundraising goal of $30,000. Sponsors will be recognized with logos placed on the competition vehicle. All proceeds will go to cover vehicle design, registration, and travel for the team.
For more information, or to find out how to become a donor or sponsor, contact Jeff Bowser at jbowser@upei.ca or (902) 566-0764.
