by Cara Ramer, Student Public Relations Writer
Launching a rocket several thousand feet into the air isn’t a typical classroom assignment. For one Cedarville University senior design team, however, it’s the culmination of months of engineering, testing and preparation.
Cedarville University Students Prepare for 2026 Rocket Competition
The team is preparing to compete in the NASA-backed Midwest High-Power Rocket Competition on May 17, 2026, a multi-state event where students design, build and fly high-power rockets alongside teams from other colleges and universities. The competition, held outside of North Branch, Minnesota, challenges students to design efficient rockets that meet complex objectives, such as reaching precise altitudes and safely recovering vehicles for reuse.
How the Midwest High-Power Rocket Competition Works
This year, competing teams must decode a hidden, light-based message displayed on the ground during flight. Because the message can only be viewed from above, students must engineer a rocket capable of capturing the light pattern and transmitting the data in real time to a ground team tasked with decoding it as quickly as possible. Since rockets naturally spin during ascent, the design must also ensure sufficient stability for onboard cameras to record clear visual data.
The 12-member Cedarville University team will be flying hardware they designed, built and tested. The group has conducted extensive lab testing in addition to launch trials, discovering that engineering theory doesn’t always translate seamlessly into practice.
The project is intentionally structured to move students beyond theoretical coursework into complex systems engineering. Through repeated testing and design revisions, the team develops practical problem-solving skills under pressure.
“The competition pushes students beyond theoretical engineering into practical decision-making. It’s one thing to write the equations; it’s another to pull it off, test it and get it to work,” said Clint Kohl, senior professor of computer engineering. “We’re not just building rockets; we’re building confidence. Students get to see the fruit of their labor turn into reality, and that changes how they see themselves as engineers.”
Cedarville Rocket Team Combines Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
That real-world engineering experience relies on collaboration across disciplines, a principle reflected in the team’s composition.
The team includes computer engineering seniors Nathanel Luke, chief scientist, from Fayetteville, New York, and Avi Kumaran from Dayton, Ohio, as well as electrical engineering seniors Christian Di Spigna from Pittsford, New York, and Sarah Heiple from Coraopolis, Pennsylvania.
Mechanical engineering seniors include Tanner Muhlenkamp, team lead, from Coldwater, Ohio; Sebastian Toledo, chief engineer, from Ypsilanti, Michigan; Bryce Fenton from Pepperell, Massachusetts; Daniel Hall from Littleton, Colorado; Ethan Lemkuil from Lombard, Illinois; Hudson O’Donnell from Columbus, Ohio; Jonathan Needham from Grand Island, Nebraska; and Sebastian Mackliff Davalos from Quito, Ecuador.
“It’s exciting to see our designs move from concept to reality,” said Luke. “There are many ways to design a rocket, collect the required data and implement flight control systems. There isn’t necessarily one right answer. After spending so much time modeling and planning, it’s been rewarding to see the manufactured components come together in the assembled rocket.”
From Engineering Classroom Project to Real-World Launch Experience
When the rocket leaves the launch pad, it will carry months of calculations, redesigns and teamwork skyward. And while the competition may last only a day, the skills gained — precision, resilience and collaboration —will propel these future engineers far beyond the launch pad.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
