Sophomore Academy Projects

This annual collaboration between the English and Engineering departments within the Engineering, Design, and Energy (EDE) Academy represents a powerful synthesis of narrative theory and technical application. By merging Joseph Campbell’s "The Hero’s Journey" with advanced computer-aided design (CAD), students bridge the gap between abstract storytelling and physical realization. In this interdisciplinary project, student groups first deconstruct the monomyth to script a compelling comic strip, creating a journey for a hero of their design, and then they translate those narrative themes into a tangible 3D model that encapsulates their story’s core concept. This approach not only reinforces literacy and structural analysis but also challenges students to use engineering precision to give form to the universal human experience of transformation.