Success by mechanical engineers at
the ASME meetings seems to be getting, well, mechanical.
For the third year in a row, a
Union student – this year, senior Tim Smith – took top honors in the oral
competition at the American Society of Mechanical Engineer's Regional Student
Conference at the University of Rochester.
Meanwhile, Katie Arthur won the
poster competition, and Marissa Post took second in the oral competition.
“The consistent success of
Union students must be attributed to more than random chance,” said Prof.
Frank Wicks, noting that the probability of three consecutive wins by a college
would be about one in 100,000. “It is the result of outstanding students
who are provided with excellent research projects, facilities, staff support and
faculty advising.”
Since 2002, Union ME's have taken
top honors at Region III, which includes 46 colleges and universities in New
York, New Jersey, Delaware,
Maryland and the District
of Columbia.
Smith, advised by Prof. Brad
Bruno, spoke on “The Development of the Hydrogen Fueled Internal
Combustion Engine. He took home a $300 prize and an invitation to compete for
$2,000 at the ASME International Congress in Anaheim
in November.
Arthur, advised by Prof. Ann
Anderson, gave her winning poster on “Too Hot to Handle: An Investigation
into Safe Touch Temperatures.”
Post, advised by Anderson and
Prof. Mary Carroll, spoke on “Density Dependence in Young's Modulus in
Silica Gels.” A member of the College's Aerogel Team, she described how
she produced the material by extracting the liquid from the gel, and how she
developed a test to measure elasticity.
Matthew Ellithorpe, advised by
Prof. William Keat, presented on
“Analysis and Construction of a Guitar Soundboard Using Composite
Materials.”
In 2003 Smitesh Bakrania '03 won
the oral competition, Mark Hoffman '03 placed third in the oral competition,
Scott Clark '03 placed second in the poster competition and Ben Tillotson '03
placed third. Bakrania went on to place second overall at the National ASME
speaking contest.
In 2002, David Chapin '02 placed first in the oral competition, Ben
Gauthier '02 placed second in the oral competition, and Jeremy Losaw '02
placed first in the poster competition. Chapin went on to place fourth overall
at the National event.