The McNeese State University Automotive Engineering Club was named the Outstanding Organization by the Department of Engineering and Computer Science during the annual Engineers Week Banquet Feb. 26. 

The banquet concluded the department’s Engineering Week, known as E-week, designed to spotlight the engineering and computer science department. Activities included an open house in Drew Hall Feb. 23, an Expo Day for local middle and high school students Feb. 24, and a Conference Day featuring industry presentations and mock interviews Feb. 25. 

The honor comes after a pivotal move for the club, which competed in the Baja SAE international competition for the first time in university history. Operating under the team name “Rowdy Racing”, the students traveled to Gray Court, South Carolina, in October 2025 to compete on the national stage. 

To participate, the club raised $17,500 in sponsorships and designed and built a four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle entirely from scratch.  

Club President and mechanical engineering senior, Feng Dung, said the organization has expanded from 6 to 32 active members over the last 2 years with ten members having traveled to the competition. 

Dung said the award felt like a recognition for the work of all the club members did and he believes it would be an attractive point for membership recruitment. 

“I am sure that this award is going to inspire future members,” Dung said. “We spent countless hours and resources at the workshop trying to make this vehicle a reality and compete against all odds, so it feels good to be appreciated by the department.” 

In addition to the organizational award, Dung was recognized at the banquet as one of two students honored as the department’s Outstanding Senior, an award based on academic and extracurricular contributions. The other senior awarded was Chiamaka Onwude, a computer engineering senior.