Florida Tech Sweeps Siemens Design Event College Category

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Three teams from Florida Institute of Technology took first, second and third places in the college division of the Siemens Energy Inc.
Terra Firma Terror design competition. The Engineers Week event took place in February at the company’s Orlando site.

Forty teams competed, composed primarily of Siemens engineers. Florida Tech competed against two University of Central Florida teams.
“Among all the teams however, the point score of our first place team ranked it in third place overall,” said Pei-feng Hsu, adviser to the Florida Tech
teams.

The teams built box-like vehicles that could be no larger than 8x12x18 inches. They constructed them with provided rubber bands; the rest of the materials
and the design were up to each team. Participants sent their vehicles over a 10-foot long course, traversing plywood, sand, gravel, a 20-degree incline and
three feet of plate glass.

The teams received trophies as well as monetary awards. In first place, receiving $150 each were Team Leader Jacob Allenbaugh, Richard Davis, Brandon
Hughes, Eric Casto and Mike Drake. In second place, receiving $100 each were Team Leader Matt Landau, John Curles, Michael Mathews, Charley Pearson and
Tyler Peloquin. In third place, receiving $75 each were Team Leader Gary Kaplan, Paul Rambacal, Josh Edelstein, Stephen Kwokchon and Cali Usher.

Siemens engineers also provided university participants with résumé critiques and career insights.