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Industrial Design Students Compete in 2024 Kinetic Sculpture Race

5/8/2024

Click here to view the video. Another epic Kinetic Sculpture Race (KSR) is in the books! This year’s Industrial Design students will go down in history as demonstrating exceptional determination, problem-solving, and resilience! A culmination of a year’s worth of hands-on learning, incorporating science, engineering, and art, this year’s vehicles (and riders!) were pushed to their limits. The event was not only fun to watch, but an inspiration as well.

Experience paid off as alumnus Jeff Krannebitter ’10, who remains connected to and an avid supporter of the KSR program, was the first to appear at the Canton Waterfront and plunge into the Chesapeake Bay. After biking over 15 miles, taking a lap around the pier, and breezing through the sand and mud pits, Jeff won the Speed Award and an Ace Award (given for completing the race with no assistance.) Congratulations, Jeff!

Kai Hines '25, a current junior, piloted a single-man, first-year, vehicle. The moment he hit the water, a chain malfunctioned, leaving him to rely on paddling alone. By the time he reached the water exit, he was exhausted, but still faced the arduous uphill climb on a slippery ramp. He captured the hearts of the crowd as he advanced inch by inch, never giving up, with teacher and coach, Ms. DiMucci, right by his side providing instruction and encouragement. The spectators cheered enthusiastically as he finally broke into a steady forward progression and crested the hill. Kai not only earned an Ace Award but also the Golden Flipper Award for the most dramatic water experience. Thanks, Kai, for your perseverance!

The multi-person vehicle, "Merciless Moose," faced its own challenges, breaking down in the initial bike portion of the race. After a struggle to repair the vehicle, they made it to the water challenge with just minutes to spare. Although the breakdown caused them to time-out of the race, Ms. DiMucci shared that it is when things go wrong that the true lessons are learned. “With a brand new vehicle, mishaps are bound to occur, and we prepare for them all year long. It’s not about the first plan, but about the second and even third. My goal is to teach them to not panic, but use their problem-solving skills to find a solution.” The importance of strong and collaborative pit crews cannot be overstated! The team was exuberant when “Merciless Moose” breezed through the water, sand, and mud obstacles–not to win the race–but rather for their own sense of accomplishment. Additionally, the knowledge gained flows into the coming year and benefits future teams.

Thank you to all the community members who showed their support! A special shout out to IT Director Phil Hoesch ’06 who has been involved with the race for decades, first designing, fabricating, and piloting vehicles as a student, then as a staff pit crew member, and now transporting the vehicles and cooking the teams’ breakfast and lunch. Thank you to Alumni Director Jared Bierer for hosting the Alumni Tent and serving burgers and hot dogs to all. There are too many faculty and staff crew to mention, but we could not do it without you all riding alongside us every step of the way!

Experiences like these are what Jemicy is all about. We could not be more proud of our students for demonstrating that the most important lessons are not learned through winning, but rather are measured in the lessons learned and memories made. Thank you to the American Visionary Art Museum for giving our students a perfect event to showcase their talent, creativity, and resilience.

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