Engineering a Day at the (Theme) Park

admin — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 13:41:41 +0000

Engineering a Day at the (Theme) Park admin Fri, 04/25/2025 - 09:41

As a member of a military family, Dennis Velez moved a lot throughout his childhood, but no matter where they lived, whether it was Jacksonville, Florida, or Yokosuka, Japan, the nearest theme park always felt like home.

Velez never tired of the thrill of a roller coaster and other attractions, but the more parks he visited, the more interested he became in their design and operation — most memorably as an elementary school student during a trip to Tokyo Disneyland.

"The more I learned, the more I realized that it's one of the craziest engineering problems you can have. Sending people on these attractions that go for hours on end every single day of the year, they have to be perfectly safe and perfectly designed to make sure they can run efficiently and give the same experience to every guest every day," he said.

Velez arrived at Georgia Tech in 2021 as a mechanical engineering student. He quickly earned the nickname "safety guy" in the Theme Park Engineering Design Club, as he continued to narrow his focus and determine how to use his major in the industry.

"There are insane ideas for rides and how they are supposed to make you feel — like you're flying on a broomstick or traveling through space,” he said. “So, how can we leverage technology that exists to reflect that idea, make sure it works as intended, and run it safely?”

Velez became Georgia Tech's first student representative on the ASTM Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices — a global organization that develops standards and best practices for theme park attractions. Completing internships with Oceaneering's entertainment systems division and Universal Studios, he learned the project management skills to see an idea come to fruition and better understand the teamwork required to execute its delivery.

"When you're an engineer, you're never working on your own. You're always working with a lot of people, and you have to make sure that you can work well with others and integrate your skills with your team,” he said.

Velez sees that same principle of interconnectedness in his role as a trumpet player in the Yellow Jacket Marching Band.

"If you mess up as one of 40 trumpets, people may not notice because other members are there to hold you up. It's another aspect of uniformity and connectedness in a group, and it starts with having a strong connection. For the band, that comes from doing something we love for our school and getting in the heads of the opposing teams at the same time," he said.

His extracurricular activities and internships took him to new places during his undergraduate degree program, but Velez calls the trip to Ireland to kick off the 2024 college football season his "magnum opus" and an experience he'll remember for a lifetime.

Velez will return to campus in the fall to pursue a master's in mechanical engineering before entering the industry. While he admits there were stressful days along the way, he never viewed his time as an undergraduate as a roller coaster, but rather a day at the park.

"Theme parks were always our happy place because we were together as a family, and I'm just excited to one day see the reactions of kids and their families experiencing a ride that I worked on, and giving them that same sense of wonder," he said. “This industry is all about bringing joy to others, and I want to do my part in creating this outlet for all to enjoy."

Subtitle

Theme parks have always felt like home to Dennis Velez. He wants to recreate that feeling for people around the world.

Summary sentence

Theme parks have always felt like home to Dennis Velez. He wants to recreate that feeling for people around the world.

Summary

Theme parks have always felt like home to Dennis Velez. He wants to recreate that feeling for people around the world.

Dateline

Fri, 04/25/2025 - 12:00

Contact

Steven Gagliano – Institute Communications

Associated importer

Keywords

College of Engineering; George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

Spring Commencement

News room topics

Campus and Community

Mercury ID

682012

Source updated

Fri, 04/25/2025 - 09:40

Revving Toward Success: A Journey into Racing and Engineering

admin — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 10:13:41 +0000

Revving Toward Success: A Journey into Racing and Engineering admin Thu, 03/28/2024 - 06:13

In the high-octane world of motorsports, where speed is king and precision is paramount, individuals like Harbir Dass stand out not only for their skills on the track but also for their dedication to engineering excellence. As a first-year Georgia Tech mechanical engineering student with an automotive concentration, Dass’ journey intertwines his passion for racing with his pursuit of engineering.

From a young age, Dass has shown a fascination with creating and designing machines that move. He fondly recalls how in the 8th grade he saved all his money and invested in a Lincoln Electric welder so that he could build his own go-kart. That experience ignited a passion that propelled him toward mechanical engineering.

“I discovered go-kart racing in 8th grade and knew that I had found my type of sport,” Dass said.

Balancing the demands of academia with the rigors of racing is no easy feat. Dass’ schedule is a whirlwind of long racing weekends, with classes sometimes taking a back seat to his passion for motorsports. Despite the challenges, he strives to excel both on the track and in the classroom, juggling coursework with race preparations and commitments.

Dass’ dedication to the sport recently earned him the 2024 Parella Motorsports Holdings Powering Diversity Scholarship for the Ligier JS Formula 4 series. In a sport as competitive as racing, recognition of his diverse background was both validating and inspiring.

“I appreciate being recognized as an individual with a diverse background and hope that my presence in motorsports can inspire others to participate in this exciting sport,” Dass explained.

Beyond racing and engineering, Dass enjoys working on his project cars and playing on his electric guitar. These passions serve as outlets for creativity and relaxation, helping him recharge.

With each lap around the track and every project in the workshop, he embodies the spirit of innovation and the relentless pursuit of excellence. As he continues to carve his path in the world of motorsports, one thing remains certain: Harbir Dass is a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the track.

Summary sentence

First-year mechanical engineering student Harbir Dass went from building his own go-karts in eighth grade to becoming a professional race car driver.

Summary

First-year mechanical engineering student Harbir Dass went from building his own go-karts in eighth grade to becoming a professional race car driver. Racing either a Mazda Spec MX-5 or a Formula 4 car, Harbir balances the demands of academia with the rigors of racing. Despite the challenges, he strives to excel both on the track and in the classroom. In his free time, he also finds time to work on his project cars and play the electric guitar.

Dateline

Thu, 03/28/2024 - 12:00

eatkinson6@gatech.edu

Contact

Evan Atkinson, Institute Social Media Manager

Associated importer

Keywords

College of Engineering; George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

News room topics

Campus and Community

College of Engineering; George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

Engineering a Day at the (Theme) Park

Keywords

News room topics

Revving Toward Success: A Journey into Racing and Engineering

Keywords

News room topics

Categories