Caden Campbell is a junior Mechanical Engineering student at The University of Alabama, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering through the STEM Path to the MBA. He is especially interested in mechanical design, robotics, and themed entertainment. At Alabama, Caden serves as Lead Engineer for ‘Bama Theme Park Engineering Design, a TEA-affiliated student organization where he leads teams working on animatronics, ride systems, and other themed entertainment projects.
Caden has always enjoyed figuring out how things work and then trying to build them himself. Through ‘Bama TPED, he has designed and built a wide range of mechanical projects, including an eleven-function robotic figure inspired by cars from Talladega Superspeedway. He has designed parts and mechanisms in SOLIDWORKS and Inventor and has worked with materials such as aluminum and PLA. He has also competed twice in the Toronto Thrill Design Competition, designing ride systems and vehicles based on different themes and stories.
His interest in engineering extends beyond the classroom and student projects. As a Mechanical Intern at TLC Engineering, Caden worked on the $1.2 billion expansion of Tampa International Airport, where he helped model mechanical systems, perform calculations, document existing conditions, and test equipment. His previous construction experience has also given him a chance to see what happens when an idea leaves the computer and becomes something people actually build and use.
Outside of engineering, Caden enjoys playing soccer, working out, riding mountain bikes, scuba diving, and building LEGO sets. He is also involved with his church and volunteers with Youth For Christ, where he helps with an after-school program for middle school students.
Caden is a National Merit Finalist and has been named to the Dean’s List and President’s List at Alabama. He is also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and hopes to continue building a career around mechanical design, robotics, and themed entertainment.