Montana Tech students to showcase innovation at 15th annual Techxpo design showcase

Montana Technological University students will present their research, creativity, and problem-solving skills at the 15th Annual Techxpo Design Showcase on April 23, 2026.

The campus-wide event, held from noon until 5:30 p.m. in HPER, highlights student research and senior design projects across disciplines, with a panel of industry professionals evaluating entries. This year there are 107 entries and nearly 200 students participating. Top projects in each category receive cash prizes, and three Chancellor Awards recognize excellence in innovation, professionalism, and scientific insight. Free and open to the public, Techxpo invites community members, industry partners, alumni, and K–12 students to experience firsthand the work being done at Montana Tech.

Among the projects on display this year is a solar-powered automated composter designed by a team of mechanical and electrical engineering seniors. Team members include Jaden Slead, Jasper Ueland, Conner Hettinga, and Steven Valencia-Sauno.

“We’re making a solar-powered automated composter,” said Slead, a mechanical engineering student from Helena. “The idea is that it regulates itself, so you don’t have to go out and turn the compost pile to keep the process going.”

The project focuses on improving a process that many people recognize but don’t always maintain. Traditional composting requires regular turning to sustain the microorganisms that break down organic waste. The team’s design automates that process using sensors, a driving mechanism, and solar power.

“It’s pretty much like the tumblers you see around town, except larger and motorized,” Slead said.

The system uses a solar panel to charge a battery, which powers a motor controlled by a microcontroller. A weekly rotation schedule is applied, or sensors monitoring temperature and moisture levels inside the composting drum trigger rotation as needed.

“Solar was given to us as part of the assignment, so the next step was figuring out how to store that energy and use it efficiently,” said Ueland, an electrical engineering student from Butte. “We have a microcontroller acting as the control hub, taking input from sensors and switches and telling the motor when to turn.”

Designing the system required close collaboration between disciplines. Mechanical components—like the rotating barrel and drive system—had to align with electrical systems that manage power, sensing, and control.

“Getting everything to work together was probably the biggest challenge,” Ueland said. “Making sure all the components were compatible and could handle the load took some work.”

For Slead, the most difficult part came in the fabrication process.

“Machining all the components was the hardest part,” he said. “Some of the pieces are large, and we had to be really precise to make everything fit and function properly.”

Beyond the technical challenges, the project reflects a broader goal: reducing waste and making sustainable practices more accessible.

“The more people compost, the less waste ends up in landfills,” Slead said. “This is kind of a proof of concept that something like this could be scaled or adapted for different uses.”

For Ueland, the project also provided valuable hands-on experience that extends beyond the classroom and connects with other professional experiences he’s had, including an internship where he was able to explore project management skills. He also was able to finally work with solar, a goal he’s had since he was a freshman and will provide valuable insight as he plans to launch his engineering career after graduation with a company where he will focus on renewables.

“Seeing it come together and work as engineered—that’s been the best part,” he said.

To learn more and join us at Techxpo, visit https://www.mtech.edu/techxpo/.