Titan Racing Baja Competes at Baja SAE Oregon 2026 and Receives Gene Haas Manufacturing Excellence Award

The CSUF Titan Racing Baja student design team participated in the Baja SAE Oregon 2026 competition held in Washougal, Washington, from May 7–10, 2026. The competition challenged university teams from around the world to design, build, and test rugged single-seat off-road vehicles capable of enduring demanding terrain and performance events. Led by Project Manager Bryce Flores and Chief Engineer Cole Navarro, the team applied engineering principles in vehicle design, manufacturing, suspension systems, drivetrain integration, and testing while competing in events such as maneuverability, acceleration, hill climbs, rock crawl challenges, and the endurance race. The team was supported by faculty advisor Professor Christopher Bang and received extensive technical guidance and mentorship from Jonathan Woodland, who worked closely with students on manufacturing processes, vehicle preparation, and competition support throughout the academic year and during the competition. Participation in Baja SAE provided students with valuable hands-on experience in engineering design, fabrication, teamwork, leadership, and project management while showcasing the dedication and innovation of CSUF Mechanical Engineering students.

The CSUF Titan Racing Baja team was also recognized with the Gene Haas Foundation Manufacturing Excellence Award following its participation in Baja SAE Oregon 2026. The award honors teams that demonstrate exceptional capabilities in manufacturing, machining, fabrication, and inspection while promoting hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing technologies. According to the Gene Haas Foundation, the CSUF team stood out for its consistent application of high-level manufacturing practices, including precision machining, thoughtful fixturing, detailed inspection workflows, and strong craftsmanship across all vehicle subsystems. The award also recognized the team’s student-led approach to manufacturing and vehicle development, highlighting the technical skill, dedication, and ownership demonstrated by the students throughout the project.

Titan Aero Team Competes at SAE Aero Design East 2026 in Florida

The CSUF Titan Aero student design team participated in the SAE Aero Design East Competition held in Lakeland, Florida, during Spring 2026. The competition brought together university teams from across the country to design, build, and test remote-controlled aircraft under challenging engineering and performance requirements. Representing California State University, Fullerton, the Titan Aero team applied principles of aerodynamics, structures, manufacturing, systems integration, and flight testing throughout the design-build-fly process. Under the leadership of Project Manager and Team President Ellis Galleher, Chief Engineer Matthew Kwan and Sub team leads Tyler Erautt, Andrea Reza, and Connor Hyman, the team coordinated the design, fabrication, testing, and competition preparation efforts throughout the academic year. In preparation for the competition, the team successfully completed development and testing of its 2026 prototype aircraft, “AARON,” including a successful maiden flight prior to the event. After taking data from the prototype aircraft two fully functional, competition ready planes were then manufactured and assembled before heading off to competition. Participation in the SAE Aero competition provided students with valuable hands-on experience in aerospace engineering, teamwork, project management, and real-world problem solving while showcasing the innovation and dedication of CSUF engineering students. The team was mentored by Dr. Nina Robson and Prof. Pradeep Sharma.

Titan Racing Formula SAE Team Advanced Hands-On Engineering Experience

The CSUF Titan Racing Formula SAE (FSAE) team continued its strong tradition of hands-on automotive engineering and student-led innovation during the 2025–2026 academic year. Founded in 2001, Titan Racing is one of the Mechanical Engineering Department’s premier legacy design teams, focused on the design, fabrication, testing, and competition of formula-style race cars as part of the international Formula SAE program. Guided by faculty mentor Prof. Christopher Bang, the multidisciplinary team includes subgroups dedicated to powertrain, chassis, suspension, aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, and electrical systems, providing students with extensive real-world engineering experience in high-performance vehicle development. Under the leadership of Project Manager Haddi Almashat and the student leadership team, members collaborated on vehicle design, manufacturing, testing, sponsorship development, and competition preparation. Participation in Formula SAE continues to provide students with valuable experience in teamwork, systems integration, project management, and advanced engineering design while preparing them for careers in the automotive and motorsports industries.

Titan Green Team Participates in CSUF Earth Day Celebration 2026

The Titan Green senior design team participated in the CSUF Earth Day Celebration held on April 22, 2026, on Titan Walk as part of the university’s Earth Month programming focused on sustainability and environmental awareness. The team presented a hands-on demonstration of their sustainability-focused engineering project and engaged students, faculty, and campus visitors in discussions related to clean energy and sustainable engineering solutions. The event theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” brought together numerous campus organizations and community partners to promote environmental stewardship and positive action for the planet. Following the event, the Earth Day Planning Group reported engaging approximately 100 Titans through interactive activities and sustainability-focused conversations. The Titan Green team consisted of Armando Barajas, Nick Martin, Jacob Scruggs, and Gonzalo Sanchez, and was mentored by Professor Pradeep Sharma.

Mechanical Engineering Student Teams Recognized at ECS Student Project Innovation Expo 2026

Mechanical Engineering student teams received multiple honors at the ECS Student Project Innovation Expo 2026, held on May 1, 2026, at the Titan Student Union. The annual event showcased innovative senior design and research projects from across the College of Engineering and Computer Science, bringing together students, faculty, alumni, industry professionals, and judges from a wide range of engineering disciplines. More than 170 student project teams from across ECS participated in the expo, making it one of the largest student innovation showcases hosted by the college.

Several Mechanical Engineering-affiliated projects earned top recognition during the competition. The “RTX – Autonomous Vehicle Competition Project” received the Overall Best Project Award for its outstanding technical achievement and innovation. The “Titan Green Hydrogen Drone” project earned the Overall 1st Runner-Up recognition for its work focused on sustainable energy and autonomous systems. The project “CSUF Machine Shop: Waterjet Maintenance Tool” was recognized as the Best Project in Mechanical Engineering. “Titan Rover” received the Best Legacy Project Award, highlighting the continued success of CSUF’s long-standing student competition teams. In addition, the “Arboretum Debris Filtration and Removal” project earned the Best Sustainability-Focused Project Award for its environmentally focused engineering solution.

These recognitions reflect the creativity, technical excellence, and dedication of Mechanical Engineering students and faculty mentors, while also demonstrating the department’s strong emphasis on hands-on learning, innovation, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Faculty mentors supporting these award-winning projects included Professors Pradeep Sharma, Christopher Bang, and Erica “Tzu-Chia” Tseng, Ph.D.

Mechanical Engineering Department Hosts Successful Alumni Meetup and Senior Design Showcase

The Mechanical Engineering Department hosted its Spring 2026 Alumni Meetup on April 30, 2026, at the CSUF Laurel MPR, bringing together alumni, students, faculty, staff, and industry supporters for an evening of networking, engagement, and student project showcases. The event welcomed more than 40 alumni along with their families, with overall attendance exceeding 100 participants, including ECS Dean Dr. Sang June Oh, Associate Dean Chean Chin Ngo, faculty members, staff, and student presenters. The evening began with a welcome reception and informal networking session, followed by remarks from ECS Dean Dr. Sang June Oh, who spoke about strengthening alumni-faculty relationships and long-term engagement. Mechanical Engineering Department Chair Dr. Sagil James provided department updates, highlighted student achievements and senior design activities, and discussed the department’s vision for continued alumni engagement. Alex Choperena, Associate Director of Development, also shared information about ECS development initiatives and the ECS Innovation Hub. The event featured a Senior Design Showcase where student teams presented capstone projects through posters and demonstrations, allowing alumni to interact directly with students, provide feedback, and discuss internships, industry collaboration, and career opportunities.

Dr. Eun Kim Featured in AIAA Robert Goddard Centenniel Collection

Dr. Eun Kim, who taught in the Mechanical Engineering program at California State University, Fullerton during Spring 2026, was featured by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) as part of the Robert Goddard Centennial Project. The initiative commemorates the 100th anniversary of the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket launch by Professor Robert Goddard on March 16, 1926. As part of this international effort, Dr. Kim contributed to the selection of 100 influential journal papers that have shaped the field of rocketry since 1930. The curated collection highlights a century of groundbreaking research and technological advancements in rocket science. The Mechanical Engineering Department congratulates Dr. Kim on this recognition and appreciates his contributions to educating and inspiring students in aerospace and mechanical engineering.