Student ASME chapter holding car show fundraiser to fund academic opportunities

DUNMORE, Pa. — A newly established student organization, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Penn State Scranton Student Section, along with the Penn State Scranton Car Club, will host a car show fundraiser on campus to support hands-on learning and professional growth opportunities for aspiring engineers.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the campus in the Upper Dawson Building Parking Lot. Admission is set at $20 per car for participants and $5 for spectators. There will also be Jitty Joe’s ice cream and prizes awarded for the top three cars participating in the show.

Money raised will support Penn State Scranton’s mechanical engineering students’ participation in national competitions, professional conference attendance and technical projects, said Grant Lewis, a senior mechanical engineering major and one of the event’s organizers, along with Gurshan Nijjar, who worked with Lewis on the creation of the ASME chapter and this fundraiser.

The campus ASME group and Car Club is hoping to raise at least $2,000, Lewis said.

“Attending conferences, entering research projects into professional competitions and participating in hands-on learning opportunities and workshops can get expensive,” Lewis explained, as they often require travel, fees and other expenses that students, or the campus may not have available.

ASME and Car Club members are currently promoting the event and soliciting car participants and additional sponsors to help offset expenses so that all proceeds can be used to fund these opportunities for students.

Anyone interested in participating in the car show, becoming a sponsor or donating a gift basket or raffle prizes is asked to contact Grant Lewis at gal5388@psu.edu, or Matthew Fusco, car club president, at mjf6880@psu.edu, for both sponsorship and/or car participant-related contacts.

“As a newly formed organization, the chapter is focused on building a strong foundation that will provide long-term value to students pursuing engineering and related fields,” Lewis explained. “Launching a new chapter comes with unique challenges, but also significant potential. With the right support, this organization can quickly grow into a hub for hands-on learning, professional development, and industry connection — bringing opportunities to campus that were previously limited or unavailable.”

Members can participate in design competitions, attend professional conferences and engage in networking events that connect them directly with industry professionals. The group is also interested in bringing guest speakers to campus — especially experienced engineers — who bring valuable insight and mentorship, helping students better understand what it takes to succeed in the industry.

“These experiences allow students to apply engineering concepts to real-world challenges, develop technical and leadership skills, and gain exposure to career pathways within the engineering field,” Lewis said. “These opportunities are open not only to engineering students, but to anyone interested in innovation, design, and technology, making the chapter a valuable resource for the entire campus community.”

ASME is a globally recognized professional organization known for setting industry standards in mechanical systems such as elevators, escalators, and pressure equipment. Beyond its technical influence, the organization plays a key role in shaping the next generation of engineers through conferences and research events, including the International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, where students and professionals collaborate and share innovations.