Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — A team of students from Youngstown State University recently showcased its engineering and manufacturing skills on a national stage at the Additive in Steel Competition.

The competition, hosted by America Makes, brought together university teams from across the country to design and fabricate a functional, everyday-carry multi-tool using steel-based additive manufacturing. This was the first time YSU was represented in the event.

Representing YSU under the team name “AddiSteel Engineering” were industrial and systems engineering students Aymen Kotb and Jaymes Soles, chemical engineering student Negin Mirzade Yazdi and mechanical engineering student Stephen Sly. Kotb and Mirzade Yazdi joined peers from more than a dozen universities in presenting their designs during live demonstrations at RAPID + TCT, North America’s largest additive manufacturing event.

The students were advised by Brian Friedrich, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and Bharat Yelamanchi, director of the Youngstown Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center and program coordinator for the Industrial and Systems Engineering department. Printing support was provided by Allison Rea, program manager for additive manufacturing.

The challenge required students to apply advanced design principles and leverage cutting-edge 3D printing technologies to create compact, durable tools suited for real-world use. The competition emphasized collaboration, innovation and hands-on learning, all key components of YSU’s growing focus on advanced manufacturing and workforce development.

Participation in the event provided students with valuable experience working alongside industry partners, engaging with professionals in the field and demonstrating their technical capabilities in a competitive environment.