ECE students show their skills at Solar Track Meet
Kago Mathabatha (left), chemical engineering and electrical and computer engineering undergrad, works with teammate Nora Elnady to create a custom solar tracker base modeled after the PIXAR toy lamp.
At the University of Arizona's annual Solar Track Meet, undergraduate engineering students turned theory into action. The college established the Solar Track Meet in 2022 with support from ongoing sponsor the Salt River Project utility company. In 2025, the event transitioned to the inaugural project for the four-year Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Program, which culminates with Design Day, where seniors showcase their year-long industry-sponsored projects.
Some students went beyond those first steps and project requirements. Kago Mathabatha’s team integrated a custom lamp base.
“This project was challenging because we had to learn code we’d never seen before and how to use a 3D printer,” said the ECE minor. “It was all completely new to us, but it was rewarding to bring our design to life.”
Students first became certified in 3D printing to build at least one 3D-printed part. They programmed microprocessors, learned to store solar power and wired electronic microcontrollers.