SDSU hosts South Dakota Space Design Competition for third year

Story by Abbie Chase 

The South Dakota Space Design Competition welcomed students from across the Upper Midwest for the camp’s third year at South Dakota State University.  

High school students from South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota were invited to explore space design and different areas of science, technology, engineering and math at the March 14-15 event, which was in person March 14 and virtual March 15 due to an incoming blizzard. Participants were given industry-specific challenges and tasked with delivering real-world solutions.   

One of the goals of the annual event is to provide high school students with guidance or insight into their potential careers. The competition is a collaboration between SDSU’s Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering and the nonprofit organization Industry Simulation Education. 

Industry Simulation Education co-founder and Chief Inspiration Officer David Shaw and College of Engineering program assistant and event coordinator Jenny Bickett have been instrumental in bringing this competition to SDSU. Supported by engineers, educators and SDSU students, the group recognizes the challenges high school students face when exploring careers in STEM.   

Students participating in the South Dakota Space Design Competition are given a challenge and a topic. This year’s challenge was focused on the moon and engineering advancements 25 years into the future. The competition kicks off Saturday morning and ends Sunday afternoon, with a full 24 hours for the students to complete their work. 

Participants are broken into three different teams, and they are given questions related to marketing, electronics, finance and more. Once the teams have developed their presentation, they deliver it to a panel of judges. Both the groups and the individuals are scored on their work. 

The top 10 students at the SDSU event get the opportunity to compete in July at the global level in Florida, where they represent the state and interact with students from 20 different countries.  

“They get to look at cultural differences and work with large groups to solve a more complex scenario,” Shaw said.  

Bickett emphasized the excitement and challenges that come with the competition. “It's always exciting just to get to see what the students come up with. They get some pretty tough questions, and they are able to answer even as high schoolers. It's a big challenge for the students, and I think that's the best part.”  

SDSU plans to host this event for many years to come, ensuring future students can compete.  

“You don’t have to want to study engineering to come to one of our events. You just have to be passionate about a topic,” Shaw added.  

Returning competitor and high school senior Bryce Heflin, from Arlington, has participated in all three years and has witnessed the competition grow in scale and impact. Some of his favorite memories are the late nights spent working with his teammates and pushing through the late hours of the competition.  

When asked what advice he would give to potential participants, Heflin said, “My advice is simple: Why not? Every year, I have second thoughts about competing because of fear, but once you look at that fear, you realize it’s not worth holding yourself back. No one ever regrets competing, but many people do regret not putting themselves out there.” 

South Dakota Space Design Competition organizers want to continue inspiring the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers in STEM. The competition will keep offering students a unique opportunity to challenge themselves, discover new passions and make an impact on the world.