Alums Return to Support Solar Oven Throw Down

Three Systems and Industrial Engineering alumni returned to campus to help students participating in the 2023 Solar Oven Throw Down. For one SIE alum, it was the first year as a mentor, for another, it's been nearly a decade of supporting engineering students. 

For SIE alum Cecelia Gossler, who is now a Salpointe Catholic High School teacher, the modeling is her favorite part. For the past nine years, Gossler has taught the Engineering 102 High School program at Salpointe. High school students at participating schools can take the UA’s introductory course and get a head start on college credit.

“It shows students how to apply principles of algebra, trigonometry and thermodynamics to predict how their oven will perform and to use that model to guide them in the construction of their ovens,” Gossler said.

Engineering 102 High School and Solar Oven Throw Down participation help high school students better understand the field of engineering and build the confidence to study it, said Gossler. This is especially true for first-generation college students and minority and women students.

“It can change the perspective of knowing they can do this. They can actually come to college and do engineering. Being here and doing the same project that all the other engineering students do helps them visualize that,” she said.

The Solar Oven Throw Down offers one additional award for an individual team – the “all in the same boat” teamwork award from longtime event sponsor W.L. Gore and Associates. The award aligns with the company’s collaborative culture, said Eva Richter, Gore industrial engineer and 2022 UA graduate in systems engineering.

Richter and her colleagues were looking for students who overcame challenges together.

“We know they’re smart; we know they can think like engineers. But what about their personalities helps them work with others and be a successful team?”

The Gore team chose Redhot, a team that united quickly when one member, Connor Knapp, experienced a concussion while playing intramural flag football. His teammates shouldered the more challenging tasks for the two weeks he needed to recover.

“Their willingness to take on additional responsibilities allowed me to focus on recuperating without worrying about falling behind,” Knapp said. “Their actions not only helped me recover but also solidified our friendship. They are, without a doubt, friends for life, and I sincerely appreciate their support.”

One factor in the win was that Redhot was laughing and having fun at the Solar Oven Throw Down, said Roque Mejia, also a Gore industrial engineer and a 2019 UA industrial engineering graduate.

“They were the most engaged. They weren’t stressed,” he said.