CEE's Push in CMU's Buggy Tradition

In the heart of Carnegie Mellon University's vibrant campus culture lies a tradition like no other: the annual Buggy Sweepstakes held each year at Spring Carnival. More than just a race, it's a celebration of innovation, teamwork, and the spirit of the CMU community.

At the center of it all are the sleek, aerodynamic buggies—unpowered vehicles designed and built by teams of students who blend disciplines ranging from design and engineering to mechanics and athletics. These ingenious creations, propelled only by the determination and physical prowess of their pushers, zoom around a challenging 0.84-mile track encircling Schenley Park's Flagstaff Hill. Among the pushers are CEE Autumn Swartz (BS ‘25), Sophie Kochanek (BS ‘24), and Cecelia Dieterich (BS ‘24).

For junior Autumn Swartz, it all started with a friend's invitation. Drawn in by the promise of excitement, she decided to give it a shot. Her team, the Student Dormitory Council (SDC), was very inclusive, making the experience especially enjoyable. She found herself swept up in the thrill of pushing alongside her teammates, and it paid off. SDC won first place in the all-gender category with a time of 2:36.27, which was a new course record.

“The best part of this experience was the team bonding,” says Swartz. “Racing and pushing was fun, but those successes felt much more meaningful due to the team comradery."

Senior Sophie Kochanek, on the other hand, was enticed by the allure of tradition and the opportunity to participate before graduation. Joining the SDC Women's A team, she threw herself into a rigorous training regimen, balancing soccer team commitments with late-night rolls and track workouts. 

Yet, amidst the grueling schedule, it was the camaraderie and shared anticipation of Race Day that made it all worthwhile. “I met a lot of really amazing people and had a great time with them,” says Kochanek. “We had a spaghetti night before the races where we made posters, painted our jerseys, and built up a lot of team spirit.” 

Kochanek’s team placed second in the women’s category with a final time of 2:32.43.

For Cecelia Dieterich, Buggy was a chance to immerse herself in campus life and history while forging connections within the CMU community. She embraced the early morning and late-night practices, a demanding schedule, but worthwhile to see everyone’s teamwork and dedication come together. Her SDC Women’s B team placed fourth in their category with a time of 2:40.95. 

“I think the best part of the experience is how connected I feel to CMU,” Dieterich says. “Since this is such a historical event, I feel like I am really getting in touch with what it means to be a student here.”

Senior Julie Olsen was eager to join Buggy since it is such a unique tradition and integral to CMU's culture. Already an avid runner, she took on hill two for the Finge Women’s D team. Their completion time of 3:29.35 secured them the 18th spot.

For Olsen, the highlight was her parents' excitement as they watched the live stream from home. "They'd never witnessed buggy races before but kept sending me screenshots," she shares.