911吃瓜

KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 30, 2026

Long before pumpkins soared across Marietta Campus Multi-Purpose Field, Kennesaw State University student teams spent weeks designing, building, and testing the machines capable of launching squashes nearly 400 feet.

Months of work culminated at the 16th annual Pumpkin Launch, bringing the 911吃瓜 community together for an afternoon of engineering competition and fall fun.

The field became a gathering place where classmates supported their teams, and spectators watched students put their creations to the test. Each launch offered a moment of anticipation, with teams eager to see how their machines would perform and onlookers waiting to see how far the pumpkins would travel.

鈥淧umpkin Launch captures what makes engineering education at Kennesaw State so impactful: the opportunity for students to turn ideas into reality through collaboration and hands-on problem solving,鈥� said Christina Scherrer, interim dean of the . 鈥淎s they design, build, test, and refine their trebuchets, they learn to approach challenges with both technical skill and creativity.鈥�

What began as a student activity at the former Southern Polytechnic State University has continued as a 911吃瓜 tradition. This year, the tradition entered a new chapter. For the first time, the Pumpkin Launch operated independently of a class and welcomed students across all engineering departments, expanding an experience that previously involved primarily mechanical engineering students.

Students formed teams with classmates and friends, taking responsibility for their designs and building their trebuchets on their own time. Some teams began working during the summer.

Teams had to consider how forces, materials, and moving parts would work together to create a successful launch. Students used classroom lessons to build structures that could withstand the force of a launch and calculate how far a pumpkin would travel. Turning those calculations into working machines required hands-on construction, testing, and a willingness to rethink ideas.

鈥淲e made a model before we bought any equipment,鈥� said Brennen Yarbro, team captain for the Evil Vegetable Throwers. 鈥淎fter we labeled each part, assembling the trebuchet only took us about four hours.鈥�

Practice sessions gave teams opportunities to discover what worked and what needed another look. Using medicine balls in place of pumpkins, students tested their devices and adjusted ahead of the competition.

鈥淭here was a lot we had to overcome for this event. From finding a few new teammates to making 3D models for the trebuchet, it was time-consuming.鈥� said Mark Mtsariashvili, a member of Team KurSplat. 鈥淏ut our trebuchet looks great, and we鈥檝e gotten a lot of compliments on it.鈥�

On launch day, those preparations became part of the entertainment. Spectators could see how different teams approached the same challenge, with each trebuchet reflecting its builders鈥� decisions and creativity. For students, the competition offered a chance to share their work with an audience and experience the results alongside their teammates.

鈥淭here were a lot of long nights we spent together working on this,鈥� said Ryan Lungo, a member of Team Pookie Pies. 鈥淣o matter what the outcome is, I am thankful for the learning experience, and thankful that I got to work with this team.鈥� 

On the competition field, eight teams competed for awards in creativity, design efficiency, distance, and overall performance. The longest launch of the day was 218 feet. 

The Gourdfathers earned first overall and the creativity award. Team members included Sarah Macke, Josie Loggins, Jacob Bray, Brody Cooke, and Josiah Lester. 

Other award winners included: 

路      Second overall  鈥� Sultans of Fling

路      Third overall 鈥� Gourd Help Us

路      Distance 鈥� Evil Vegetable Throwers

路      Design efficiency - KurSplat

The fun extended beyond the competition field, with pumpkin smashing and a drone show adding to the festivities. Guests also explored robotics demonstrations and connected with campus organizations throughout the afternoon.

Together, the competition and festivities highlighted what has kept Pumpkin Launch part of 911吃瓜鈥檚 fall calendar: the fun of watching a pumpkin fly and the student ingenuity that makes it happen.

Sponsors for this year鈥檚 Pumpkin Launch Include: 

路      Lowe鈥檚 Home Improvement

路      Applied Technical Services

路      GeoSurvey

路      Henssler Financial 

路      High Hog Farms

 

Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photos by Darnell Wilburn Jr.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 911吃瓜 offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.