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Chevron logo and a woman with wearable technology. Text across the image says Design Challenge at Texas A&M University for Project Lead The Way Students in Texas

Howdy! Project Lead The Way (PLTW) high schools are invited to participate in the Chevron Design Challenge at Texas A&M University. This is an intensive design experience based on the Texas A&M University College of Engineering’s Aggies Invent program.

Design teams will be made up of students from different schools and will be based on the students’ interests. The teams will be presented with a need statement and will then work through the engineering design process to come up with a solution, create a mock-up and “sell” their design to a panel of judges.

Chevron and Texas A&M will provide judges and mentors, allowing students access to experts in design. The winning teams will be presented with prizes, and all students will receive a certificate of participation.

Additional Details:

  • Students must be ninth-11th graders, rostered with PLTW and currently enrolled in one or more PLTW engineering courses in Texas.
  • Each school may only bring three students. Additional consideration will be given to schools that bring female students or students who identify as underrepresented minorities.
  • Schools must bring at least one PLTW-trained teacher to chaperone students. More advisors and teachers may attend. Teachers are responsible for — and must be in attendance with — students at all times.
  • Selected schools must have administrator approval.
  • Spark! and Chevron have joined together to provide three rooms per school at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center for Friday night. Additional room reservations are the responsibility of the school.
  • All meals are provided during the challenge.

Student Expectations:

  • Students are encouraged to bring a laptop loaded with CAD software. Students will not have access to a computer lab or printer.
  • This event will mirror best practices for a true engineering team. Therefore, students are expected to join/select a team that matches the need statement to which they are drawn. Students will NOT be on a team with other students from their school.
  • Students are expected to adhere to Texas A&M's campus policies and practices, which includes not wasting resources such as low fidelity prototyping materials.
  • Closed-toe shoes and long pants are required. Safety glasses are provided.
  • Students and accompanying faculty will be expected to follow Texas A&M's COVID-19 related guidance.

Questions? Contact John Peterson, Spark! associate director, at john.peterson@tamu.edu or 979-847-8654.