“Do it for Canada!” These words of encouragement stuck with the McMaster Engineering team as they took the stage at the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Student Competition in Austin, Texas in early March.
As the only Canadian team to make it to the MCAA finals and one of two Canadian teams among 25 American competitors in the entire competition, the McMaster team felt the added pressure of positively representing both their university and their country. Not only did they rise to the occasion, but they also outperformed all other teams, securing first place and a $10,000 USD cash prize.
The journey to the MCAA was often challenging for the six McMaster Mechanical Engineering students – Nour Abdallah, Erin Chillingworth, Michael Holden, Puisand Lai, Jared Montgomery and Ryan Neudorf – who formed their group in the fall of 2024. “None of us had any prior knowledge of mechanical contracting when we started the competition,” said Chillingworth, a final-year student and the MCAA team captain for McMaster. “But by the end of the experience, we were able to confidently present an 80-page bid for a mechanical contracting project on stage in front of hundreds of people, which made the intense periods of work and late nights worth it.”
The bid, which was for a real-world mechanical contracting project, required a proposal for an HVAC system at an existing medical research facility tightly wedged into a research park in Manhattan, New York. Each team created a mock company with values and safety protocols, detailing how they would implement and cost the system.
As the winning team, the McMaster students had the opportunity to speak with MCAA judges, who noted that they were highly impressed with their report and polished performance during their presentation and ability to respond confidently during the Q&A period.
By the end of the experience, we were able to confidently present an 80-page bid for a mechanical contracting project on stage in front of hundreds of people, which made the intense periods of work and late nights worth it.
Stephen Veldhuis, a mechanical engineering professor and director of the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute, mentored the team. “I was truly impressed watching them excel throughout the months-long process, culminating in a stellar showing on stage in Austin,” he said. “They should be tremendously proud of themselves.”
In addition to the final presentation in Austin, the team’s experience included travel to Seattle and Niagara Falls to attend student conferences, where participants met fellow competitors and had ample networking opportunities with mechanical contracting companies eager to recruit new talent. The team also toured industry sites like the Rogers Center to see what it takes to install the HVAC equipment needed to keep 40,000 people comfortable during a game or concert.
The Mechanical Contractors Association of Hamilton Niagara’s Education Committee also provided mentorship to the group and shared industry relevant advice and feedback, which helped in shaping the students’ bid.
With the competition behind her, Chillingworth is preparing to wrap up her degree and begin a mechanical contracting job. “This MCAA experience led to the job opportunity,” she said. “I hope other Mechanical Engineering students pursue this competition. It’s full of opportunity.”
The Mac Eng team will be gathering one last time to showcase their bid at the April 8 Capstone Expo on campus.
