Arkansas Tech University Excels at 2025 Promoting Electric Propulsion Competition
RUSSELLVILLE, AR — Arkansas Tech University (ATU) achieved remarkable success at the 2025 Promoting Electric Propulsion boating competition held in April in Virginia Beach, Virginia, securing second place in both the propulsion displacement and unmanned divisions. This annual event, supported by the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research and the American Society of Naval Engineers, aims to cultivate future naval engineers skilled in systems design, propulsion theory, and clean-energy technologies.
The award-winning propulsion displacement team featured Llanzita Chea (Bahamas), Sean Cobb (Michigan), Robin Cung (Texas), Justin Fuentes (Russellville), and Khynnedi Murry (Hot Springs). Simultaneously, the unmanned division team included Isaac Broadway (Pocahontas), Charles Davis (Jessieville), Treys Smedley (Hector), Ethan Wooldridge (Booneville), and Lyndon Youngblood (Ashdown).
Competing against prestigious universities such as Princeton, Texas A&M, and Virginia Tech, ATU showcased exceptional prowess in its second year at the competition. Charles Davis expressed pride in the team’s performance, stating, "It’s incredible to compete against top-tier schools with limited resources."
Both ATU teams highlighted the critical importance of waterproofing, which proved to be a decisive factor given the challenging conditions in Virginia Beach. Many teams faced setbacks due to equipment failure caused by water damage. Davis remarked, "If one thing goes wrong with your waterproofing, your whole system is cooked."
The students, drawn from ATU’s computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering programs, emphasized the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration. "We learned to tackle problems collectively, maximizing our time and budget," Cung said.
This year marks the second consecutive year ATU has returned from the competition with accolades, reflecting the university’s commitment to engineering excellence and innovation in clean energy solutions.
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