RC
Robert Cybulski
  • mechanical engineering
  • Class of 2019
  • Leola, PA

Robert Cybulski and RIT Theme Park Enthusiasts sweep awards in national engineering competition

2016 Dec 5

Six members of Rochester Institute of Technology's Theme Park Enthusiasts, including Robert Cybulski, made a clean sweep in Orlando, Fla., by winning every award in a national competition to design amusement park rides.

The Ryerson Invitational Thrill Design Competition, hosted by Universal Creative, invited teams from four colleges to create theme park rides or make modifications to existing rides.

The teams had three challenges to finish. Two tasks were given prior to the competition, although one was altered after they arrived in Orlando. One task had them retrofitting a Ferris wheel to keep children in open gondolas, one had them design a rollercoaster that can't go faster than 40 mph, and one task had them redesign the Teacups ride to make it more appealing to teenagers.

They were judged for their innovativeness, presentation skills and effectiveness.

There were awards for each challenge and an overall award; the RIT team won all four. And they were surprised with offers of internships by Universal Creative, the research and development group responsible for designing rides and attractions for Universal Parks & Resorts theme parks.

RIT's Theme Park Enthusiasts club was founded nearly three years ago and this was the first year they entered the competition. The other teams were from Ryerson University in Toronto, Drexel University in Philadelphia and the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

The competition was established in 2014 to build networks of students with professional interest in the attractions industry, said Kathryn Woodcock, a competition judge and director of the THRILL Laboratory and associate professor of human factors engineering/ergonomics and safety at Ryerson.

"The RIT team showed presentation flair, an obvious passion for theme parks, great teamwork and attention to detail in responding to the criteria for each challenge," Woodcock said. "It was an outstanding performance by a first-time competitor and all of us look forward to seeing the RIT team as they develop their talents and build opportunities in this exciting industry."

The competition was held Nov. 11-14 and was held prior to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions annual exposition there. The students made their presentations to senior staff at Universal Creative.

Their trip was made possible by RIT's mechanical engineering department, Student Government and the Center for Campus Life.