Among the Trees
By Katherine Cusumano, MFA ’24
The Fall 2026 Stater is here! Climb into the canopy, uncover secrets in ancient ice and meet the new Pac-12.
By Owen Perry
Oregon State University engineering students have done it again. Global Formula Racing won the Formula SAE Michigan Electric competition for the second consecutive year, once again proving that its electric race cars are built for speed.
The team, a collaboration between Oregon State and German university DHBW-Ravensburg, also captured first place in the inaugural autonomous car event, becoming the first champions in Formula SAE’s new category for driverless vehicles.
The June wins at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, capped months of work by students who designed, built and tested the cars. Team members contributed expertise in mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as autonomous systems.
Founded in 2009, the team gives students hands-on experience developing advanced electric race cars while collaborating across continents and disciplines. Guided by faculty advisor Joseph Piacenza, the team applies classroom learning to the demands of a real-world engineering challenge. The event added another chapter to its legacy as one of the nation’s most successful student engineering competition teams.
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