City Colleges of Chicago School of Engineering holds its inaugural Engineering Competition

The room was abuzz with hundreds of people gathered at Wilbur Wright College for City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) first-ever School of Engineering Ideas Competition. 

Although this was not the engineering program’s first Ideas Competition, rather the seventh now, it was the first time that students from Harold Washington and Harry S Truman Colleges participated alongside Wilbur Wright College engineering students, under the umbrella of the newly formed and highly lauded City Colleges of Chicago School of Engineering. 

Projects included finding robotic solutions for those with physical challenges to a “smart powered solar irrigation system.”  

Forty-five teams competed against one another for a chance to win first place. The Judges included engineering industry leaders as well as judges from the University of Illinois’ Grainger School of Engineering and Northrop Grumman. City Colleges of Chicago transfer partners were also on hand to help answer questions for all the students with plans to transfer to 4-year colleges and universities to pursue advanced degrees in the field of engineering.  

“The sky is no longer the limit for our engineering students,” said Dr. Doris Espiritu, Dean of CCC’s School of Engineering. “Our students have big dreams to help cure diseases, explore our universe, and rid our planet of pollution. So many of the graduates of our engineering program are already working as engineers and mentoring City Colleges of Chicago students to follow in their path. On behalf of those we serve, I’m proud of all this program has accomplished and I cannot wait until we can replicate this model at every City College.”  

City Colleges of Chicago has a well-established Engineering Pathways program with a guaranteed admission partnership with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s (UIUC) Grainger College of Engineering for successful program completers. This transfer agreement offers a seamless transition, dual advising, and access to scholarships, creating a strong pipeline for diverse students into top engineering fields and into a top University to pursue their bachelor’s degree. See full list of transfer partners here.