Engineering Excellence: SUNY Poly Wins National Grand Champion Title 

A team of engineering students from SUNY Polytechnic Institute captured national attention this spring, earning the Grand Champion title at the 2025 National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge. The competition, held April 9–11 at IMI plc in Rockford, Illinois, drew top undergraduate teams from across the country to showcase innovative uses of hydraulic technology in vehicle design. 

Only in their second year competing, the SUNY Poly team arrived determined to build on their impressive third-place finish in 2024. The result was a commanding performance: Best Final Presentation, first place in both the Efficiency and Endurance Races, and second place in the Sprint Race—achievements that secured them the overall Grand Champion honor. 

Their winning creation, a fluid-powered bicycle, replaced the traditional mechanical chain with a custom hydraulic system that converted pedal power directly into motion. The project required months of design, fabrication, and rigorous testing, ultimately demonstrating both engineering innovation and the real-world potential of fluid power systems. 

The winning team, consisting of members of the Wildcat Fluid Power Club, were led by faculty advisor Dr. Ahmed Abdelaal. Together, they dedicated hundreds of hours to the project, embodying SUNY Poly’s tradition of hands-on learning, teamwork, and industry collaboration that prepares students to excel far beyond the classroom.