Project SERVE

Project SERVE Project S.E.R.V.E. - Student Engineering for Resilience of Veterans and Emergency Responders

One of the most encouraging parts of this year’s National Design Competition was seeing how many women were helping lead...
06/01/2026

One of the most encouraging parts of this year’s National Design Competition was seeing how many women were helping lead the work.

More than half of the students participating in the competition were women, bringing their ideas, technical skills, research, and problem-solving abilities to projects designed for Team USA para athletes.

Across the competition, students spent months working directly with athletes to create adaptive solutions focused on mobility, comfort, performance, and accessibility in extreme winter conditions.

It’s exciting to see more women continuing to shape the future of engineering and human-centered design, especially in spaces where practical innovation can directly impact someone’s quality of life.

Thank you to Virginia Commonwealth University's College of Engineering for participating in this year’s National Design ...
06/01/2026

Thank you to Virginia Commonwealth University's College of Engineering for participating in this year’s National Design Competition!

The biomedical engineering seniors earned third place at this year’s competition, hosted by Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Tech, for developing a high-performance residual limb warmer designed to support winter para-athletes on Team USA competing in extreme cold conditions.

We appreciate the months of research, collaboration, and thoughtful engineering that went into projects like these throughout the academic year.
Read more on VCU’s blog: https://blogs.vcu.edu/engineering/2026/05/06/beyond-the-finish-line-vcu-students-engineer-safer-supports-for-winter-para-athletes/

How does it all work?It starts with a real challenge.A veteran or emergency responder with an injury or disabling condit...
05/29/2026

How does it all work?

It starts with a real challenge.

A veteran or emergency responder with an injury or disabling conditions is facing something in daily life that doesn’t have an easy, off-the-shelf solution.

They reach out to us.

Project S.E.R.V.E. works with engineering faculty to understand the need and identify where a custom adaptive device could help.

Then, the project is matched with a university team.

A Project S.E.R.V.E. program manager helps guide the process, acting as the connection between the participant, students, and faculty.

From there, students begin designing a personalized solution.

Over the course of 9–10 months, the team researches, designs, tests, adjusts, and builds a custom device around the participant’s needs, often meeting virtually and in person throughout the process.

By the end, students gain real-world engineering experience, and the participant receives a solution built specifically for their life.

That’s the heart of Project S.E.R.V.E.

Human need. Student innovation. Personalized solutions.

05/25/2026

This , we honor and remember the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

We’re also deeply grateful for the veterans, military families, university partners, students, and supporters who continue serving others every day by helping veterans and emergency responders living with injuries and disabling conditions regain independence, mobility, and quality of life.

We’re proud to be part of this mission together.

VMI News recently highlighted a collaboration between Virginia Military Institute ECE cadets and Army veteran Jeremy Dav...
05/22/2026

VMI News recently highlighted a collaboration between Virginia Military Institute ECE cadets and Army veteran Jeremy Davis.

Over the academic year, the cadets developed custom hardware and software to make Jeremy’s over-the-bed workstation more accessible, allowing him to control his monitor and keyboard directly from his phone or computer.

It’s a strong example of engineering focused not just on technology, but on improving independence and everyday comfort.

We’re grateful to VMI for sharing the story and recognizing the work these cadets put into the project.

Read more here: https://www.vmi.edu/news/headlines/2025-2026/ece-cadets-aid-disabled-veteran-with-capstone-project.php

We’re honored to share that Project S.E.R.V.E. has been named to the Forbes Accessibility 200 for the second consecutive...
05/20/2026

We’re honored to share that Project S.E.R.V.E. has been named to the Forbes Accessibility 200 for the second consecutive year!

The list recognizes organizations around the world advancing accessibility and inclusion through innovation, and we’re proud to be included alongside so many impactful companies and initiatives.
This recognition reflects the work of our university partners, engineering students, supporters, and most importantly, the veterans and emergency responders who trust us with their stories and challenges.

Every project starts with a conversation about daily life; what’s difficult, what’s missing, and what could make things easier. From there, students work alongside those individuals to create solutions designed specifically around their needs.

We’re grateful to Forbes and Assistant Managing Editor Alan Schwarz for the recognition and we’re excited to continue engineering with empathy!

Read the full announcement: https://projectserve.org/news/project-serve-forbes-accessibility
And see the full Accessibility 200 list: https://www.forbes.com/lists/accessibility/

This past Saturday was Armed Forces Day.For us, it was a reminder of the veterans we’ve had the privilege of working alo...
05/18/2026

This past Saturday was Armed Forces Day.

For us, it was a reminder of the veterans we’ve had the privilege of working alongside through the years; individuals who continue to adapt, rebuild, and push forward long after their service ends.

Many of the projects we support begin with a simple conversation about an everyday challenge. From there, students and veterans work together to create solutions designed around real needs and lived experiences.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to support those who have served, not just in recognition this weekend, but through ongoing collaboration and care.

Another great highlight featuring retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran Josh Doyle and the adaptive e-bike project developed...
05/16/2026

Another great highlight featuring retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran Josh Doyle and the adaptive e-bike project developed through Project S.E.R.V.E.!

Thank you to KPBS for spotlighting San Diego State University's Senior Design Day and sharing the story behind this collaboration between Josh and a team of engineering students who designed a custom adaptive pedal system around his specific mobility needs.

Projects like this are a reminder of what can happen when thoughtful engineering is shaped around a person’s everyday life.

Read more here: https://www.kpbs.org/news/military/2026/05/06/sdsu-engineering-students-help-marine-vet-get-back-on-a-bike

Fourth Estate, George Mason University’s official student news outlet, featured Team 4Ward’s win, sharing the story behi...
05/15/2026

Fourth Estate, George Mason University’s official student news outlet, featured Team 4Ward’s win, sharing the story behind their first-place winning project.

Working alongside Team USA para athlete Dan Rizzieri, students Aidan Zentner, Leah Werme, Jacob Lockey and their advisor, Shani Ross developed a residual limb warming device designed to help athletes stay warm and protected during training and competition in extreme cold conditions.

What stood out most in the story was the team’s focus on accessibility, usability, and listening closely to the athlete they were designing for.

As Dan shared, having equipment designed around real needs allows athletes to “think about one less thing.”

Read the full story here: https://gmufourthestate.com/2026/05/10/mason-bioengineering-team-wins-3rd-annual-national-design-competition/

FOX 5 San Diego recently highlighted San Diego State University's Senior Design Day, featuring a Project S.E.R.V.E. coll...
05/15/2026

FOX 5 San Diego recently highlighted San Diego State University's Senior Design Day, featuring a Project S.E.R.V.E. collaboration centered around retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran Josh Doyle.

Students from SDSU developed a custom adaptive e-bike system designed specifically around Josh’s range of motion and mobility needs after finding that existing systems on the market didn’t fully support what he needed.

The project quickly became more than an engineering exercise. Josh was now able to get back to riding again and spend more active time with his kids.

We’re proud to see projects like this receiving broader attention and helping showcase what student-led engineering can make possible.

Watch the news segment on Josh and the students: https://youtu.be/r673PyN8uvM?si=TzqaTp3mOqj2-He5

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