Hundreds of Michigan Tech students presented their innovative work last week at Michigan Tech’s 23rd annual Design Expo. Each project entails hands-on, experiential, discovery-based learning. Teams competed for cash awards totaling nearly $4,000.
“Design Expo gives students an opportunity to showcase their creativity and innovation,” says Nagesh Hatti, who oversees Enterprise.
“The students,” adds Leonard Bohmann, associate dean of the College of Engineering, “create new things, solve global problems and make lives better.”
Many of the Senior Design and Enterprise projects on display at Design Expo are supported by external industry sponsors, allowing students to gain valuable experience through direct exposure to real industrial problems.
In Senior Design, students explore and solve real industry challenges throughout their senior year—from ideation to realization. In the Enterprise Program, teams of first- through fourth-year students from a variety of disciplines operate much like real companies to develop products, services and solutions.
Project Sponsors Support Michigan Tech’s Educational Mission
“Project sponsors generously support our educational mission by providing invaluable project experiences, along with guidance and mentorship for our students,” adds Hatti. “Industry and academia working together as partners in higher education give our students a tremendous learning experience.”
Design Expo’s industry event sponsors make Design Expo, a large campus event, possible. “Their generous support often continues year after year,” says Hatti.
Thompson Surgical Instruments is Design Expo’s 2023 executive partner. ITC Holdings is the event’s directing partner for the 12th consecutive year, joined by fellow directing partner Aramco. And Plexus, OHM Advisors, Altec Inc. and Husky Innovate are collaborating partners.
This year, more than 100 student teams competed for awards. A panel of judges, made up of corporate representatives, community members, and Michigan Tech staff and faculty members, critiqued the projects. “Our esteemed judges give their time and talent to help make Design Expo a success,” adds Hatti.
The judges’ scoring was used to arrive at the awards. Visit the Design Expo website awards page to see the full list of award winning teams (and project videos, too).
The College of Engineering and the Enterprise Program are pleased to announce award winners, below. Congratulations and thanks to ALL teams for a very successful 2023 Design Expo!
ENTERPRISE
FIRST PLACE
123: Velovations
Led by: Ethan McKenzie and Michael Balentine, Mechanical Engineering
Advised by: Steve Lehmann, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsored by: Cleveland Cliffs, Tongy Senger Innovations, Milwaukee Tools
SECOND PLACE
106: Aerospace Enterprise
Led by: Seth Quayle, Mechanical Engineering and Kyle Bruursema, Electrical Engineering
Advised by: L. Brad King, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsored by: Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
THIRD PLACE
104: Supermileage Systems
Led by: Olivia Zinser and Ben Klein, Electrical Engineering
Advised by: Rick Berkey, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology
Sponsored by: GM, Aramco Americas, Oshkosh, Milwaukee Tool, A&D Technology – GIK, and Dana
HONORABLE MENTION
117: Innovative Global Solutions
Led by: Cynthia Wurtz, Mechanical Engineering and Riley Dickert, Physics
Advised by: Radheshyam Tewari, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics and Nathan Manser, Geological and Mining Engineering
Sponsored by: Tree Frog Aquagric
SENIOR DESIGN
FIRST PLACE
233: Social Engineering for High School Students
Team Members: Connor Langdon, Cybersecurity and Kayla Blunt, Computer Network and System Administration
Advised by: Tim Van Wagner and Victoria Walters, Applied Computing
SECOND PLACE
232: Shot Sleeve Re-design for Steel High Pressure Die Casting (HPDC)
Team Members: Ryan Cesario, Henry Summers, Victoria Berger, Caleb Minasian, and Katherine Jarvis, Materials Science and Engineering
Advised by: Paul Sanders and Walter Milligan, Materials Science and Engineering
Sponsored by: Mercury Marine
THIRD PLACE
214: Design of a Method to Characterize the Depletion Mode Medical Device Battery – Phase 2
Team Members: Cole Hebert, Cameron Karnosky, Kristin King, William Poster, and Kelsey Moyer, Biomedical Engineering
Advised by: Orhan Soykan and Smitha Rao, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsored by: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH)
HONORABLE MENTION
224: Movable Bookshelf Network
Team Members: Spencer Crawford and Ryan Briggs, Computer Engineering and Josh Cribben and Emily Fischer, Electrical Engineering
Advised by: Kit Cischke, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sponsored by: Michigan Tech Van Pelt and Opie Library
HONORABLE MENTION
227: Physiological Sensing Using a Smart Port-a-Cath
Team Members: Marli Hietala, Savannah Page, Etienne Michels, Ali Dabas and Giovanni Diaz, Biomedical Engineering
Advised by: Sean Kirkpatrick, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsored by: LifeBridge Health
HONORABLE MENTION
231: Renewable Energy Powered Portable Plastic Waste Breakdown Machine
Team Members: Aaron Hogue and Hunter Indermuehle, Electrical Engineering, Ruizhi Ma, Computer Engineering and Zarvan Chinoy, Mechanical Engineering
Advised by: John Lukowski, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sponsored by: ITC Holdings Corp.
HONORABLE MENTION
237: Utilizing Motor Oil to Rejuvenate RAP Materials
Team Members: Kira Olson, Construction Management, Alli Hummel, Jacob Cleaver, and AJ Clarey, Civil Engineering
Advised by: Zhanping You, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
Sponsored by: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
Design Expo Innovation Awards (Based on Application)
FIRST PLACE
301: AAA [Affordable, Accessible, Authentic] Prosthesis
Advised by: Jon Herlivich, Chemical Engineering
SECOND PLACE
203: Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) and Lead
Advised by: Jingfeng Jiang and Chunxiu (Traci) Yu, Biomedical Engineering
THIRD PLACE
237: Utilizing Motor Oil to Rejuvenate RAP Materials
Advised by: Zhanping You, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering