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WPI Football rallied back to score five points in the final 16 points of regulation to win with a 50-yard field goal kicked by Nathan Napier '29 for the 22-21 win over University of New England on Saturday, September 12th, 2026.Commentary by Mike Abelson and Mike Panny '28

WPI Women's Soccer's Abigail Johnson recorded her first career hat trick in a home contest vs Johnson & Wales on September 16, 2026, at H. Carr Field at Alumni Stadium.Commentary provided by Mike Panny '28

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore asset mapping, a tool teams can use to lay the foundation for more effective and equitable teamwork. Lydia Ellen Tonani-Penha, a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and a fellow at WPI’s SWEET Center (Supporting WPI through Effective and Equitable Teamwork), discusses her role at the center, helping to guide students through the common challenges associated with teamwork so they can be stronger teammates and reap the rewards of completing difficult tasks in partnership with others. She describes and breaks down in detail an asset map, via a mock exercise, and explains how any team can use it to plan out roles and responsibilities. This episode will provide listeners with strategies and tools they can consider when embarking on a team project or navigating challenges. This is the second of two episodes on the topic. The first episode, featuring a conversation with Anne Ogilvie, WPI’s director for team learning and the leader of the SWEET Center, can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEXMTPPx5_I    Related links: SWEET Center https://www.wpi.edu/academics/global-school/departments-programs-offices/sweet-centerProject-Based Learning https://www.wpi.edu/topics/project-based-learning-pblMajor Qualifying Project https://www.wpi.edu/project-based-learning/project-based-education/major-qualifying-projectInteractive Qualifying Project https://www.wpi.edu/project-based-learning/project-based-education/interactive-qualifying-projectAsset mapping template https://www.wpi.edu/sites/default/files/2026-09/Asset-Map-Example-%26-Individual-Fillable-Map.pdf

The National Science Foundation has awarded $2 million to Worcester Polytechnic Institute for scholarships and mentoring aimed at improving the retention and graduation rates of low-income undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of robotics, smart infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. The funding will support scholarships for 70 high-performing students, including transfer students from regional community colleges and the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez, and contribute to national efforts to increase the size of the U.S. workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. “It is important to give students from all backgrounds the opportunity to contribute to STEM fields,” said Cagdas Onal, associate professor and head of the Department of Robotics Engineering, who will lead the project as principal investigator. “If we remove the financial constraints that make it difficult for students to devote themselves to learning, those students will be able to graduate at higher rates, succeed in STEM careers, and live as productive citizens.” Onal will collaborate with a team of faculty from across WPI, including three co-PIs: Berk Calli, associate professor of robotic engineering; Gillian Smith, professor in the Department of Computer Science and director of WPI’s Interactive Media and Game Development Program; and Yunus Telliel, director of Great Problems Seminar program and assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Arts and Interactive Media and Game Development Program. Other faculty members who will be involved are Professor Carrick Eggleston, Associate Professor and Director of Sustainability Paul Mathisen, and Nima Rahbar, the Ralph H. White Family Professor and department head, all of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering; Professor Pratap Rao of the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering; Professor Sarah Strauss of the Department of Integrative and Global Studies; and robotics engineering Professor Jing Xiao. The team will seek applicants who are studying in four fields: robotics engineering; mechanical and materials engineering; civil, environmental, and architectural engineering; and interactive media and game development. Scholarships will be available for undergraduates who are recipients of Pell Grants, a form of federal financial aid, and graduate students who can demonstrate financial need. “Pell-eligible students have lower retention and graduation rates than other four-year undergraduates,” said Smith. “Scholarships will help lift a financial burden for these students, while supporting them in pursuing exciting, interdisciplinary opportunities in design that open doors for a wide variety of internships and future career pathways.” To recruit transfer students, the team will seek applicants at Quinsigamond, Mount Wachusett, Berkshire, Holyoke, and MassBay community colleges in Massachusetts, as well as Northern Essex and Manchester community colleges in New Hampshire. WPI already has transfer partnership agreements with some of the colleges to ease students’ transfer to WPI. In addition to awarding scholarships, the team will develop and offer students programs that build on WPI’s strength as a leader in project-based learning, including the Great Problems Seminar. Faculty members will mentor students as they complete interdisciplinary projects at different levels. Participants will have access to WPI’s summer educational programs, and the faculty team will partner with companies and nonprofit organizations to provide internship opportunities for students. “All students at WPI must complete research projects focused on real-world problems to graduate, and our programs will enable students to shape those required projects into multiyear, interdisciplinary collaborations that can help pave the way for their future careers,” said Calli. “We place great importance on empowering students to make a positive impact in their communities, and this program will provide many such opportunities, from assistive robotics in healthcare to solutions in waste management.” WPI has previously received funding from NSF for similar initiatives aimed at supporting low-income students and building the STEM workforce. The university was awarded $2.5 million in 2023 for scholarships and programs that are still under way for computer science undergraduates. Earlier initiatives focused on students in renewable energy fields and on undergraduates who were the first in their families to attend college. The new program will examine how a coordinated set of interventions can help talented students from low-income backgrounds succeed at WPI. Telliel said the insights will be especially important in the rapidly changing fields of robotics, smart infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. “Technological change requires us to broaden our understanding of the capabilities essential to STEM,” Telliel said. “Students who can link technical des...

Relive all the excitement of BC26!

🚀 Demo Day 2025 at WPI’s i3 Lab was a success! On September 24th, the Innovation Studio was transformed into a hub of creativity, entrepreneurship, and inspiration as student founders pitched their ideas for a share of $60,000+ in prizes.We are thrilled to celebrate the hard work, courage, and ingenuity of every team that took the stage — and to recognize this year’s winners: 🔧 𝙄𝙣𝙘𝙪𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙧𝙮 🥇 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: QuickEst Estimations Inc. – Russell Hertel ’27 (RBE), Luis Alzamora ’26 (RBE) 🥈 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 '𝟳𝟳 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: BrailleBox – Jelaleddin Gylychmuhammedov ’27 (RBE), Octavio Bittar ’27 (ECE), Minh Ha ’27 (CS) 🥉 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: HydroFlex – Jack Shanks ’26 (ME) 🏅 𝗪𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: EpiSafe - Aaryan Panchal '28 (RBE), Ezra Yohay '25 (Phys), Khushal Sharma '27 (ECE), Ethan Takvorian '28 (RBE), Joshua Kashambala 🚀 𝙄𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙧𝙮: 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: FellowBridge - Dan Nguyen ‘26 (CS), Ana Merlo '25 (MS BA), Antonela Tamagini '25 (MS CS) 𝗶𝟯 𝗟𝗮𝗯 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: Cybele Technology - Maxwell Markey (PhD Chem)💡 𝙄𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙧𝙮: 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: Christy Lam ‘26 (CS) 𝗗𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗗. 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 🔥: FireMap - Tair Kareneyev '27 (RBE & CS) Firewise - Dimitris Graikos '25 (MS BA) 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲'𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: Venturly - Khushali Shah '26 (MS Fintech), Labhesh Mahajan '26 (MS CS), Rohan Solipuram '26 (MS Fintech), Mihir Kate '25 (CompE)We were honored to have Provost Andrew Sears and Interim Dean of Business School Kwamie Dunbar open the day with a powerful message about the importance of student innovation, and President Grace Wang conclude the event and open the evening session, inspiring our community to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. We were also privileged to host Anthony Galgano, Owner & President of True Robotics, Inc., as our keynote speaker. His story of perseverance and growth deeply resonated with the audience, and he was recognized with the Vignaly Commercialization Fund "Spirit of Joe Award" by the WPI OTIE. This event would not have been possible without the dedication of our judges: Christine Murner, Evan Cox, Geoff Strage, Greg Dalle-Molle, Joe Klimek, Lisa A. K., Paul Kalenian, Paul Rummel, Peter Cifichiello, Roman Fayerberg, Sandhya Balasubramanian, Tara Ostromecky, and Zachary Dutton — thank you for lending your expertise. We also extend our deepest gratitude to our donors and supporters: Auxilium Worcester, Aram and Alba Kalenian Award, Henry and Alberta Strage Award, New England Innovations, Wire Group, Cornerstone Bank, Joe Klimek ’94, Bowditch & Dewey, LLP, WPI Business School, Michael Abrams ’77, Duane D. Pearsall, and WPI OTIE.Finally, thank you to the entire WPI community and guests — who joined us to celebrate entrepreneurship and innovation. Your energy made this Demo Day truly special.