It may be a fundraiser, but to students, it’s “absolutely critical” and a “cornerstone” to their future as engineers.
 
Student professional organizations affiliated with the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) secured more than $119,000 in total donations for the Match Challenge.

“This year’s match pool was generously provided by lead sponsor Triad Magnetics, with additional support from BCOE alumnus Kevin Marcus,” said BCOE Assistant Dean for Development DuBron Rabb. “Both Kevin Marcus and Bill Dull, president of Triad Magnetics, are valued members of the BCOE Dean’s Council of Advisors. Their commitment to supporting student organizations reflects the council’s dedication to fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth within the BCOE community."

The challenge is an annual fundraiser that creates opportunities for participating organizations — such as the Society of Women Engineers and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers — to seek donations from faculty, staff, alumni, industry partners, and friends of the BCOE community. For the roughly month-long challenge, every dollar raised by student organizations will be matched up to $1,000 — essentially doubling each donation.
 
Students said the funds raised play a significant role in supporting the organization’s activities in different ways. These include covering the costs of student projects, attending conferences and participating in competitions, and leadership and professional development activities.

The three organizations that raised the most funding were Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE): Highlander Racing, which raised $20,296 ($42,582 with matching funds); the National Society of Black Engineering (NSBE), which raised $13,925 ($28,340 with matching funds); and the Highlander Space Program (HSP), which raised $5,680 ($11,550 with matching funds).

“This event is a cornerstone for our organization, offering professional development workshops, networking opportunities with top companies, and exposure to cutting-edge engineering innovations,” said NSBE president and computer science major Matu Kahsay.

The Match Challenge lasted five weeks, with a weekly winner named for the student organization with the largest number of individual donors. SAE was the winner for weeks 1, 2, 3, and 5, and NSBE was the winner for week 4. In all, SAE had the most total donors, 160; NSBE had the second-most total donors, 92, and HSP had the third-most total donors, 46.
 

For FSAE, the funds received “will directly support the design, fabrication, and testing of our next-generation race car, enhancing critical components such as the battery pack, electronics, and safety,” said organization president Grayson Young. The funds will also help cover travel and competition expenses, allowing FSAE: Highlander Racing to showcase its innovations at regional and national events.
 
“Support like the Match Challenge funds is absolutely critical to the success of student-led teams like FSAE: Highlander Racing,” Young said. “It enables us to turn our innovative ideas into reality, providing the resources to design and build high-performance race cars. Without this type of funding, we would be limited in our ability to compete at the highest level, develop industry-relevant skills, and represent UCR internationally. This support fuels our current projects and invests in the future of engineering talent and innovation.”
 
The funds raised will help cover the travel expenses for NSBE members who plan to attend the organization's national conference in Chicago next year, Kahsay said.

“Our organization is profoundly grateful to our donors for their generosity during the Match Challenge,” he said. “This support is more than financial — it’s an investment in the future of Black engineers, empowering our members to pursue excellence, break barriers, and create lasting change in the engineering field.”
 
For some donors, Match Challenge offers a unique opportunity to support the growth of future engineers.
 
“Triad Magnetics is happy to support UCR’s students as they explore their engineering passions,” company president Bill Dull said. Triad Magnetics is a Perris-based magnetics technology company. “We appreciate that the teams are multidisciplinary, where students from all majors can work collaboratively. Triad currently has four UCR graduates on our engineering staff, and we’ve learned from them that team participation provides practical experience for future success.”
 
The challenge also offers students valuable experiences, Rabb said.
 
“The Match Challenge is an impactful opportunity to amplify support for our students, allowing them to undertake meaningful projects, gain invaluable experience, and develop as future leaders in engineering.”

Header image: Formula Society of Automotive Engineers; Highlander Racing president Grayson Young. (Photo courtesy of Grayson Young)