Automotive and Engineering Design students at Bergen County Technical High School, part of Bergen County Technical Schools (BCTS), had the opportunity to tackle an authentic design challenge presented by Janus Motorcycles. The Indiana-based company’s design team helped facilitate the real-world learning experience and served as a vital resource for BCTS students throughout the challenge. To recognize the company’s commitment to the students’ learning, BCTS has named Janus Motorcycles as its 2025 Business Partner of the Year.
“Our entire design team thoroughly enjoyed the chance, not only to work on this project with the students, but to engage with a design challenge in a new way,” said Richard Worsham, CEO of Janus Motorcycles. “It was a great experience to look at something with fresh eyes and see so many inventive ways of addressing an engineering question. We look forward to future projects like this and are grateful for the opportunity.”
Worsham and his team served as consultants for 20 BCTS Automotive and Engineering Design students. They provided guidance as students redesigned the front suspension of a Janus motorcycle to reintroduce the force of “dive” for bikes that will be used by the racing team.
The Janus design team encountered a few challenges while working on this project, which enabled the BCTS students to assist with their own ideas. The students received valuable feedback on how their solutions compared to the ones that would be implemented. Interactions took place virtually over the course of two months.
“The experience that Janus facilitated gave our students a glimpse of how design teams apply technology, mathematics and the design process to come up with creative solutions,” said Rich Panicucci, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction at BCTS. “Interacting with the Janus design team also taught our students a lot about how to communicate in a professional environment and the importance of preparation in those conversations.”
