Since 1998, a highly motivated group of multi-disciplinary students from the Purdue Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE) have worked together to design, build, and enter machines in the annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. This competition, inspired by the drawings of cartoonist Rube Goldberg, challenges students to create machines out of everyday materials that complete a simple task in as many steps as possible. It is a wonderful opportunity for students to work creatively and cooperatively as a group to learn first-hand about the practical implementation of many concepts in physics, mechanics, hydraulics, chemistry, and electricity.
At the 2011 and 2012 National Competition, our team broke the Guinness Book of World Records record for longest Rube Goldberg Machine with 244 steps. At the 2008 competition, our team won the National Competition with a 156-step machine to assemble a hamburger. In addition, we have won the National Rube Goldberg competition in 2005 and 2006, 2nd Place at Nationals in 2007, 3rd Place at Regional’s in 2009, a national showing in 2010 & 2011, and have appeared on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2005 & 2006. Additionally, our machines will be featured in an upcoming episode of Modern Marvels on “The History Channel.” This year’s machine will “Blow up a balloon, then pop it” through a number of crazy and zany steps. Our goal for this year is to reclaim our national title and continue to contribute to the educational aspect and community outreach that our team provides from season to season. The local competition will be held on Saturday, February 23rd, 2013 and the national competition will be held on Saturday, March 30th, 2013, both being held at the Armory located on Purdue University’s campus.
The PSPE Rube Goldberg Team is excited about continuing our tradition of excellence with this year’s machine, currently under construction. However, we need your help to continue our winning ways. Our team incurs expenses that exceed $5,000.00 per build season; not a trivial amount for college students. All of our funding comes from private donors, as the university requires teams to generate the funds necessary to compete. Our team is looking for donors who can contribute to help offset machine construction, workshop rental fees, and transportation costs. However, our team’s success heavily relies on donations of supplies and materials we use to build. A donation of supplies is as equally beneficial to our team as a monetary donation. Such material donations include: lumber, power tools, electrical components, scrap metal, old appliances, spare junk in general sitting in people’s garages, and etc. All donations are tax-deductible. Partners will be recognized at various levels, as shown below:
| Donation: | Title: | Recognition: |
|---|---|---|
| $500+ | Machine Mastermind | Website, Logo, and Listing on T-shirt, Personal Tour of Workshop* |
| $250-$499 | Module Architect | Website, Listing on T-shirt, Personal Tour of Workshop* |
| $100-$249 | Step Builder | Website, Listing on T-shirt |
| $1-$99 | Brainstormer | Website Listing |
***Listings and Logos on T-shirt can only be facilitated for donations up to January 1st due to the production of the shirts after that date. Recognition for sponsorship will still appear in it’s entirety on the website***
* Tours of workshop can only be made available after the conclusion of the build season (except under certain circumstances)
Three Ways to Give
Mail:
Make checks payable to Purdue Foundation
Specify PSPE Rube Goldberg Team Student Chapter
Send to:
Advancement Sercives, Purdue University
Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center
403 S. Wood Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2007
Phone:
Make yout gift using a credit card or debit card over the phone: 1-800-319-2199
Online:
Make a gift online through our secure website using your credit cand (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express), your debit card, or directly from your checking account.
Go to: Donation website
Gift Information for the following sections:
Select a Designation Area: select 'Other - specify in comments'
Select a Fund: leave blank
Other Instructions: type in Purdue Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE) Rube Goldberg Team Student Chapter
Appeal code: leave blank'
Questions
Call 1-800-319-2199 or email gifts@purdue.edu
**Contributions to the Purdue Foundation are deductible as charitable contributions. A tax receipt will be sent to the donor after the gift is processed.
It is the backing from supporters like you that allows our team to be successful each year we build our machines.
Fundraising Letter(PDF)
