Fall 2025 - Plugged In UTK

Problem: Students need to power their lives anywhere and anytime, from the lawn to the lab.

Your Mission: Build a research-backed, testable solution that delivers accessible, efficient, and user-friendly power to the Volunteer community.

Our First Ever Project Competition:

• Shift to Smaller, Tangible Projects
  Move away from one big, abstract goal → focus on design challenges students can join and complete within weeks.

• Campus Infrastructure Concepts

  • Charging stations in high-traffic study areas.

  • Solar panels on residence halls/Hodges.

  • Pedestrian/traffic data projects (parking, walkways, air quality, etc.).

• Sustainability & Energy

  • Explore student-led green projects (solar, recycling, sensors).

  • Low-cost pilots before scaling.

• Interdisciplinary Build-and-Test Competitions

  • Organized multi-week competition where teams design, prototype, and present solutions.

  • Projects are kept simple, accessible, and rewarding to encourage retention.

• Balance Long-Term Vision
  Small projects build momentum and visibility now while preparing for larger interdisciplinary, capstone-style projects later.