Akkerman and its dedicated engineers proudly supported the next generation of tunneling talent by sponsoring two student teams in the 2026 Not‑a‑Boring Competition, hosted by The Boring Company (founded by Elon Musk).
Justin Akkerman and Brad Wheeler sponsored and mentored The Diggeridoos from Virginia Tech, while Jason Holden sponsored The Boring Illini from the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign. Drawing on years of industry experience, our Akkerman engineers provided guidance, insight, and encouragement to help both teams perform at their best. With eight teams competing from around the world, it was exciting to see both Akkerman‑supported teams standout with strong performances.
2026 Competition Highlights
The 2026 Not‑a‑Boring Competition welcomed eight teams from three countries to The Boring Company’s R&D headquarters in Bastrop, Texas.
Full Competition Finalists
The Diggeridoos (Virginia Tech | United States) – 3.277 m
Penn Hyperloop (University of Pennsylvania | United States) – 0.457 m
CU Hyperloop (University of Colorado Boulder | United States) – 0.229 m
Talpa Tunneling UPV (Universitat Politècnica de València | Spain)
Digging Mini Competition Finalists
The Boring Illini (University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign | United States) – 0.229 m
UATXcavators (University of Austin | United States)
Dig‑Em Aggies (Texas A&M | United States)
Smith Engineering Hyperloop (Queen’s University | Canada)
2026 Award Winners
Congratulations to all the award recipients:
Champion Award: The Diggeridoos
Innovation Award: Talpa Tunneling UPV
Rookie of the Year Award: The Boring Illini
We’re proud of our engineers for investing their time and expertise—and for helping inspire future leaders in the tunneling industry.
