KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State University engineering students continued what’s become a must-see tradition: launching pumpkins with trebuchets, a medieval instrument of war, transforming a dynamics class assignment into a crowd-drawing spectacle.

The annual “Pumpkin Launch” challenges sophomore engineering students to design and build trebuchets capable of hurling 10-pound pumpkins for distance, safety, and creativity.

“Our counterweight is approximately 500 pounds,” said Oscar Garcia, a sophomore engineering student. “Yesterday, we got 325 feet.”

Engineering Professor Cameron Coates oversees the event, emphasizing its educational value.

“Students get a chance to see theory applied and manifested physically,” Coates said, adding that the project also teaches students about real-world engineering constraints.

The event, which attracts a sizable crowd each year, includes specific rules on trebuchet size and counterweight limits.

“This is a great experience for students,” Coates said.

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