Bringing an Engineering Mindset to the 111th Picnic Day

Picnic Day is the largest and most highly anticipated event at the University of California, Davis. Each year, 16 students work behind the scenes to plan and organize the campuswide celebration. They handle tasks from planning to transportation, lead dozens of student volunteers and make everything from the Chemistry Show to the Doxie Derby run as smoothly as possible.

Of those 16 students, five are engineering students (the College of Engineering is tied with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for most students on the Picnic Day board) who have taken on a leadership role, bringing their engineering skills and ingenuity to help ensure the 111th Picnic Day is a success. This year’s theme is “Welcome to Wonderland,” representing the magical spectacle UC Davis transforms into with live events, exhibits and activities.

“Engineering is a mindset—it’s not just about thinking outside the box, but sometimes getting rid of the box entirely. With so many engineers in tactical roles, Picnic Day benefits from a problem-solving approach that maximizes efficiency and keeps things running smoothly,” said Alparslan Ege Erdogan, a second-year aerospace science and engineering major and the exhibits director.

Meet the Aggie Engineers on the Picnic Day Board

Alparslan Ege Erdogan

Exhibits Director

Alparslan Ege Erdogan’s role as exhibits director includes organizing and managing more than 100 exhibits. This includes handling application processes, coordinating with exhibitors and ensuring logistics run smoothly and that attendees see all that UC Davis has to offer. 

The second-year aerospace science and engineering major and self-described “order maniac” wanted the chance to manage the massive event so he could bring practical ideas to the table, better the attendee experience and, in true engineering fashion, maximize efficiency. 

“Engineers bring structure, adaptability, and a knack for optimizing processes, which makes organizing an event of this scale way more effective.”

Sruti Elangovan 

Student Organization Fair Director

Second-year computer science and cognitive science major Sruti Elangovan is the student organization fair director. In this position, she collaborates with student organizations and campus services like the Center for Student Involvement, Fire Prevention Services, and Environmental Health and Safety, to organize the Student Organization Fair that takes place on the quad every year. 

Last year, she was an assistant director for business and wanted to continue supporting this event from a leadership role. She notes that the organization fair is implementing new games between club activities and an attendee scavenger hunt this year. 

“I like that Picnic Day brings everyone together. That’s hard to accomplish on a big campus,” said Elangovan. “There is a shared excitement in the air as people are walking from exhibits to fairs to shows. It’s very uniting.”

Pranaya Rao Ganta 

Special Events Director

The special events team is led by second-year computer science major Pranaya Rao Ganta. As the special events director, Ganta plans internal events for the Picnic Day board, like alumni banquets, that help with outreach for the event. Her role involves a new segment of events for Picnic Day called Picnic Day Pitstop, which will be held on Russell Field. The pitstop will feature carnival games, arts and crafts booths and an obstacle course.

For Ganta, the other students on the board — both engineering and non-engineering majors — make this experience the most memorable. 

“The best aspect of working with so many engineers is that we are not only able to come up with practical and creative ideas, but we are also able to come up with the steps needed to bring these ideas to life,” she said. “Most importantly, you get to meet an amazing group of people who want you to succeed.”

Saanika Gupta

Technical Director

The duties of the technical director include keeping the website up to date and powering all sound technology. A second-year computer science major, Saanika Gupta felt the position connected to her skill set and interests. This year, she is finding ways to optimize the event with new ideas, including innovations like an interactive map, digitizing the waiver signing process and creating a universal application for all vendors, booths and exhibits.

While Picnic Day has been a household standard for over 100 years, Gupta says there are always challenges that need fresh solutions. 

“The best part of my role has been the opportunity to bring new ideas to life,” she said. “Picnic Day truly cultivates an environment of innovation, something I deeply value.” 

Frederick Valyocsik 

Operations Director

Fifth-year civil engineering major Frederick Valyocsik is the operations director of Picnic Day 2025. This position requires him to oversee the planning and logistics of Picnic Day and to prepare all the resources needed for all 15 teams that make up the full Picnic Day crew. On the day of the event, the operations team must be available at any point to resolve any issues that may arise. 

Valyocsik was a member of the operations team last year, which is what encouraged him to take on the role of director. He hopes to take the skills he is learning, like teamwork, collaboration and cooperation, into future engineering careers. 

“From the Doxie Derby to the Children's Discovery Fair, to the Laser Maze and Chemistry Show, there is an abundance of things to do and activities for all ages to enjoy,” said Valyocsik. “Picnic Day is a lively, one-of-a-kind event that everyone should attend.”