Maryland Engineering Student Organizations (MESO): Accomplishments in the 2025-2026 Academic Year

A large group of people wearing black T-shirts stand behind a rocket with a UMD Loop banner behind them

The Maryland Engineering Student Organization (MESO) network is proud to share updates from 17 student organizations, highlighting accomplishments from the 2025–2026 academic year. These accomplishments were first presented by organization leaders at the MESO End of Year Celebration.

MESO has recognized 49 student organizations, ranging from major-focused organizations, competition teams, affinity organizations, honor societies and national chapters, and interdisciplinary organizations.

On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, MESO will host a student organization fair, allowing new and returning students an opportunity to learn more about these organizations in person. This event will be held in the A. James Clark Hall from 1 to 4:30 p.m., directly following the Dean’s Welcome Back Celebration.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) / Concrete Canoe / Steel Bridge

Sixteen students pose in front of a brightly colored canoe by the Bay

The ASCE UMD Chapter is open to all University of Maryland students and faculty. Concrete Canoe is a club team associated with the ASCE UMD Chapter, and it represents UMD in the annual competition held by the National ASCE. The Steel Bridge team designs and constructs a bridge constrained by real-world guidelines. All UMD students are welcome to join.

Completed the first fully designed concrete canoe in the last three years
Competed in annual Mid-Atlantic ASCE Student Symposium at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Placed 2nd and 3rd for two of its competition teams at their regional symposium
Increased underclassmen involvement
Had a budget surplus unlike previous years

Biocomputational Engineering Club

A student in a Maryland Engineering shirt stands by a trifold poster that reads Biocomputational Engineering

The Biocomputational Engineering Club serves as a bridge between computer science and biology for aspiring students. All UMD students are welcome to join.

Hosted several successful programming and computational biology workshops
Held a tech and biotech networking event
Facilitated a project meeting
Guided several students on building machine learning projects focused on biological topics

Biomedical Engineering Society

Six students pose between columns on the UMD campus

The UMD-Biomedical Engineering Society unites and promotes the future of the biomedical engineering profession. All UMD undergraduate students are welcome to join.

Hosted the first-ever BIOE Formal
Participated in a successful Mid-Atlantic Research Day, an annual poster research competition hosted in collaboration with UMD and Johns Hopkins University

Black Engineering Society

Sixteen students make peace signs with their fingers. One holds a framed award with the text Region II Awards

As the student chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers at the University of Maryland, the Black Engineering Society recruits, retains, and releases qualified minorities into fields of computer science, engineering, mathematics, and physical sciences. All UMD students are welcome to join.

Received multiple awards:

National Society of Black Engineers Region 2 Large Chapter of the Year Award
National Large Chapter of the Year Award
Gift of Giving Gala UMD Black Alumni Award

Engineers Without Borders

Five people—including three students—sit behind a table, presenting to a packed room of attendees

The UMD chapter of Engineers Without Borders partners with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through the implementation of environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects, while developing internationally responsible engineering students. All UMD students are welcome to join.

Partnered with communities in Uganda, Guatemala, Rwanda, Ecuador, as well as locally, on a diverse range of engineering projects, from wastewater management and erosion control to greenhouse design
Developed solutions in preparation of traveling to partner communities to implement its designs

iGEM at the University of Maryland

12 students in lab coats watch another student in a lab coat hold up a vial

iGEM at the University of Maryland provides undergraduate students interested in the sciences a means to compete in the annual International Genetically Engineered Machine competition. All UMD students are welcome to join.

Awarded the silver medal at the iGEM Jamboree in Paris for designing an optogenetic regulatory system in bacteria
Performed educational outreach at the STEM EXPO, Maryland Day, and engineering department summer camps

IEEE @ UMD

Dozen of students pose on the grass alongside a banner reading IEEE Washington Section

IEEE @ UMD is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) student branch at the University of Maryland, catering to the needs of students interested in electrical and computer engineering. All UMD students are welcome to join.

Assisted at the Maryland STEM Expo Spring 2026 semester
Attended a biomedical event at a high school and answered students’ questions about UMD

oSTEM

Four students and a staff member make funny faces and give the peace sign with their hands

UMD oSTEM is the university’s chapter of the national Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics organization. All UMD students are welcome to join. To be considered an active member of oSTEM, UMD students must attend at least three events per semester.

Led a UMD graduate student panel at the oSTEM Conference in Baltimore, the first time the chapter has ever attended
Co-hosted the Queer STEM Alumni Panel with Engineering Career Services, University Career Services, and CMNS to foster connections between current students and accomplished alums
Tabled at a personal record number of on-campus events: Quelcome, Tech Block Party, Maryland Engineering Student Organization Fair, First Look Fair, oSTEM Conference, and Second Look Fair
Organized seasonal collaborative social events with other queer student organizations
Significantly increased graduate student involvement
Launched an official LinkedIn page to foster professional development
Recruited four new board members to build a full e-board
Welcomed Ambi Narula, a new academic advisor

Salamander Fire Protection Engineering Honorary Society

20 students pose with smiles in front of two projector screens

Fire protection engineering students are invited to join the UMD Chapter of the Salamander Honorary Society based on academic achievement. To be inducted, candidates must demonstrate involvement in the department through fire protection engineering research, teaching/tutoring, and/or special event participation.

Hosted the first formal induction in seven years at the UMD Golf Course

SEDS@UMD

Three students pose by a trifold poster that reads SEDS@UMD: Liquid Rocket

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space at UMD empowers students to explore space, design spacecraft, and inspire innovation. All UMD students are welcome to join.

Published and presented its research at AIAA Scitech
New members designed a payload in three weeks and sent it up 100,000 feet

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

Nine students are dressed up and smiling outside

SHPE at UMD seeks to empower the Hispanic community of College Park to attain careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and excel as technical and professional leaders. All UMD students are welcome to join.

Increased attendance at events hosted by SHPE
More graduates had employment lined-up upon graduation

Tau Beta Pi Maryland Beta

Nine students hold certificates, posing in a row between two rows of other students

The Maryland Beta chapter of the national Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society recognizes and provides a social environment for the top engineering students at UMD. Potential electees must be in the top 1/8 of the engineering junior class or the top 1/5 of the engineering senior class and must be currently or have been previously enrolled in at least one 300-level or higher engineering course.

Awarded the Chapter Project Award for recognition of excellence in programs throughout the year

Terps Racing: Formula IC

Seven students stand near a bright red formula-style race car parked outside on the UMD campus

Terps Racing designs, builds, tests, and races formula-style racecars, electric formula-style racecars, and baja-style off-road vehicles. It consists of three MESO recognized teams: Formula SAE, Formula SAE Electric, and Baja SAE. All UMD students are welcome to join.

This update comes from the Formula SAE team:

Developed a fully driver‑adjustable autonomous active aerodynamics package, delivering front‑to‑rear balance control inspired by modern GT racing
Built a GT3‑style digital dashboard that gives drivers real‑time aero, powertrain, and chassis feedback for sharper decision‑making on track

Terrapin Rocket Team

15 people (students and advisors) stand outside on a field, many holding small rockets

The Terrapin Rocket Team designs, builds, and launches high-powered, innovative rockets to compete at the International Rocket Engineering Challenge. All UMD students are welcome to join.

Expanded recruitment to an active membership of 120 members
Secured most amount of funding by sponsors and donors ever
Members received the largest number of internships and full-time offers ever recorded

UMD Loop

A large group of people wearing black T-shirts stand behind a rocket with a UMD Loop banner behind them

UMD Loop designs, builds, and implements a fully functional Mars rover to compete in the University Rover Challenge (URC). New members are selected at the beginning of the fall semester through an intensive challenge + presentation process called Challenge Week.

Engineered a Mars Rover for the 2026 URC
One of 38 international teams invited to compete in Utah for the competition's final round on May 27-30
The URC is the world's premiere international collegiate robotics competition, and UMD Loop’s invitation to URC finals put UMD Loop ahead of renowned schools such as Harvard, UC Berkeley, Cornell, UPenn, UCLA, Yale, and many more domestic and international teams representing 18 countries around the world
Members have completely revamped the entire chassis of their rover, created custom 3D-printed TPU wheels, designed and built a 13" drone from scratch, investigated worlds-first physical mechanisms, and learned engineering concepts from the ground up

WindTERPines

Nine students and an advisor stand before a blue Collegiate Wind Competition back drop

The Wind TERPines is a UMD team consisting primarily of engineering and business students competing against top universities across the nation in the Department of Energy’s Collegiate Wind Competition. The team’s primary task is to create a working prototype of an off-grid wind turbine. All UMD students and staff are welcome to join.

Competed in the first Collegiate Wind Competition since the organization was reestablished
Created a turbine and designed and planned the site and financial reports to showcase our work and finance reports to showcase their work
Became more involved with supporting KidWind this year, which is a competition like Wind TERPines but at the K-12 level

These 17 student organizations are among the 49 registered with Maryland Engineering Student Organizations. Congratulations to all MESO student organizations for their successful year and the Clark School is excited to see what they will accomplish in the upcoming year!

Published August 27, 2026