Each spring, Michigan Technological University comes alive with innovation, creativity, and collaboration during Design Expo—an event that showcases the culmination of months (and often years) of student work. From industry-sponsored Senior Design projects to multidisciplinary Enterprise teams, students present solutions that address real-world challenges and push ideas forward.
The 2026 Design Expo was no exception. With hundreds of projects on display and industry judges evaluating technical merit, creativity, and impact, this year’s competition highlighted the depth of talent and dedication across campus.
We’re proud to recognize the following award winners.
Design Expo Awards – Senior Design
First Place
Team 231: Additive Manufacturing of Cervical Spine Interbodies
Sponsored by Exalta
Advised by Sang Yoon Han and Zhengpeng (Jason) Wan, Biomedical Engineering
Second Place
Team 227: Conceptual Evaluation of CryoMag Sustainable Operational Usage with NASA
Sponsored by NASA and INCOSE
Advised by James Bittner, Engineering Fundamentals
Third Place
Team 209: Calcified Lesion Heart Model
Sponsored by Boston Scientific; Breeanne Brand, Carly Donahue, and Karry Poynor
Advised by Hoda Hatoum and Jeremy Goldman, Biomedical Engineering
Honorable Mentions
- Team 235: Modeling the Extrudability of HVAC&R Alloys
Sponsored by Brazeway, Inc. (Mieka Clark)
Advised by Paul Sanders, Materials Science and Engineering - Team 224: Compacting Trash Can
Sponsored by Kohler
Advised by John Irwin, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology - Team 217: Harmonic Measurement Modeling for Transmission Applications
Sponsored by International Transmission Company
Advised by Trever Hassell and Tony Pinar, Electrical and Computer Engineering - Team 215: Cleanroom Vision System Inspection Environment
Sponsored by Stryker
Advised by Jingfeng Jiang and Bruce Lee, Biomedical Engineering
Design Expo Awards – Enterprise Team Category
First Place
Urban Intelligence Lab
Led by Anna Tolles and Alisa Teige, Computer Science
Advised by Gabriel Draughn, Engineering Fundamentals
Second Place
Multiplanetary INnovation Enterprise (MINE)
Led by Kassidy Vanover and Gracie Kohn, Mechanical Engineering
Advised by Paul Van Susante, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Sponsored by Online Metals, DevelopSpace, Intelligent Future Foundation, WHSA, MHA, IRHC, SolidWorks, Altair, CTR Electronics, GM EMI, Modern Manufacturing International, Michigan Space Grant Consortium, PSTDL, Superior Graphics, and Milwaukee Tool
Third Place
H-STEM Enterprise
Led by Andrea Hoglund and Kayli Roe
Advised by Smitha Rao Hatti, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsored by Cooper Farms
Honorable Mention
Innovative Global Solutions
Led by Madilyn Bauman and Natalie Weiss
Advised by Nathan Manser, Geological and Mining Engineering
Sponsored by 3M and Milwaukee Tool
Audience Choice Awards
Voted on by attendees, these awards highlight projects that captured attention and sparked conversation across the expo floor.
- Student Project: Team 304 – DTE Terrain-Informed Solar System
- Senior Design: Team 200 – Gravitational Reservoir & Energy Generation
- Enterprise: Team 121 – Alternative Energy Enterprise
Image Contest
The annual Image Contest celebrates the creativity behind the work—capturing the process, the people, and the passion that define Design Expo.
First Place
Multiplanetary INnovation Enterprise (MINE)
“MOOSE on Standby for Artemis II”
Second Place
Systems Engineering Senior Design with NASA
“On Our Way to Test CryoMag!”
Third Place
BME Senior Design Team 7
“Constructing the Dashboard”
Acknowledging Mentorship and Partnership
Behind every project is a network of support. Faculty advisors provide technical guidance and mentorship, while industry sponsors bring real-world challenges into the classroom—giving students the opportunity to develop solutions with meaningful impact.
We extend our sincere thanks to the many advisors, sponsors, and partners who make the Michigan Tech Design Expo possible each year.
Looking Ahead
Events like Design Expo demonstrate what makes experiential learning so powerful. Students aren’t just learning concepts—they’re applying them, collaborating across disciplines, and delivering solutions with real impact.
To all who participated—students, faculty advisors, industry sponsors, and judges—thank you for making this year’s Design Expo a success. We look forward to seeing how these ideas continue to grow beyond the expo floor.
