Honors Go to Teams at Florida Tech Student Design Showcase
MELBOURNE, FLA.—Congratulations go to winners of Northrop Grumman Corp. and Florida Institute of Technology awards, which were presented recently at the annual Northrop Grumman Student Design Showcase. The showcase of the final projects of Florida Tech science and engineering students was held recently in the Clemente Center for Sports and Recreation.
Northrop Grumman Prizes
Northrop Grumman Grand Prize
Project: S.H.A.R.K.E.S.
This unique propeller system for energy production from ocean currents comes from the College of Engineering. Team members received a plaque and will have lunch with Northrop Grumman executives. They are Paul Adams, William Cole, Clarice Cote, Renee Lippert and Kenneth Scott.
Northrop Grumman Corp. Runner-up Awards
College of Engineering Projects
1. Hermes Transmission Line Crawler (Sponsored by Harris Corp.)
2. Smooth Sleep Mouthpiece
3. Blended Wing Body Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Sponsored by RALOS)
College of Science Projects
1. Lunar Soil Erosion Physics for Landing Rockets on the Moon
2. Monitoring “Hot Jupiter” Exoplanets Using the Ortega 0.8-m Telescope
3. Observations of Sprites, Elves, Blue Jets and Gigantic Jets from Florida
Northrop Grumman judging criteria included:
Outstanding understanding of the problem or design, level of teamwork; level of understanding of project logistics; level of oral presentation skills; poster presentation and methodology, design, solution and an understanding of the underlying science, math and/or engineering principles involved.
University Awards
The Florida Tech President’s Cup for Best of Show
College of Science
Bio-Math team: Cristina Mazzone, Erin Zingarelli, Adam Hernandez
Faculty Advisers: Drs. Semen Koksal and David Carroll
Title: Artificial Neural Net Model of PLCγ-dependent Calcium Release and Growth after Fertilization in the Starfish Asterina miniata
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Best of Biological Sciences
Student: Helen M. Croce
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Richard L. Turner
Title: Formation and Growth of Vertebrae In Brittlestars: Do Ossicles Ever Fuse?
Best of Biological Sciences
Student: Brooke A. DeRosa
Faculty Advisors: Drs. Mitch Rotenberg and David Carroll
Title: The Search for Proteins that Interact with the Src Homology Domains of PLCγ at Fertilization
Best of Bio-Math
Students: Cristina Mazzone, Erin Zingarelli, Adam Hernandez
Faculty Advisors: Drs. Semen Koksal and David Carroll
Title: Artificial Neural Net Model of PLCγ-dependent Calcium Release and Growth after Fertilization in the Starfish Asterina miniata
Best of Chemistry
Student: Meagan Strouse
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Virender K. Sharma
Title: The Oxidation of L-Proline by a Green Chemistry Compound (Ferrate): An Example of an Environmentally Friendly Disinfection Alternative
Best of Physics & Space Sciences
Student: Crystal L. Latham
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Samuel T. Durrance
Title: Monitoring ‘Hot Jupiter’ Exoplanets Using the Ortega 0.8-M Telescope
Best of Physics & Space Sciences
Student: Guillermo Naranjo
Faculty Advisors: Drs. Ningyu Liu, Joseph Dwyer, and Hamid K. Rassoul
Title: Observations of Sprites, Elves, Blue Jets, and Gigantic Jets from Florida
Best of Science & Mathematics Education
Student: Nicole Aia
Faculty Advisor: Professor Debra S. Blenis
Title: Improving Critical Thinking Skills in a High School Classroom
Best of Science & Mathematics Education
Student: Deirdra O’Donnell
Faculty Advisor: Professor Debra S. Blenis
Title: What Instructional Strategies Can Improve Middle School Student’s Academic Independence?
The Florida Tech President’s Cup Best in Show
College of Engineering
Title: Intelligent Ground Vehicle, a joint Mechanical, Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science team
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Best of Aerospace Engineering: Blended Wing Plane
Best of Chemical Engineering: Butanol Production via Continuous Whey Concentration Fermentation
Best of Civil Engineering: Loop West Shopping Center
Best of Computer Science was: Shattered Seal: Echelon
Best of Electrical and Computer Engineering was: Smooth Sleep
Best of Mechanical Engineering: Intelligent Ground Vehicle
Best of Ocean Engineering: S.H.A.R.K.E.S.
