Periodic Review: Spring 2016

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1

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Spring

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2016

The Periodic Review

A publication of the

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education

Mathematics major among Africa’s 25 outstanding emerging women leaders During summer 2015, USI mathematics major Florence Takaendesa of Zimbabwe was surprised to learn that she had been selected as one of Africa’s Most Outstanding Emerging Women Leaders by the Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa.

She is one of only 25 Moremi Initiative Leadership and Empowerment Development (MILEAD) Fellows chosen from more than 3,020 applicants in 44 countries. This select Florence Takaendesa group represents Africa’s most promising young women leaders, with the courage and commitment to lead and shape the future of Africa. MILEAD Fellows are chosen through a highly competitive selection process and criteria based on their outstanding leadership promise, community service accomplishments and commitment to the advancement of women in Africa.

Raised by a single mother in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, Takaendesa was recognized as a leader throughout primary and high school by advocating for girls’ and children’s rights in Zimbabwe, and working on issues related to HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and school drop-out rates. She volunteered at an orphanage in Chiedza, Zimbabwe, teaching students and starting an arts and crafts club that conserves the environment by making crafts out of reused paper and plastic.

She received a Global Ambassador Scholarship to attend USI where she is majoring in mathematics with a minor in economics.

Her dream is to get into politics and address the challenges faced by her country, as well as the entire continent of Africa. “If it wasn’t for the scholarship I received from USI, I wouldn’t be in college, and I wouldn’t have been selected for this honor,” she said. “When other universities didn’t see potential in me, USI believed in me. They saw my potential and helped me succeed.”

Her commitment to women’s issues is evident at the University.

She is co-founder and treasurer of KESHO, a new student organization focused on developing international women’s leadership skills. She

also serves as vice president of the International Club, as a member of the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education student advisory board, as a Student Ambassador, and is a member of USI’s Honors Program.

“She is extremely determined, dedicated and disciplined,” said Dr. Ronald Rochon, USI provost, who met Takaendesa and her mother during the selection process for the Global Ambassador Scholarship and has since become her mentor. “Her determination is linked with service, and that is what is refreshing about Florence—it’s not just about good grades, it’s about getting a seat at the table so she can create change.”

Takaendesa traveled to Ghana where she not only accepted the fellowship, but also deliberated with national leaders, including the ministries of education and health, to decide on a project she will work on as part of her commitment for the MILEAD Fellows Program.

She has one year to launch the project, which is required to demonstrate a lasting impact and facilitate real change in the country.

Her dream is to create an education center for children in her hometown of Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. The center would provide educational opportunities including books, computers and a library.

Getting her project under way will require a large time commitment and connections in Africa, balanced with the studies required to complete her degree at USI. To overcome the financial and logistical

“I want to see Africa get better,” she added. “I know that I want to do something that brings real change. I feel like a leader already, regardless of my selection for this honor.” challenges, she plans to start small and work toward larger goals.

She has $1,000 in grant money provided by the Moremi Initiative, but also is looking to partner with other organizations and groups to fund and implement her project.

During her trip to Africa, she met the other Moremi Fellows.

“I was truly inspired,” she said. “Some of these women have done wonders. They’re already doing great things. I heard their words and their stories of positive change. I can now see the range of what is possible. It was an honor to be connected with these women from across Africa.”

Transforming tomorrow through teaching today USI and EVSC. Gina Berridge, associate professor of education, and other education professors wanted to form a partnership with EVSC, “but we didn’t know what that partnership would look like,” she said. “Our resources were our students, and their resources were their schools. It’s a great opportunity to have our students work at schools that need help the most.”

USI’s new program spans the majority of the public school year, setting it apart from most other universities’ teacher preparation programs. By extending the program’s length, USI students get the opportunity to see how teachers begin the school year and establish relationships with their students.

USI’s student teaching program is rigorous. All of the candidates undergo the same interview-hire process as teachers. Students are matched with their cooperative teachers in April and begin preparing for the school year at the end of July.

Elizabeth Wilm, USI elementary education major, helps Lincoln Elementary fifth graders with their reading skills.

Students in the year-long experience follow the Co-Teaching Model with their cooperating teachers. This model has the student Fifteen University of Southern Indiana students are participating teacher involved in classroom life from the first day of the experience. in a new full-year student teaching pilot program called “Teach Now, The student teacher shares in the planning, instructing and assessing.

Transform Tomorrow,” which began in fall 2015. USI partnered with Student teachers have supervisory duties, attend faculty meetings the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) to provide and participate in parent conferences. They become immersed in the students with extensive hands-on experience, while serving as a culture of the classroom and school. resource for two local schools.

In addition to teaching in the classroom five days a week, the Unlike other student teaching programs, which revolve around USI students take a full course load of upper-level classes in the fall the University calendar and last only one semester, this pilot program semester. Berridge and Terri Branson, instructor in teacher education, spans the entire EVSC school year, allowing participants to form closer teach some of the classes at the schools, while other courses are bonds with their students and cooperative teachers. offered online or at night. Berridge said she and Branson try to make Lodge Community and Lincoln Elementary are the two the assignments flexible, while maintaining the standards of 300- and participating EVSC schools. Both have struggled to raise their state 400-level courses. grade, and were chosen because a majority of the students attending USI senior Elizabeth Wilm, elementary education major, who works are low-income or high-risk. One goal of “Teach Now, Transform in a fifth grade class at Lincoln, said it’s difficult to manage her busy Tomorrow” is to teach education majors about the unique needs schedule. “Last year, I was a college student, and now I have the same and challenges facing low-income students and, at the same time, responsibilities as a teacher. This is almost like a first year of teaching.” to create a more productive learning environment for those students.

Participants in the program, however, said they wouldn’t trade the Katelyn Powless, a senior elementary education major at USI, experience. “I’ve learned more in this program than I learned from co-teaches in a second grade classroom at Lincoln. The Boonville three years in a classroom,” Powless said. “It’s one thing to have native said she quickly learned it was important for students to know someone lecture to you and another to actually do it.” she cared about them and had their best interests in mind. “It’s difficult USI and EVSC will research and monitor “Teach Now, Transform sometimes to work with high-risk students, but the reward is so much Tomorrow” over the next year to determine how well the program works. greater,” states Powless.

Berridge said she thinks it has a bright future and will likely return next year.

Discussions about an extended clinical experience began in 2014 “We’ve had really positive feedback from the principals,” she said. “They during a brainstorming session between USI and representatives from think it’s working, not only for their schools but also for our students.” area school corporations. These discussions led to a partnership between

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Peer-led team learning for biology students Becoming a biologist, physician, pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, dentist, optometrist or chiropractor begins with Principals of Biology. But students struggle in this course due to lack of study skills or the ability to synthesize material.

Dr. Edith Hardcastle, associate professor of biology, however, has a fix for the problem. She’s developed the Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL), tutorial workshops designed to increase student success rates and retention, which will be led by successful upper-level biology majors recruited to serve as peers for these faculty-directed workshops.

Hardcastle’s initiative is funded by the Pott College Innovation Implementation and Research Award Program and began spring 2016 semester, continuing through fall 2016.

Unlike individual tutoring, PLTL workshops are small group sessions of 10 students that will facilitate active learning approaches to connect how lecture material can be used to master exam questions as well as foster a sense of camaraderie. The peer leaders are compensated through monies provided by the grant. During spring 2017, data from the spring and fall 2016 semesters will be analyzed to determine the program’s effectiveness.

Geology students hit the high ground of the Colorado Plateau Every summer, USI students have the opportunity to enroll in a course that includes a field excursion to a geologically significant part of North America. In May 2015, 12 geology majors, led by Dr. William Elliott, chair of geology and physics, and Dr. Jim Durbin, associate professor of geology, traveled to the Colorado Plateau.

Over the course of two weeks, students hiked the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon, rafted down the Colorado River in Moab, Utah, and explored Anasazi ruins at Walnut Canyon, Arizona. The trip included stops at Meteor Crater, Four Corners, Sunset Crater Volcano, Hoover Dam, Monument Valley, Goosenecks of the San Juan River, Arches National Park and Colorado National Monument.

“Our trip was amazing. I enjoyed seeing classic formations that I’d only seen in textbooks,” said Destiny Tannahill, a junior geology major.

While on the trip, students kept an in-depth field journal of their notes and personal experiences. Sketching landforms and drawing detailed geologic relationships are important goals of the student-learning experience.

In summer 2016, 16 USI students, under the guidance of Dr. Anton Maria, associate professor of geology, and Dr. Paul Doss, professor of geology, will travel to Hawaii to study an active volcano, lava flows and tropical environments.

Students on the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon, Arizona (left to right) Brandon Becker, Jennifer Campbell, Lara Schapker, Destiny Tannahill, Travis Durham, Ashley Schaus, Shane Neumann and Ryan Young.

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Indiana Commission for Higher Education awards Pott College $700,000 The University of Southern Indiana Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education has been awarded two grants totaling more than $700,000 from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE) to develop scholarships for education majors, support current teachers pursuing graduate study and develop a teacher education conference.

Dr. Kelly Sparks, assistant professor of education and principal investigator, and Dr. Rick Hudson, chair of the Mathematics Department, received an extension grant totaling $476,496 toward their work with the College’s Teaching Eagles Scholarship Program.

The program is designed to recruit science and mathematics teacher candidates from students majoring in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields and support education majors minoring in STEM education fields.

Hudson, as principal investigator, Dr. Jeffrey Seyler, professor of chemistry and Dr. Henri Maurice, associate professor of biology, were awarded a STEM Teacher Recruitment Grant totaling $286,941.

The award will support mathematics, biology and chemistry dual credit teachers to take graduate coursework and also will support the development of a quantitative reasoning conference for high school teachers in the summer of 2017, to be hosted on the USI campus.

“These projects will help Indiana fill STEM teaching positions in high-need areas across the state,” said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers. “Amid statewide and national conversations about the need for more teachers who are qualified to teach STEM subjects, this fund supports efforts that help Indiana attract, support and keep great educators.”

The grants were two of 13 grants totaling more than $9 million awarded by the ICHE to support programs that recruit, prepare, place and retain educators in schools with teacher shortages in STEM subject areas. The grants were awarded through the STEM Teacher Recruitment Fund, created by the Indiana General Assembly in 2013.

“I am excited about the potential that this grant has to support high school math and science teachers to grow professionally and to teach dual credit coursework,” said Dr. Rick Hudson, chair of the Department

of Mathematics, who will serve as the project director for the NExIDE program. “Courses in quantitative reasoning are also becoming more commonplace at both the university level and in secondary schools.

The conference will provide us with an opportunity to share the great work of USI faculty who have developed the course on our campus.”

From 2011-2014 USI undertook an extensive process of developing a new Core Curriculum for students completing an undergraduate degree at USI, including a new Quantitative Reasoning course that was offered for the first time at USI in the fall 2014 semester. Students pursuing degrees in arts, humanities, social science, health professions and education primarily take the Quantitative Reasoning course.

The content of the course includes logic, critical thinking, linear and exponential growth, personal finance, probability, statistics and geometry. The Indiana Department of Education has also developed a new high school course in Quantitative Reasoning beginning in the 2015-2016 academic year. The course is included in one of the three math pathways provided for high school graduation requirements beginning with the Class of 2022.

The Quantitative Reasoning Conference funded through the NExIDE grant will be held on the USI campus during summer 2017 and will provide training for public high school teachers in Indiana who are preparing to teach the course for the first time.

Individuals who might be interested in participating in the NExIDE grant or Quantitative Reasoning Conference should contact Dr. Hudson at 812-465-1241 or rhudson@usi.edu.

For more information about the Teaching Eagles Scholarship program, contact Dr. Kelly Sparks at kmsparks@usi.edu.

Two new engineering degrees developed to meet demand Two new engineering degrees will be offered at the University of Southern Indiana’s Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education beginning fall 2016: a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering.

“Over the years, we’ve seen continued growth and interest in engineering,” said Dr. Scott Gordon, dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. “Having these degree programs in place at a state-supported public institution will result in tremendous regional economic and workforce benefits.”

USI has offered a bachelor’s degree in engineering since 2002 but, until now, has not had named degrees within the field.

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“We’re very excited to be offering discipline-specific engineering programs for the first time starting this fall,” said Dr. Zane Mitchell, chair of the Engineering Department. “These programs have been requested by our stakeholders for years and we expect they will prove to be just as important to the Tri-state region as our ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Engineering program.”

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics indicates a 5 percent growth in mechanical engineering positions nationally, translating to more than 11,000 jobs by 2022. Indiana has the third highest percentage of engineering positions for every 1,000 jobs available.

“USI is poised to be a key player in that growth,” said Gordon.

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USI’s SwISTEM equipment lending program changes scientific outcomes Striving to fortify pre K-12 STEM education in the region, the Southwest Indiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (SwISTEM) Resource Center has been on the road delivering materials to schools and other educational entities throughout the southwest Indiana region since September of 2009.

To those who see the green box truck on the road, adorned with images of young people carrying out laboratory activities, the equipment lending vehicle may appear to be just another box truck hauling goods to and from the University of Southern Indiana. However, to area teachers it means much more. With the guidance of SwISTEM staff and USI faculty, educators have the opportunity to incorporate scientific equipment into their lesson plans that are typically too costly for district or organizational budgets.

The free SwISTEM Equipment Lending Service allows students to investigate photosynthesis, a concept that’s often read about instead of experienced. The service “has changed the manner in which students learn. Prior to use of the [SwISTEM’s] Vernier equipment, data collection was approximate at best and required creative, and not totally accurate, means,” said Carl Voegel, who teaches science at Mater Dei High School in Evansville. “The sensors that are used in biology classes provide real-time data for students to analyze, and bring such abstract concepts as photosynthesis, transpiration and cell respiration into a visible realm for them to see.”

Third grade science educator, Debbie Berkley, at Chandler Elementary, said, “Borrowing from the STEM Lending Truck allows me to provide different approaches and experiences for each of my individual students.”

Fall 2015 marked the beginning of the service’s seventh year in operation and it is currently on track for record-breaking equipment circulation during this academic year. This year also marks the second year of expanded services to the area surrounding the Naval Surface Warfare Center — Crane. The expansion in 2013 was a natural extension of an already sound student outreach initiative that began in 2010 between the STEM team at Crane and the Resource Center when planning began for the Indiana SeaPerch Program. Since that time, the partnership has strengthened to include collaborative efforts

to improve teacher professional development, support regional FIRST LEGO League teams, and expand STEM summer experiences for families in the area.

Students in Debbie Berkley’s third grade classroom at Chandler Elementary School investigate science using SwISTEM equipment.

New physics degree allows students four tracks Beginning fall 2016, students will be able to earn a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in physics at USI. The new degree program enables students to select one of four tracks, depending on their professional aspirations: • The traditional track prepares students for pursuit of an advanced degree in physics; • The teaching track permits students to work in secondary education; • The applied track enables students to pursue careers in STEM fields; • The computational track permits students to secure jobs in computing and analytics.

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While there are differences in these four distinct tracks, all physics majors will be expected to complete a core set of courses, as well as the completion of a senior thesis.

“Many of our current biophysics majors are excited about a physics degree at USI, and several other undeclared majors have already expressed interest in the new program,” said Dr. Kent Scheller, associate professor of physics.

As part of the program, students will engage in hands-on activities in the laboratory and have the opportunity to travel to conferences and participate in summer research programs.

To enhance the student learning experiences in physics, the department is acquiring $20,000 worth of new equipment.

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New Hires Brad Kicklighter, MSECE

Dr. Alex Champagne

Instructor/Clinical Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor

Engineering

Biology

Purdue University – 2001

Ohio State University – 2014

Joshua Wildeman, MS

Dr. Kyle Mara

Instructor

Assistant Professor

Kinesiology & Sport

Biology

Ball State University – 2010

University of South Florida – 2010

Dr. Timberly Baker

Christine Oxley, MS

Assistant Professor

Instructor

Teacher Education

Mathematics

Indiana University – 2012

Indiana University – 1999

Dr. Kimberly “Joy” Howard Assistant Professor Teacher Education University of South Carolina – 2013

Advising Center here to help The Pott College Advising and Resource Center welcomed over 600 new students for the 2015-2016 academic year during New Student and Adult/Transfer Student Orientation. The staff in the center also provided services for almost 800 students and held approximately 1,100 individual advising sessions. The center’s staff held a campuswide session for faculty on advising to provide a framework for them to help students optimize their educational experiences.

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Behrens trio establishing legacy in medicine When Phillip Behrens IV chose to attend the University of Southern Indiana for his undergraduate degree before going on to medical school, he had no idea both of his younger siblings would follow in his educational footsteps. Before the Behrens children made their college decisions, the parents, Dr. Phillip and Cindy Hutchinson Behrens, knew that USI offered an exemplary program for undergraduates, as well as the Baccalaureate/Doctor of Medicine (B/MD) scholarship, which includes a provisional seat at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Behrens is a cardiologist with Ohio Valley HeartCare, director of St. Mary’s Hospital Cardiac Cath Lab, PCH outreach physician and a member of volunteer clinical faculty for the IU School of Medicine in Evansville. Cindy is a registered nurse, specializing in surgery as a private nurse.

“Phillip, Jonathan and Elizabeth Behrens each received exceptional undergraduate educations and experiences at USI, which opened many doors for them in their medical endeavors,” said Cindy. “All three participated in research while in pre-med at USI under the guidance of Drs. Brent Summers, Mari Hopper, Jim Bandoli and Richard Bennett.”

Phillip ’12 was a recipient of the USI President’s Medal as well as the Henry J. and Hazel D. Benninghof B/MD Scholarship. He’s a member of Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Society and is pursuing a residency in orthopedics. Jonathan ’13 received the Edward F. Harrison B/MD Scholarship and is a third-year medical student at IU School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Elizabeth ’15 received the Albert A. Woll Scholarship as well as the Dr. Melvin W. Denner Medical Science Award. She recently completed her first semester at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington, her father’s alma mater.

“The B/MD Scholarship is a treasure,” said Jonathan. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to focus on learning while at the same time differentiating ourselves from other medical school candidates.”

(left to right) Jonathan, Elizabeth and Phillip Behrens Photo Credit: Gray Photography

Science and literature, a meeting of the minds Dr. Jeff Thomas, professor of education, and Dr. Joyce Gulley, associate professor of education, have collaborated to produce the Indiana Science Tradebook Annual Reading (INSTAR) list to help K-6 science teachers in Indiana meet state-mandated reading requirements.

Thomas and Gulley developed criteria identifying high-quality, recently-published children’s literature that aligns with the Indiana Academic Standards to help teachers integrate science instruction with literacy curriculum.

Thomas and Gulley have conducted several workshops at state and national conferences, showcasing the collaborative project and ways the INSTAR list can be extended with classroom activities and Web tools. Also, they’ve worked with colleagues in other states to create similar lists for Illinois, Tennessee and Ohio. Plans are underway to develop criteria for Texas and Missouri.

The annual booklist is now in its fourth year of publication in the Indiana Reading Journal and on the USI website USI.edu/instar.

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Training gets personal as students instruct faculty and staff The Kinesiology and Sport Department launched a new Personal Training Program that links student-trainers in the Method’s of Personal Training class with clients from the faculty and staff of the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Student-trainers meet weekly with clients on Monday and Wednesday mornings at the Recreation, Fitness and Wellness Center to train for approximately one hour. The active-learning approach gives students hands-on experience in their future careers.

Student-trainers are responsible for conducting client consultations, client fitness pre-assessment, developing an exercise prescription and conducting a post-assessment at the conclusion of the program. In addition, students teach exercise technique, develop a professional client-trainer rapport, and experience the organizational skills and professional responsibilities necessary to be successful.

Faculty and staff participating in the program receive an individualized exercise program geared specifically to their health and wellness goals, as well as being given exercise prescription and lifestyle modifications outside of their personal training sessions.

“I have been concerned about my health for quite a while, but never felt that I could justify devoting enough time to an exercise regimen,” said Dr. Rich Bennett, assistant professor of biology. “I always thought it would be a huge time commitment and a lot of pain and sacrifice to hope to see any results. My initial attraction to the program was that it seemed like a fairly reasonable time commitment and, since students would be the main trainers, I felt a sense of accountability to the program.”

The mutually-beneficial relationship between the active learning experiences provided to the students and the free health and wellness services provided to the faculty and staff of the Pott College is a dynamic that the Kinesiology and Sport Department will continue to build.

Creating opportunities for Kinesiology majors, such as Ashley Aders with USI employee Justin Amos (lab manager for the Engineering department) during a personal training session, is a significant goal of the Kinesiology and Sport department. With the launch of this new initiative, kinesiology students will have access to more experiences and deeper learning.

Engineering students compete in SOLAR SPLASH again

Two members of USI’s 2015 Solar Splash team, (left to right) Nolan Ballard ’15 and Jacob Kaiser ’15 , ready their craft.

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The 2016 USI SOLAR SPLASH team is looking to build on last year’s success. Their goal is to double the propulsion speed and they are considering replacing the outboard motor used by last year’s team with an inboard/outboard configuration. The 2016 team has the benefit of instrumentation, created by seniors Garrett Bielefeld and Jordan Weyer, that will provide the operator with battery voltage, battery current, battery temperature, propeller speed and ambient light.

SOLAR SPLASH is the world championship of intercollegiate Solar/Electric boating. The International Intercollegiate Solar/Electric Boat Regatta takes place over five days. Technical inspections are conducted on the first day and the remainder of the time is filled by five on-the-water competitive events. Teams earn points in seven categories, starting with technical reports that are submitted before they arrive. Competitions held on-site include visual displays and workmanship. On-the-water events begin with a sprint and a maneuverability qualifier, followed by the Solar Slalom, a combination of speed and maneuverability. Final days are spent competing in the sprint and endurance events.

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Chemistry alums enlighten students In fall 2015, the Chemistry Department had the honor of hosting visits from three recent alumni: Dr. Nicholas Mayhall ’06, Dr. Stephanie (Wilson) Poland ’09, and Ph.D. candidate Andrew Frazee ’13. All three shared their experiences in graduate programs with current USI students.

Dr. Mayhall earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University and, following a post-doctoral fellowship at UC Berkley, has recently accepted a faculty position at Virginia Tech. His graduate research involved development of theory for computations of large molecules. During his visit he encouraged students to consider summer research experiences and graduate programs.

Dr. Poland completed her Ph.D. at Texas A&M University and currently is an assistant professor at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. She provided a seminar that highlighted her graduate research related to the use of metal catalysts in the synthesis of polycarbonates. Her current research efforts in ring-opening polymerization at Rose-Hulman was also presented.

Andrew Frazee is currently working on his Ph.D. at the University of Southern Mississippi. His presentation included an introduction to graduate studies in polymer science as well as an overview of his current research project. Frazee has been investigating the synthesis of next generation aerospace composites and scale-up procedures.

The Chemistry Department congratulates these alumni on their successes and are thankful for the time they took to visit campus and share their experiences with our current students.

Ph.D. candidate Andrew Frazee ’13

(Left to right) Dr. Stephanie (Wilson) Poland ’09, Dr. Brian Bohrer ’05, assistant professor of chemistry, and Dr. Mark Krahling, associate professor of chemistry

(Left to right) Dr. Nick Mayhall ’06, and his undergraduate research advisor, Dr. Evan Millan, associate professor of chemistry

SOLAR SPLASH continued…

This year’s team has two returning members from the 2015 team: Rachel Athippozhy and Jackson Traylor, team captain. Other members are: Joshua Terrell, Ryan Loerlein, William “Seth” Woodard, Ryan Elpers, Joshua Guy and Johnny Guy. Last year, four senior members of the first team designed and built the charging and propulsion systems for the boat as their Capstone Senior Design Project, using the hull of a boat donated to USI students by the students on the Carnegie Mellon University SOLAR SPLASH team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The six-member team and their two

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advisors went to the competition in Dayton, Ohio, in early June of 2015. Dr. Paul Kuban, professor of engineering, and Dr. Brandon Field, associate professor of engineering, were the faculty sponsors for the 2015 team. Student members included Chad Wargel, Jacob Kaiser, Nolan Ballard, Preston Richard, Rachel Athippozhy and Jackson Traylor.

The 2015 team’s solar charging system was innovative in that it not only provided the energy to propel the boat, but also shade for the driver. Competing against more experienced teams, they won Best First Time Team, Best Solar Design and Ninth Place Overall.

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