2 minute read
Fit for purpose
Senior engineering project aids in redesign of Maranatha one-day churches
TWO CIVIL ENGINEERING MAJORS are leveraging lessons from the classroom to make a difference in the mission field.
For their senior projects, Jenna Fanselau '24 and Reuben Herbel '24 took on the task of redesigning a one-day church for Maranatha Volunteers International, a non-profit responsive organization that builds worship and education structures around the world for communities in need.
A one-day church is exactly what it sounds like: a worship structure built in one day. One of Maranatha’s most common projects, the current design of the church is ideal for smaller congregations, but can quickly be outgrown as the Adventist ministry flourishes in an area.
Working closely with their technical advisor, Louie Yaw, engineering professor at WWU, and in consultation with Maranatha, Fanselau and Herbel set out to design a building that would be more scalable. Their solution was a T-shaped structure constructed from materials easily accessible to Maranatha when working internationally. The design also allows existing one-day church structures to be converted into T-shaped structures when congregations outgrow their current church.
“We are excited to see young engineers using their skills to further mission work,” said Kyle Fiess, vice president of projects at Maranatha.
Fanselau and Herbel credit their professors—Yaw in particular—with providing the support and encouragement they needed to bring their vision to life. Having met the criteria required for their senior project, they’ll need to continue to perfect their design before it can be submitted to Maranatha and implemented in the field.
“It’s exciting that we’re able to do projects like this working with nonprofits,” said Fanselau. “Walla Walla University has a really great [engineering] department and really great professors. They’ll put in the time to help you, and that’s been big.”
The WWU Edward F. Cross School of Engineering has been preparing and training engineers for more than 75 years, and is the only Seventh-day Adventist institution in North America that offers a master’s degree in engineering.
To learn more about the WWU engineering department, visit wallawalla.edu/engineering.
