Wearing her lucky Elmo socks, Nikia Chapman helped Missouri University of Science and Technology win another championship in human-powered vehicle racing.
A perennial powerhouse, Missouri S&T’s team finished ahead of the 18 other university teams in the competition, which was held during the past week in Utah.
Chapman, a freshman engineering student from Columbia, Mo., and Jonathan Sanders, a junior in mechanical engineering from Webb City, Mo., each finished first in men’s and women’s individual speed events. The Missouri S&T team also won the endurance part of the competition.
According to Sanders, S&T has one of the most aerodynamic bikes this year. Each year, students on the teams design and build human-powered vehicles, which typically have aerodynamic shells but come in many shapes and styles.
“You learn what works, what doesn’t, what can actually be built and what can’t,” Sanders told a reporter who covered the Utah competition. “Anyone can design a part. Not everyone can design a part that can actually be built.”
Congratulations to the team! Well done.