OKLAHOMA CITY — The Engineering Club at Oklahoma City Community College demonstrated a blend of innovation and teamwork at its first-ever Trebuchet Competition on Feb. 22 in the OCCC Engineering Lab.
Five teams of student club members showcased their trebuchet prototypes.
The trebuchet, a medieval siege mechanism featuring a long arm and a lever, was the focal point of the competition. While historically used for warfare, trebuchets now are used as educational tools. In academic settings, they provide students with hands-on lessons in physics, mechanics and engineering principles.
Steven Dinh, president of the OCCC Engineering Club, shared insights into the competition’s inception.
“I wanted to do something different for the club. I wanted to take the concepts we were learning in class and make it fun, and that’s how I came up with the Trebuchet Competition,” Dinh said.
Prior to the competition, students were given two weeks to craft trebuchet prototypes and devise strategies. Utilizing readily available materials such as popsicle sticks, wooden dowels and glue, students were encouraged to explore innovative solutions and showcase their creativity and resourcefulness. Each team followed a set of construction and safety guidelines to create their trebuchets, aiming to achieve maximum distance in launching the egg projectiles.
A trio of OCCC alumni, now employed by Boeing Oklahoma City, shared their professional experiences and provided insights to aspiring engineers during the event. Trevor Trevino, class of 2016, a systems engineer, credited OCCC with providing a solid foundation for his career in engineering.
“The hands-on experience I gained in the classroom here was invaluable,” Trevino said.
Matt Butzer, class of 2015, also a systems engineer at Boeing, reflected on the mentorship he received from Department Chair and Professor of Engineering Greg Holland during his time at OCCC.
“Before applying to OCCC, I visited Professor Holland’s office, and he made me feel so welcome. I was a nontraditional student working in a different field and wasn’t sure if engineering was the best route, but he made time for me and answered all my questions. His guidance was instrumental in my academic success and his mentorship truly made a difference for me,” Butzer said.
Erica King, class of 2016, chief of staff for OKC site director at Boeing, shared her journey as a woman in engineering, offering words of encouragement to future engineers.
“OCCC instilled in me the confidence to pursue my dreams in a male-dominated field. To aspiring engineers, I say: Just do it; do it scared, do it with confidence,” King advised.
As the trebuchets were prepared for launch, teamwork was a central theme among the competitors, highlighting the importance of collaboration and communication. The winning trebuchet was launched from the farthest distance by Team Blue Thunder of Andrew Owen, Jacob Bussey, Sam Goun, Michael Bishop and Hiram Ophiohonren.
Ophiohonren emphasized the significance of teamwork in their victory.
“We worked together to develop ways in which each person could contribute ideas, put parts together and represent our team on competition day,” he said.
Reflecting on the success of the competition, Holland expressed the ingenuity and innovation of trebuchets as well as his gratitude for the alumni participation.
“It’s the best thing ever to witness my former students return to campus and share their remarkable successes,” he said.
For those interested in learning more about the OCCC Engineering Program, visit OCCC Engineering Program.
