Engineering Halloween Costumes
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Engineering students designed and built dream costumes for faculty children.
MSA's Engineering students added a touch of magic to their design and building process.
When we think about engineering, we often envision grand structures like bridges, roads, and buildings. While these are indeed significant aspects of engineering, it's important to remember that engineering encompasses a wide array of disciplines. Essentially, engineering is about problem-solving and efficiently using tools and resources to achieve goals.
During the fall semester, Mr. LaVoie's engineering class used their creativity and engineering skills to create costumes for a faculty family at MSA.
Mr. LaVoie explained, "In October, our class learned the engineering design process by making Halloween costumes for Parker, Peyton, and Landon. Parker and Peyton wanted to be the witches from 'Hocus Pocus,' while Landon wanted to be a knight. We considered their preferences for design and functionality. We adhered closely to the original 'Hocus Pocus' costumes, but we had more freedom with Landon's costume."
To stay within their budget, the class searched the school's drama storage and nearby thrift stores, like Goodwill, for materials. They ordered the remaining supplies online and began assembling the costumes.
It was a collaborative effort. Mr. LaVoie said, "Each student contributed their skills to the project. Siri handled sewing, Gabriel worked on wood-related items, Isabel and Jessica handled painting, and Fin added the finishing touches. Afterward, we fitted the costumes on Parker, Peyton, and Landon, making final adjustments before delivering the completed costumes to the family."
On Halloween, the Guptill children enjoyed trick-or-treating in their dream costumes, and MSA's Engineering students gained valuable engineering skills. Isabelle Volden, an engineering student, remarked, "Everyone benefited from this project. Our class experienced real-world design challenges like time constraints and a limited budget, while the kids received fun and unique Halloween costumes."
While creating Halloween costumes may seem different from building bridges and buildings, the mindset and skills required are fundamental to engineering. Fin Harrison summed it up, saying, "Through this project, we learned that engineering demands time, effort, and innovation."
