Students excel at National Promoting Electronic Propulsion Boat Competition

A team of dedicated Madison College students recently showcased their innovation and engineering skills at the Promoting Electronic Propulsion (PEP) boat competition, sponsored by the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE). 

The event, held at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, Virginia, brought together some of the nation’s top collegiate talent to advance the future of sustainable marine propulsion.

Team members Xander Godar, Griffin Raffety, Chase Noe, Meghan Sweeney, and Levi Lee—selected from Madison College’s STEM-focused programs—devoted months to designing and building a hybrid vessel that met the competition’s stringent technical criteria. The students were accompanied by Carolyn Kosabucki, Senior Administrative Coordinator of the Madison College STEM Center.

Madison College was among 41 institutions that registered for the national competition, with 30 teams ultimately competing. The Madison team proudly secured 14th place overall.

Competing in the uncrewed division, the team’s vessel carried a 60-pound payload and completed the two-mile racecourse in just over 25 minutes, achieving an average speed of approximately 4.8 mph. Competing vessels were required to operate under a maximum voltage of 55V — a specification the Madison College craft met with precision.

“This competition is an outstanding opportunity for our students to apply classroom knowledge to a real-world engineering challenge,” Kosabucki says. "This competition provided an exceptional opportunity for our students to apply their technical knowledge, collaborate as a team, and demonstrate innovation in sustainable marine propulsion technologies. We are incredibly proud of the dedication and innovation our team demonstrated on the national stage.”

The PEP competition encourages the development of alternative energy sources for maritime applications, promoting innovation in electric propulsion technologies that are critical to the future of naval engineering. For more information about the PEP Competition.

For more information about Madison College’s STEM programs.