Grand Champion - 2026 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge

Congratulations team! You make us proud.

The 2026 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge Final Competition, hosted by Sun Hydraulics, brought together top university teams from across the nation April 8–10 in Sarasota. Among a competitive field of twelve institutions, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Mechanical Engineering Fluid Power Vehicle Team rose to the top, earning 1st Place and Grand Champion honors in one of the most dynamic and technically demanding student engineering competitions in the country.

“This remarkable achievement by our Mechanical Engineering Fluid Power Vehicle Team reflects the very best of what we strive for within the College of Engineering at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, innovation, collaboration, and real-world problem solving. Earning Grand Champion honors for the second time in three years, against outstanding institutions from across the united states is a testament to the talent, dedication, and perseverance of our students and faculty mentors," said Dean Ahmed Khattab. "The Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge exemplifies the kind of hands-on, industry-relevant learning experiences that prepare our students to lead and succeed in a rapidly evolving engineering landscape. We are incredibly proud of Andrew, Jude, Brendan, Logan and Kaiden for representing our college and university at the highest level and demonstrating that our students can compete and win on a national stage,” continued Khattab.

This milestone victory marks a defining moment for the team and the College of Engineering, showcasing not only technical excellence but also innovation, resilience, and the ability to translate classroom knowledge into real-world solutions. Competing in a challenge that blends human-powered vehicle design with advanced fluid power systems, the team demonstrated exceptional performance across multiple race events, design evaluations, and technical presentations judged by industry professionals.

Now in its 10th year, the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge, an initiative of the National Fluid Power Association Foundation, pushes students to think beyond traditional engineering boundaries. For the UL Lafayette team, the result was more than a win! It was a statement of ingenuity, preparation, and leadership on a national stage.

See the University's Grand Champion story on their website at https://louisiana.edu/news/ul-lafayette-team-named-grand-champions-national-fluid-power-vehicle-challenge

Geaux Cajuns!