Hands-on Learning
Raytheon’s $2M gift powers student innovation in engineering.
A golf-putting robot. A suspension bath for burn victims. A hydraulic mining shovel with adhesive bonds.
These are just a few of the real-world solutions engineered by University of Arizona students through an immersive, hands-on approach to engineering education.
Bolstering that approach is the planned Student Design and Innovation Center (SDIC), a 100,000-square-foot facility that will serve as a hub for collaboration, creativity and student leadership. Thanks to a $2 million gift from Raytheon, an RTX business, the SDIC will feature state-of-the-art makerspaces — including 3D printers, laser cutters, and woodworking and metalworking tools — and will house the Raytheon Student Leadership Suite. SDIC construction will begin in the next two to four years.
The SDIC builds on the success of the Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Program, where students tackle real-world challenges with direct industry impact. In 2025, student teams developed a range of innovations.
One team designed a robot that lines up and hits golf balls using a mechanical system controlled by an Xbox controller and visual interface. “I love being able to design what you see on the screen and make something happen with tech,” says team member MiLee Vogel, a software engineer. “That probably comes from my love of video games.”
Another team addressed a biomedical challenge, developing a suspension bath system for patients with severe burns or injuries. Team member Joshua Capel programmed the system’s microprocessor and integrated sensors to monitor pH and temperature. “Helping people heal was meaningful to me,” says Capel, who now works as a systems engineer at Textron Systems. “Many of the skills I used in this project translate directly to my career.”
A third team reimagined the connection between a hydraulic mining shovel’s slew ring cover and its rotating assembly, replacing welding with high- strength adhesives to improve durability and reduce metal distortion. With the launch of the SDIC, Raytheon’s investment will empower future students to develop the technical, collaborative and problem-solving skills needed to lead in engineering and innovation.