National Design Competition

0

National Design Competition 2Leading up to National Adaptive Sports Day, Project S.E.R.V.E., in partnership with Virginia Tech’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, will host its annual National Design Competition this Saturday, where engineering students from 10 universities will compete to showcase adaptive devices for injured veterans and Team USA para bobsled and skeleton athletes.

The third annual competition—sponsored by Pentagon Federal Credit Union and developed in collaboration with Team USA’s Para Sliding program—focuses on creating high-performance warming systems for athletes with limb loss, helping improve safety, mobility, and performance in extreme cold conditions.

For more information on the National Design Competition: https://projectserve.org/national-design-competition-2026

Final Competition & Judging
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Location: Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech (4 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016)
What to expect:

  • Student team presentations and live demonstrations
  • Judging by leaders in engineering, healthcare, and the veteran community
  • Interview opportunities with students, veterans, and organizers

Athlete Testing & Closing Ceremony
Date: Sunday, April 26, 2026
Location: Lancerlot Sports Complex (1110 Vinyard Rd 3rd floor, Vinton, VA 24179)
What to expect:

  • Real-world athlete testing of prototype devices
  • On-ice visuals and b-roll opportunities
  • Awards and closing ceremony

PARTICIPATING UNIVERSITIES

Student teams representing leading engineering programs nationwide, including:

  • Virginia Tech
  • University of Cincinnati
  • George Mason University
  • Bucknell University
  • University of Dayton
  • Rowan University
  • Duquesne University
  • Florida Atlantic University
  • University of Colorado Boulder
  • Virginia Commonwealth University

PARTICIPATING VETERANS & ATHLETES

Each team has worked directly with a veteran or adaptive athlete to co-design solutions tailored to real-world needs. Participants include:

  • Tyler Jeffries (U.S. Army veteran, double-leg amputee)
  • Kevin Bittenbender (U.S. Army veteran, left leg amputee)
  • Lee Kuxhause (U.S. Air Force veteran, below knee amputee)
  • Chris Tarte (U.S. Army veteran, right leg amputee)
  • Ivan Morera (U.S. Army Green Beret veteran, left hand amputee)
  • Dave Nichols (Vietnam War veteran, double below-knee amputee)
  • Dan Rizzieri (double below-knee amputee)
  • Gary Weiland (firefighter, above knee amputee; Sunday only)
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Spread the love