From initial concept to final prototype, senior engineering students at Texas A&M University spent months transforming real-world challenges into innovative solutions through capstone design projects — an experience that led to the 2025 Engineering Project Showcase.
Held at the Zachry Engineering Education Complex, the showcase brought together 1,773 students from 361 senior engineering capstone teams, along with 187 industry judges. The event celebrated the results of extensive design, testing and collaboration from students representing nearly every engineering discipline, highlighting their technical skill, teamwork and readiness to enter the profession.
Teams competed for top prizes with projects ranging from life-saving medical devices to next-generation aerospace systems. Event sponsors included Baker Hughes, Bray, Caterpillar, Megger, the Meloy Program, NobleReach Foundation, Samsung, and TSMC.
For many students, the showcase was more than a competition — it was a launchpad for their careers and a reflection of the university’s core values.
“Our students accomplish great things academically, but during their senior year, they begin functioning as practicing engineers,” said Dr. Harry Hogan, senior associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Engineering. “They work in teams, solve real-world problems and demonstrate leadership—one of our core values at Texas A&M.”
While technical proficiency and innovation are central to the capstone experience, many projects also reflect a deeper commitment to societal impact. Whether addressing challenges in healthcare, sustainability or public safety, students are encouraged to consider how their work can serve communities and improve lives. This emphasis on purpose-driven engineering aligns closely with Texas A&M’s core values, particularly the principle of selfless service — a value that often emerges in the goals and outcomes of student-led designs.
“It’s not always obvious to the public how much engineers contribute to making the world a better place,” Hogan said. “But as you walk through this event, you see projects focused on medicine, sustainability, energy efficiency — solutions that improve lives and protect our future.”

The showcase also serves as a vital bridge between academia and industry. Many projects are sponsored by companies and organizations seeking fresh perspectives on complex challenges, allowing students to work on real-world problems with direct input from professionals in the field.
“I would highly encourage every industry to look to sponsor a project here in the showcase,” said Dr. Linda Bixby, executive vice president of academic partnerships at NobleReach Foundation. “They’re going to get students that are really open-minded to bring in solutions that industry has not thought of before.”
Cardo Gottlich ’24, a supply chain planning engineer at Caterpillar and an industry judge, said the event offers a unique window into the next generation of engineering talent.
“The greatest asset is being able to think outside the box,” Gottlich said. “All these projects here are just outside-the-box answers to everything, and it’s a great way to get a perspective on how these students are thinking and adapting.”
Among the standout projects was a drone landing system designed for naval ships, developed by aerospace engineering senior Asher King and his team.
“A job that took six or seven workers can now be done by one person with a phone or laptop,” King said. “Our prototype works great — and it can save lives.”
Computer science senior Li Shen and her team created Fit Check, a closet inventory and resale platform aimed at reducing clothing waste.
“Seeing so many students come together with semester-long projects is even bigger and more awesome than I could have ever expected,” Shen said. “I’m very glad to be here.”
Several teams were recognized with the prestigious Meloy Award, which honors interdisciplinary projects demonstrating excellence and impact. This year’s recipients included Key Fill Manager, Easy Loader Bike Rack and Non-Invasive Flow Measurement in Hydronic Balancing.
“This event is not only large in scale — it’s an opportunity to exhibit excellence at scale,” Hogan added. “It’s a celebration of what our students can do when they combine technical skill with leadership, service and innovation.”
The showcase continues to reinforce Texas A&M’s reputation for producing well-rounded engineers who are prepared not only to design but also to lead.

2025 Overall Winners
1st Place Overall
Pediatric Minimally Invasive Port Closure Device – Biomedical Engineering
2nd Place Overall (Tie)
A Novel Chest Tube Placement Assist Device – Biomedical Engineering
Spec Racer Ford 4 (SRF4) Racing – Electronic Systems Engineering Technology
Department Winners
Aerospace Engineering
1st Place – $500
Autonomous Logistics Augmentation Robotics System
Biological and Agricultural Engineering
1st Place – $500
SmartShade: Adaptive Greenhouse Shade and Partitioning System
2nd Place – $350
Cotton Module Fire Recognition, Warning and Prevention System
3rd Place – $250
Integrated Beef Management Software
Biomedical Engineering
1st Place – $1,000
Bioreactor Design and Optimization for Tissue Engineering
2nd Place (Tie) – $750
Electromagnetic Device for Inhibiting Tumor Growth
Pediatric Headgear for Cleft Lip and Palate
Chemical Engineering
1st Place – $1,000
CHEN 3 – TPC PDH Plant
2nd Place – $750
CHEN 13 – Sustainable Propylene Production: Achieving Net-Zero Carbon Emissions
3rd Place – $500
CHEN 14 – The Road to Green Propylene Production
Computer Science
1st Place (Tie) – $1,000
Expresso
Patent Prosecution AI Models
2nd Place – $750
ViewMe
Electrical and Computer Engineering
1st Place – $1,000
Weather-informed Bio-inspired Prediction Model for Enhancing Grid Stability
2nd Place – $750
Range Aid
3rd Place (Tie) – $500
Automated Gold Plating Fault Detection
TI mmWaveAI Algorithm
WBG Devices-Based High Power ANPC Inverter for Electric Aviation Applications
Electronic Systems Engineering Technology
1st Place – $1,000
Key Fill Manager
2nd Place – $750
Infant Apnea Monitor
3rd Place – $500
Binaural Beats
Industrial and Systems Engineering
1st Place – $1,000
CHRISTUS Health OR Patient Flow Simulation
2nd Place – $750
CHRISTUS Health Radiology Optimization Project
3rd Place – $500
Endoscopic PreAdmissions Testing
Materials Science and Engineering
1st Place – $1,000
Targeted NiTi Alloy Composition Control from Elemental Powders via Directed Energy Deposition
2nd Place – $750
Development of an Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic Ink for Additive Manufacturing
3rd Place – $500
Optimizing Flux Composition for Enhanced Zinc Coating Performance in Steel Galvanization
Mechanical Engineering
1st Place – $1,000
Easy Loader Bike Rack
2nd Place – $750
Droplet Levitator
3rd Place – $500
NovaScope
Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering Technology
1st Place (Tie) – $1,000
Delta Robot for Autonomous Pick-and-Place of Semiconductor Chips
Halliburton Impact Testing
2nd Place – $750
Formula SAE CNC Manufacturing
Large Capstone Teams
1st Place – $1,000
Texas A&M Formula Electric
Meloy Awards – $1,000 Each
- Key Fill Manager
- Easy Loader Bike Rack
- Non-Invasive Flow Measurement in Hydronic Balancing