Union engineers uphold 'winning' reputation at regional competition
For the fourth year in a row, Union students took top honors in competitions at the American Society of Mechanical Engineer's Regional Student Conference at the University of Maryland, College Park.
The ASME Region III Regional Student Conference was held at the University of Maryland, College Park, on April 8-9. Region III includes 44 schools from New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.
Senior Bob Dunton, who is majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, took first place in the design competition and will go on to represent Union College at the National ASME conference in November. The project involved constructing a bulk transporter which could carry a minimum weight from one location to another. Dunton said “My machine carried 22 times more rice than anyone else!” He was advised on this project by Professor Bill Keat.
Dunton also took second prize in the poster competition for his poster on “A Computational Study of Axisymmetric Droplet Breakup in Time varying Flows using Parallel Processing”; for which was co-advised by Brad Bruno in Mechanical Engineering and David Hemmendinger in Computer Science.
Shira Mandel, senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Chemistry, placed first in the poster competition for her poster on “AEROGELS…. Effects of Chemical Precursors on Physical Properties.” Shira was co-advised by Professor Ann Anderson in ME and Professor Mary Carroll in Chemistry.
Dan Archibald (ME '05) won Best Technical Presentation in the oral competition for his presentation on “The Aerodynamics of a Modern Sports Car.” Dan was advised by Professor Ann Anderson.
Nathan Stodola (ME '05) placed 4th in the oral competition for his presentation on “An Organ of Fire and Ice.” Nathan was advised by Professor Brad Bruno.
David Korim (ME '06) won an Outstanding Student award from ASME for “outstanding efforts and accomplishments on behalf of the ASME Student section at Union College.”
These students continue the trend of successes exhibited by Union College at the ASME conference in previous years. In 2004 Tim Smith ('04) placed first in the oral competition, Marissa Post ('04) placed second in the oral competition and Katie Arthur ('04) placed first in the poster competition). Tim went on to compete in the National ASME speaking contest.
In 2003 Smitesh Bakrania ('03) placed first in 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. Smitesh went on to place 2nd 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. Dave went on to place 4th overall at the National ASME Speaking Competition.
This year's design competition involved the design of a Bulk Material Transporter (more information can be found at: http://www.asme.org/students/Competitions/designcontest/2005/Design_Problem_Description.html)