HSU Engineering Students Serve Through Accessibility Ministry in Armenia

For a group of Hardin-Simmons University engineering students, a summer trip to Armenia provided far more than an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge. Through a partnership with Joni & Friends, students used their engineering skills to customize wheelchairs and mobility equipment for individuals with disabilities while demonstrating Christ’s love through service.

According to professor and dean of Holland School of Sciences and Mathematics, Dr. Matt Jackson, the trip aligned closely with HSU’s mission of providing excellence in education enlightened by Christian faith and values.

“This partnership with Joni & Friends allows our students to apply their engineering knowledge and problem-solving skills in a way that meets tangible needs, opens doors for the gospel, and serves our fellow man,” Dr. Jackson said. “For the engineering students on this trip, they serve in the role of mechanic, making alterations and adjustments to wheelchairs and other medical equipment to meet the unique needs of each individual patient.”

Collaborating with HSU’s physical therapy students, long-time goers of these types of mission trips, the engineering students adapted wheelchairs and mobility devices using limited materials and resources, often creating custom solutions for each individual they served.

For junior engineering major Halle Bruntmyer, one interaction with a young girl highlighted the importance of combining technical expertise with compassion.

The team worked with a child whose scoliosis and shoulder hump made it difficult for her to sit comfortably in a standard wheelchair. After modifying the seat cushion and backrest, the students discovered that one adjustment affected the other, requiring them to reassess and redesign their solution.

“It showed me that the best solutions come when you combine engineering with compassion and genuinely care about the person you are serving,” Bruntmyer said.

The experience challenged students to think creatively and apply lessons learned in HSU’s engineering program. Faced with limited supplies, they relied on resourcefulness and problem-solving skills to meet each patient’s needs.

“You always have the upper hand; you just have to change your perspective,” Bruntmyer reflected. “Engineering taught me that when you change the way you look at a problem, you can often find a solution you didn’t see before.”

For student Brett Brittain, the most memorable moments came from watching interdisciplinary teams work together in service.

“Seeing the happiness that the people would leave with was something I will never forget,” Brittain said. “This trip showed me that service is needed everywhere. It can be done here in Abilene or all the way across the world.”

Student Jase Evans said the trip reinforced the value engineers bring to ministry and humanitarian efforts.

“I was encouraged, as an engineering undergrad, to find my place alongside physical therapy students and healthcare professionals as we cared for people’s physical needs,” Evans said. “After quickly modifying wheelchair parts, suggesting creative solutions, and making custom seat cushions, I was able to clearly see that my unique skills were extremely valuable to this ministry.”

Beyond the technical work, students were impacted by the people and culture of Armenia.

“I was surprised and fascinated by the history, food, and architecture in Armenia,” Evans said. “Yerevan, the place where we stayed, was a beautiful, dense, and interesting city in the shadow of Mt. Ararat.”

Dr. Jackson said the trip also provided valuable opportunities for personal and spiritual growth for the students.

“I was amazed by the maturity and self-sacrifice the students demonstrated throughout the trip,” he said. “In every situation, they rose to the challenge.”

For many students, the experience reshaped the way they view their future careers. Bruntmyer said the trip reminded her that engineering is about more than equations and technical design.

“Armenia reminded me that engineering can be more than a career,” she said. “It can be a way to serve God, serve others, and use the gifts He has given me to make a meaningful impact.”