Seniors Present Their Best

Laura Boisclair, winner of the Inaugural Chairman’s Award, and Raquel Burlotos, recipient of the Lewis J. Mathers Award, pose with Professor and Department Chair David Dinehart, PhD.

April is a busy month for Villanova University College of Engineering, particularly for its graduating seniors. In addition to finishing courses, taking final exams and determining post graduate plans, students are required to present the culmination of their learning in design or capstone projects. The Civil and Environmental, Mechanical, and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments hold an annual senior poster and/or project day to allow students to share their work and practice their presentation skills one more time before they enter the working world.

Civil and Environmental Engineering
On April 25, Professor and Department Chair David Dinehart, PhD, welcomed a supportive audience of parents, faculty and students to the 12^th Annual CEE Day. Prior to the start of capstone project presentations, he presented awards to three of the Department’s outstanding graduating seniors:

• James Wyatt: The Stanley K. Ciesielski Award for scholastic excellence and service to the department
• Raquel Burlotos: The Lewis J. Mathers Award for serving those in need with time, energy and engineering talents
• Laura Boisclair: Inaugural Chairman’s Award for a positive attitude and work ethic, and a significant contribution in service to the University

Following Dr. Dinehart’s introduction, capstone teams presented projects in structural engineering (bridge and building projects), transportation engineering, and geotechnical/water resources engineering. International service projects were the basis for three capstones, and the transportation engineering capstone was done in partnership with Pennoni Associates, Inc. The day also included a poster session.

2nd place: Assistive Kitchen Device for the Handicapped Adam Nash, Kiernan Hess, Kyle Pucci, Ryan French, Daniel Connolly

Mechanical Engineering

For presentation day, Mechanical Engineering seniors displayed a wide variety of projects ranging from a two-stage evaporative cooler and in-situ optical nanoindenter, to an unmanned vehicle for bridge inspection and a CPU-powered heat engine. Three projects— a water treatment and delivery system, hot gas filtration hood, and explosive ordinance disposal robot—were based on the needs of communities visited on international service learning trips. Other student work was sponsored by corporate partners, including a castle nut inspection machine for SPS Technologies.

The winning Mechanical Engineering senior projects were:

1st place:  Formula SAE Camshaft Design
Karl Mauthe, Gregory Monahan, Evan Pelletier, Christopher Scott

2nd place:  Assistive Kitchen Device for the Handicapped
Adam Nash, Kiernan Hess, Kyle Pucci, Ryan French, Daniel Connolly

3rd place:  Explosive Ordinance (EXO) Disposal Robot
Gregory Campbell, Bryn Garrity, Evan Gonshor, Allison Kadel, Alexander Poultney

Recipients of the Dr. Joseph Kozikowski Project Award: Shawn Plesnick, Domenico Repice and Patrick Loughnane.

Electrical and Computer Engineering

In early April, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering presented its annual Senior Design Forum, a daylong event during which teams were given 15 minutes to present their work.  Projects fell into a variety of categories, from smart phone apps to athletic equipment. Several teams completed sponsored assignments for partners including Lockheed Martin, RT Logic and the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division. International service learning projects included a pico-hydro generator and VitaSuction medical suction device.

A panel of eight alumni judges awarded prizes as follows:

Dr. Joseph Kozikowski Project Award for design originality and utility, mastery of practical and theoretical aspects of the design and quality of the design reporting:
Eye-Controlled Wheelchair by Patrick Loughnane, Shawn Plesnick, Domenico Repice
Adviser: Assistant Professor Mark Jupina, PhD

Brian McCarthy Project Award for a team’s inspiring initiative and enthusiasm, cooperative effort, professional organization and presentation, and innovative contribution to the technical community:
iPhone Jailbreak by John Fulgone, William Gunn, James Harris
Advisers:  Associate Professor Sarvesh Kulkarni, PhD, and Randy Peterson       

Marie Maguire Project Award: 
Additional Capability to RT Logic's Channel Simulator by Greg Mankes, Kelly Modrick, Dan Nieman
Adviser: Professor Robert Caverly, PhD

The Brian Anderson Memorial Project Award:  
Wireless Cellphone Monitor by Steve Matulis, Adam Staryak, Timothy Tiu
Adviser: Professor Robert Caverly, PhD