WVU ETEC team earns first place at Project MFG Additive Manufacturing Competition hosted by Statler College

Brent Griffith, additive manufacturing expert for Project MFG, from left, stands with Emily Spayde, WVU ETEC director; Mike Wedel, project manager for Project MFG; members of the WVU ETEC team; and Robin Hissam, associate dean of academics and student performance in the West Virginia University Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. (WVU Photo/Megan Rinker)

The West Virginia University Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources hosted the Project MFG Additive Manufacturing Competition on April 1, bringing together WVU students and teams from across West Virginia for a hands-on additive manufacturing competition.

Story by Erik Rudolph, Marketing Strategist 
Photos by Megan Rinker 

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

The West Virginia University Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources hosted the Project MFG Additive Manufacturing Competition on April 1, bringing together WVU students and teams from across West Virginia for a hands-on additive manufacturing competition.

The competition tested participants across the full manufacturing process, including design, production strategy, slicing, post-processing and assembly. Teams worked under real-world constraints, navigating time, budget and design changes in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Student teams representing WVU ETEC, the Wyoming County Board of Education and Preston High School competed in the event.

WVU ETEC earned first place, with engineering technology students Seth Massey, Cole Newland, Heath Rye and Kinsey Momeyer representing the winning team, 

The Wyoming County Board of Education team placed second, with Ivan Stewart, Braden Hood, Brendan Pendry and Drake Justus representing the team.

Preston High School’s boys team placed third, with Nicholas Bernatowicz, Levi Yoder, Garret Haymond and Donald Parks representing the team. 

All three teams will advance to the Project MFG National Championship in Austin, Texas, where they will compete against top teams from across the country. Project MFG will cover travel expenses for the teams attending the national competition.

For students, the competition created a fast-paced environment that required teamwork, adaptability and problem-solving under pressure.

Students collaborate on a component during the Project MFG Additive Manufacturing Competition at the Lane Innovation Hub. (WVU Photo/Megan Rinker)

“It’s a little nerve-wracking, but we’re able to work through it,” said Kinsey Momeyer, a junior at WVU and competitor on the WVU ETEC team. “The team dynamic’s definitely there, and it’s a lot easier when you’re working with people who are focused and ready to get things done.”

Following the team’s first-place finish, Momeyer said the experience was both rewarding and unexpected.

“I’m absolutely so excited. Going to Austin is going to be so fun — I’ve never been out West before,” she said. “The competition was very fun and very challenging, but my major prepared us well, and our team had a really strong dynamic. I’m honestly very surprised we won, so I’m super ecstatic right now. Let’s go, Mountaineers!”

Students assemble and inspect a component during the Project MFG Additive Manufacturing Competition at the Lane Innovation Hub. (WVU Photo/Megan Rinker)

Industry representatives said the competition reflects real-world expectations and prepares students for more advanced challenges.

“WVU has been phenomenal. The Innovation Hub and having everything in one place is something you don’t always see,” said Brent Griffith, additive manufacturing expert for Project MFG. “Everyone’s been really welcoming, and the level of talent here is about what we’d expect compared to other competitions.”

“The national competition is an extension of what students are doing here, but with added complexity,” Griffith said. “They’ll see new challenges, but many of the same skills will carry over as they compete at the next level.”

Faculty and organizers emphasized the broader impact of events like this in preparing students for careers in manufacturing and engineering fields.

“Manufacturing is facing a growing shortage of skilled workers, and it’s not always something people see or think about day to day, even though it drives nearly everything we use,” said Kelsey Crawford, teaching instructor in the engineering technology program at WVU. “Opportunities like this are critical because they’re helping prepare students with the skills needed to step into that workforce and keep American manufacturing moving forward.”

“This competition gives students exposure to real-world scenarios where they have to think on their feet, work as a team and apply multiple skill sets at once,” Crawford said. “They’re not just focusing on one task — they’re solving problems the way they would in an actual manufacturing environment.”

The event also featured a Discovery Event, where attendees engaged with hands-on demonstrations led by WVU student organizations and competition teams and explored careers in manufacturing and the skilled trades.

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