A handful of students from the Department of Engineering Technology in Western Washington University's College of Sciences and Technology helped man the pit crew for the UL-14 Sammamish Mortgage/WWU College of Sciences and Technology/GO NAVY hydroplane during this past weekend's Seafair event in Seattle.

The boat, driven by Paul Becker, took first place in the final of the Unlimited Lights class, narrowly beating Kayleigh Perkins, driver of the UL-72 Foster Care-Triad Racing Technologies hydroplane, at the finish line.

More than a hundred well-wishers showed up to congratulate the Western Washington University X PRIZE Team during a recognition ceremony on campus Thursday, Aug. 5. Team members, recently returned from the finals of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE competition at Michigan International Speedway, were at the event along with their car, Viking 45.

During the finals of the contest, Viking 45 achieved the equivalent of more than 110 miles per gallon with ultra-low emissions. WWU finished in the Top 10 of more than 130 cars that started the competition.

The Western Washington University Alumni Association has relaunched the personalized brick program. The Associated began taking orders about three weeks ago for the personalized bricks, which cost $100 and become permanent parts of the brick walkways in front of the Old Main building on campus. This is the first time in seven years that bricks can be purchased, said the Alumni Association's Chris Roselli.

The Vehicle Research Institute (VRI) team from Western Washington University that just completed a dramatic run all the way to the last days of competition in the finals of the $10 Million Progressive Automotive X-Prize will arrive back in Bellingham this week in time for a celebration event at noon on Thursday, Aug. 5, at the PAC Plaza on the WWU campus.

Nettle Honey played acoustic bluegrass music in the Performing Arts Plaza on Western Washington University's campus during the Noon Summer Concert Series on July 28, 2010. Johnny Fitzpatrick played banjo, Brittany Newell played fiddle and Colin Sterling played guitar/harmonica. Photos by Brett Flora | University Communications intern

The Western Washington University X PRIZE Team successfully completed the 100-mile range event on Friday, July 23. Next up for the WWU team, assuming that Viking 45 successfully met all the requirements of the efficiency events, are the dynamic safety events on Monday, July 26.

Kyle Foley, crew chief for the Western Washington University X PRIZE Team from WWU's Vehicle Research Institute, discusses the dynamics between driver and crew chief as the team progresses through the efficiency events at the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE competition at Michigan International Speedway.

 Jon Bremer, a member of the Western Washington University X PRIZE Team, describes the challenges the team has faced running its electric motor in the heat of Michigan. In this raw video, Bremer discusses the challenges that the team has overcome to ensure success in the finals of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE competition.