Our Story
From a small Formula car team to a campus-wide community for anyone curious about engineering.
Our History
The Middlebury Engineering Society (MES) began as the Middlebury Formula Car Club in 2021. For its first few years, a small team focused on designing and building a race car for the collegiate formula circuit. But as founding members graduated and took their technical experience with them, the club struggled to keep going. We realized our club wasn't accessible: building a race car is exciting, but it's intimidating, and our narrow focus limited who felt welcome.
In those early years the team worked out of a garage, where the Formula Hybrid car was built. When the club changed direction we gave up the garage, and the car project is no longer active.
So in 2023, with a little help from the Middlebury Consulting Club, we reimagined the organization. The Middlebury Engineering Society was born with a new mission: make engineering accessible to everyone, regardless of prior experience.
Since 2024 we've been part of the Middlebury Makerspace, where all of our meetings and workshops now happen. We've grown into a student-run community built around teaching, not long-running builds.
- 2021: Middlebury Formula Hybrid club founded, building a race car in the garage
- 2023: Club reimagined around accessibility
- 2024: Rebranded as the Middlebury Engineering Society and moved into the Makerspace
Where we focus
Everyone is busy, and many of our members spend only three years at Middlebury. So we focus on things you can join for a few weeks or a semester and walk away with real skills.
Bridge Competition
An eight-week fall series in Onshape CAD, laser cutting, and stress and strain that ends with a plywood truss bridge crush test.
Workshops
Makerspace trainings that get students certified on 3D printers, laser cutters, and vinyl cutters.
Outreach
Partnering with campus clubs and local groups like the Girl Scouts to bring STEM to the wider community.
Dual Degree
A yearly panel and peer advice for students pursuing engineering through the Middlebury–Dartmouth dual degree.
Makerspace affiliation
We're proud to call the Middlebury Makerspace home. Most of our meetings and workshops happen in the Makerspace in Johnson, where we can use everything from 3D printers and laser cutters to a wood shop and CNC machines.
We work closely with Daniel Houghton, the Makerspace's director, to help students turn their ideas into reality. For Makerspace programming beyond MES, including open lab hours and certifications, visit their website.
Visit the Makerspace
Meet the Board
Ben Horwitz
President
Sam Bryan
Vice President
Weronika Wozny
Head of Outreach
Connor Stephen
Treasurer
Daniel Houghton
Faculty Sponsor & Makerspace Director
Interested in leading?
We're always looking for people to run a workshop, help with the bridge competition, or grow our outreach. Reach out here or stop by a meeting.