For the first time in its history, Cal Poly Humboldt will host the annual competition, now in its 39th year, on April 25-26, 2025. It will bring together top scholars from the 23 CSU campuses to celebrate groundbreaking student-led research.
The project is the result of a collaboration between the Cal Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation (SPF) and students and faculty in the School of Engineering.
“Each host campus gets to put their own unique spin on the event,” explains Sam Caudill, SPF’s executive support coordinator. “We wanted something that attendees would remember and tell stories about. What better way to showcase our campus’s emphasis on creativity, sustainability, and innovation than by challenging the makerspace students with this design task?”
Under the guidance of Engineering Instructor Lonny Grafman, students in Engineering 205: Intro to Design dedicated thousands of hours to creating 20 category-specific trophies (two for each of the 10 competition categories), along with plaques for second-place winners and coasters for honorable mentions. Categories span disciplines like Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Education, and Interdisciplinary studies. Each trophy embodies the essence of their research categories. For example, the trophy awarded to the winner of the Behavioral, Social Sciences and Public Administration category showcases a “Tree of Unity” with a globe at its center, symbolizing growth, collaboration, and the global impact of the fields.
To create the designs, students interviewed stakeholders—including experts and peers—about what would inspire recipients and serve as a lasting reminder of their achievements, Grafman explains.
Each team put in more than 100 hours—some exceeding 200—on tasks like figuring out designs and materials, interviewing stakeholders, prototyping, testing, and presenting their final designs. Altogether, the class contributed over 2,000 hours to bring these awards to life, Grafman explains. They presented the finished products in the Swetman makerspace on Thursday, Dec. 19.
Chloe Hammond, a first year Energy Systems Engineering student, is part of the team that made the Creative Arts and Design trophies. The project, she said, gave her valuable real world experience that she can use in her future career.
“Working with a team, formatting an engineering document, and communicating with a client were all skills I was able to enhance through this process,” says Hammond.
The process of creating these awards reflects Humboldt’s commitment to experiential learning. Students utilized tools like laser cutters, 3D printers, and CNC mills in the makerspaces, while incorporating materials that reflect Humboldt, such as redwood and clay sourced from sites on campus, and its commitment to sustainability. The hands-on experience gave students a chance to tackle real-world challenges in design, iteration, and production.
“These projects offered students a meaningful opportunity to create lasting recognition for CSU scholars,” says Grafman. “The teams were inspired to imagine themselves as recipients—visualizing what it would feel like to step on stage and receive a trophy that’s both wild and uniquely Humboldt.”
For SPF, the project ties directly into its broader goals. “SPF’s purpose is to foster a thriving research community at Cal Poly Humboldt that engages students in hands-on learning experiences, empowers faculty to pursue their passions, and uncovers innovative answers to the world’s toughest challenges,” Caudill adds.
The collaboration is also deeply personal for participants. Caudill emphasizes, “We hope these trophies will be something recipients cherish and proudly display—unlike a paper certificate that just gets filed away. We hope they’ll inspire conversation, serve as a constant reminder of their achievement, and leave a lasting impression on Cal Poly Humboldt.”
For more information about the Student Research Competition, visit humboldt.edu/student-research-competition