Madison Reporter

A team from Madison College recently participated in the Promoting Electronic Propulsion (PEP) boat competition, sponsored by the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE). The event took place at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, Virginia, gathering top collegiate talent to explore sustainable marine propulsion.

Team members Xander Godar, Griffin Raffety, Chase Noe, Meghan Sweeney, and Levi Lee from Madison College's STEM programs worked for months on designing and building a hybrid vessel that met the competition's technical requirements. Carolyn Kosabucki, Senior Administrative Coordinator of the Madison College STEM Center, accompanied them.

Madison College was one of 41 institutions registered for the national competition, with 30 teams ultimately competing. The Madison team achieved 14th place overall. In the uncrewed division, their vessel carried a 60-pound payload over a two-mile course in just over 25 minutes at an average speed of about 4.8 mph. The vessels were required to operate under a maximum voltage of 55V, which the Madison craft met precisely.

Kosabucki noted: “This competition is an outstanding opportunity for our students to apply classroom knowledge to a real-world engineering challenge,” adding that it provided "an exceptional opportunity for our students to apply their technical knowledge, collaborate as a team, and demonstrate innovation in sustainable marine propulsion technologies." She expressed pride in the team's dedication and innovation on a national level.

The PEP competition aims to develop alternative energy sources for maritime applications and promote electric propulsion technologies crucial to naval engineering's future.