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Most days in the Drop In Design Lab at the Idea Forge at the Miramontes and Leonard Baca building look different for every visitor. Component Design students get their first real taste of the design process as they build their fleet of drill-powered tricycles. In the manufacturing labs, students listen to Professor Tsai’s guidance during sand casting and heat treatment labs. Meanwhile, the senior design groups focus on understanding how to keep their industry sponsors informed and happy with their progress. There is, however, one team that practically lives in the DIDL—constantly working in CAD, tackling hands-on projects, and living the engineering dream we all hope to achieve.Ìý

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That team is ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ mechanical engineering senior design Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Baja team. For the past 10 years, the Baja team has been pushing the boundaries of what 10 to 15 students can build in just two semesters, both on campus and on the competition field. At just 5 and a half weeks into the 2025 fall semester, there are members of the team who have spent more than ~200 individual hours combined working on the previous year’s car, designing their new iteration. As the last days of summer fade into fall, they learn just how big the project ahead of them is.Ìý

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Unlike most senior design teams, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ Baja team is known for working on weekends, pulling all-nighters, occasionally sleeping in the DIDL, and somehow balancing it with senior year engineering coursework. They spend more hours in the machine shop than nearly every other team, with the 2024-2025 Baja team having upwards of 1000 cumulative hours between welding, machining and consulting with the machine shop staff. However, the work isn’t only confined to just the designing and building. Every Baja team has to fundraise to support both their material needs and their cost to travel to competition. This year, the team plans to raise between 15 and 20 thousand dollars to support their endeavors.Ìý

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But the story of Baja isn’t only about the work of every senior and the underclassmen who reach out to get involved with the project. It’s really about all the incredible people around them who work year after year to support every engineer’s development and dreams. These individuals work tirelessly, dedicating themselves every day in ways most people never see.Ìý

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For the Baja team, Peter Himpsel, the team’s director, who has worked with the team since its beginning, pulls the team together out of the pool of excited applicants in May and gives them a mission. In the fall, they step into an environment shaped by Dr. Daria Kotys-Schwartz, director of the Idea Forge and leader of Baja’s senior design section for the past nine years. She embodies what the space stands for: transforming engineering education into a truly handson experience for every student who walks through its doors. Program and event coordinator Victoria Lanaghan makes sure the team’s competitions, reviews, and travel logistics stay on track. In the classroom, Byron Rudisil leads the competition section of senior design, guiding students through the academic side of a project that stretches far beyond the syllabus.Ìý

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Andy Kain manages the bigger picture of project teams across the Idea Forge. He ensures that Baja’s needs align with the dozens of other design groups using the same space. On the financial side, Morgan Black, a Baja alum now serves as assistant director of finance. He helps the team navigate the complicated world of budgets, purchasing, and sponsorships, bringing both insider knowledge and administrative expertise.Ìý

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And when it comes to turning designs into reality, the machine shop team, Greg Potts, Chase Logsdon, and Patrick McSpadden (another Baja alum), are the ones who keep students safe, train them on equipment, and share the craft of precision manufacturing. Their patience and experience form the bridge between raw student enthusiasm and reliable engineering.Ìý

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Each of these people leave their fingerprints on the project in ways that often go unseen, but never go unfelt. The car may carry the name of the team, but its success reflects the incredible community of staff who make sure students have the chance to push limits, learn deeply, and thrive.Ìý

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For those who want to follow along with the team’s journey this year, we’re sharing updates, photos, and videos on Instagram at @cuboulderbaja. We’re also working to grow our presence online, so if you’re interested in contributing through editing or filming, we’d love to have your help.