BRITISH COLUMBIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
BCIT students awarded for innovative assistive technology designs

Congratulations to BCIT Biomedical Engineering Technology students for their wins at the 10^th annual Simon Cox Student Design Competition.

The Simon Cox Student Design Competition, hosted by Technology for Living, is an annual event that invites post-secondary teams from across BC to showcase their innovative assistive technology design solutions that promote greater independence in the home for people with mobility challenges.

Two teams from BCIT competed this year and brought home a total of three awards. The Assistive Straw team won the Simon Cox Principal Award - the competition's first place - for their assistive straw device that helps individuals with limited mobility or dexterity drink independently. Meanwhile, the Reel EZ team received the Innovation Award - the competition's second place - as well as the Peer Choice Award for their modified fishing reel, which enables individuals with limited mobility to fish one-handed by reducing the dexterity required for use.

The first-place winning team Assistive Straw received $3,000 as part of their prize, and the Reel EZ team earned a combined $2,000 in prize money for their two awards.

"The Simon Cox Student Design Competition provides students with opportunities to dive into problems that are fun to solve and make a meaningful impact in someone's life," explains Jochen Boehm, P. Eng., BCIT Biomedical Engineering Faculty.

The winning BCIT teams comprised of:

• First place: Assistive Straw team (Mathew Mansfield, Luis Chavez, and Odin Lithgow)
• Third place and Peer's Choice: Reel EZ team (Kilbum Park, Michael Lam, and Mitch Linley)

"It was great to see everyone so engaged with the projects, asking thoughtful questions and offering valuable feedback," shares Mitch Linley, BCIT Biomedical Engineering student. "It was truly heartwarming to be part of. The event had a very strong sense of community, and it felt fulfilling to contribute something that benefits others and makes a positive difference in their lives."

A career with a meaningful impact

Biomedical engineering applies science and engineering to healthcare and medical device industries. The students' achievements in the competition showcase the strength of the BCIT Biomedical Engineering Technology program in equipping students with the knowledge and practical skillsets to make a positive impact for individuals and communities.

Congratulations to all participating students!