CLEVELAND, OH – June 17, 2025 – Cleveland State University's Washkewicz College of Engineering is thrilled to announce that our talented student team has captured the prestigious Grand Prize at the national 2025 Forging Industry Educational and Research Foundation (FIERF) Forging Competition. This outstanding achievement showcases the incredible skill, innovation and dedication of our students in the specialized fields of blacksmithing and materials engineering.

The 2025 Forging Competition challenged university teams from across the nation to creatively design and forge a fully functional blacksmithing hammer. Each team had to craft a hammer from 1045 carbon steel, ensuring it weighed no more than 3.5 pounds. The competition wasn't just about looks; every submitted hammer underwent a rigorous series of tests tailored to its intended application, assessing its functionality, durability and overall design integrity. Beyond the physical hammer, submissions also required a comprehensive project video and a detailed technical report, documenting the entire design and manufacturing journey.

Our winning team, comprised of Washkewicz College of Engineering students Joshua Bailey, Adam Clark and Robert Duheric, truly outshone the competition. Their "Blacksmithing Hammer" project earned them the Grand Prize by demonstrating superior performance across all judging categories, including original design, manufacturing precision, smart material selection and impressive real-world performance during testing. This success is a shining example of the ingenuity and hands-on learning cultivated within CSU's engineering and industrial technology programs.

The team's journey to victory was strongly supported by their dedicated sponsor, Bud Kinney (BME ’77), and expertly guided by their advisor, Michael Gallagher. Their mentorship played a crucial role in shaping this winning project.

This national recognition underscores Cleveland State University's deep commitment to providing our students with practical, real-world experiences that prepare them to excel in their future careers. The forging team's triumph highlights the high caliber of talent and the innovative spirit thriving among our CSU student body.