Increasingly high enrollment, rising academic qualifications of applicants, and a nearly 100 percent placement of graduates in engineering fields were among the major highlights Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SOE) Dean Cem Karacal, PhD, shared with prospective students during the School’s first Admit Day held Friday, April 12.
Admit Day amplified admitted students’ excitement for the first-rate academic offerings and wealth of experiential learning opportunities available in SIUE’s dynamic SOE. Over 30 admitted School of Engineering students and their guests attended the event, which offered small group conversation with SOE administrators, tours of the SOE Building and the new Fowler Student Design Center, and a chance to view the Senior Design Project Competition.
“The SIUE School of Engineering is known in the region for producing competent, technical leaders with hands-on skills, which are extremely valued by industry representatives,” said Karacal during Admit Day. “Experiential learning is integrated into our curriculum. Our more than 35 student organizations also offer opportunities to engage in applied experiences that build leadership, technical and problem-solving skills.”
Karacal gave the visiting students a glimpse at architectural renderings of the second floor of the Fowler Student Design Center, which is under construction and slated to open in fall 2019. The second floor will include an Innovation Loft, fit with moveable meeting spaces and white boards that will create a hub for student team project work.
“Today has been exciting,” said Anson Smith, of Belleville, who plans to pursue the SOE’s computer science program. “It’s been great to see all of this before I get here in the fall. Now, I have time to process what’s to come, and will be able to hit the ground running after I move to campus.”
“I’m eager to get started in the School of Engineering’s mechatronics and robotics program,” added Madeline Misukonis, of Edwardsville. “It’s been especially interesting to see the senior design projects while here for Admit Day. It shows what students have created, and gives me an idea of the type of projects I can be involved in.”
“In four years, I’ll be on that side of the table,” noted Alex Garcia, of Breese, upon viewing the Senior Design Project Competition. “I’m choosing SIUE, because it offers the quality of a large university, but allows me to feel safe and welcome as a smaller university. I’m interested in the mechatronics and robotics program.”
More than 25 industry representatives also visited the Engineering Building on Friday, April 12 to view and judge the Senior Design Project Competition. The competition offers a display of a required capstone project that seniors complete in order to practice teamwork and critical analysis in their domain, and apply their creativity in a design and fabrication project with real-life applications.
“It’s impressive to see some of the innovative things these students have designed and developed,” said SOE electrical engineering alumnus and advisory board member Mike Blakey, senior maintenance manager at Anheuser Busch In-Bev. “This School is really second to none, and I visit many schools in the Midwest. The quality of these projects is outstanding.”
One intriguing industrial engineering project was Robo-Checkers. A team of students created an automated checkers board that allows a phone or computer user to virtually tell the board its next move, and a magnet on the board will move the piece to the intended position.
“One of my teammates decided that since he loves playing board games with his family, but isn’t with them often in-person, we could create Robo-Checkers and it would be as if he’s there with them playing live,” explained senior industrial engineering major Elise Rainey, of Carlyle. Rainey will work for Continental Tire following her May graduation.
Her teammates included Zachary Haake, of Effingham, Jonathan Lengermann, of Highland, Dunamis Obomighie, of Nigeria, Taylor Pyzynski, of Rockford, and Matthew Schlecht, of Granite City. Their prototype offered competition visitors a chance to view the simple, yet completely automated, board.
Across the aisle, a team of civil engineers displayed their drawings and plans for a pedestrian bridge that would connect two existing brick buildings in St. Louis.
“We were presented three options to design, and our team narrowed it down to the most cost-effective route,” said Zachary Clowers, of Bethalto. “This was an extensive design project, so everything we’ve learned has been great and will prove beneficial as we move into the professional world.” Clowers has been hired by the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Outside, a CNC (computer numerical control) mill intricately carved a number five into a piece of wood. A team of electrical engineering majors automated a manual mill by designing a program that inputs into the controller to create a designated object.
“This has been an awesome experience,” said senior Samuel Gass, of Collinsville. “I’ve learned a lot about machining and micro-controllers. It’s been a great learning opportunity working with my teammates.”
Gass has secured a position at Ameren upon graduation. His senior project team members included Alek Wegmann, of Columbia, Kyle Emery, of Marion, and Jack Ralston, of Troy.
“One of the things that we in industry need is a good talent pipeline,” explained Bill Butler, of Emerson Commercial and Residential Solutions Group in St. Louis. “Engaging with local universities is important, so I’m glad to be here. These students have done impressive work and will be valuable to industry.”
“It’s great that industry was involved in today’s Senior Design Project Competition,” added SIUE mechanical engineering alumnus Jason Hill, vice president of engineering at Emerson. “The more the students have exposure to people in the industry, and vice versa, the more we can see what’s relevant today and the level of education these students are receiving.”
Photos: SIUE School of Engineering senior Elise Rainey sits by the Robo-Checkers board she and her teammates created.
A team of mechatronics and robotics students show the robotic prosthetic arm they created during the School of Engineering’s Senior Design Project Competition.
SIUE senior Samuel Gass (middle) and his project team members demonstrate the mill they automated.
Demonstrating a water hammer pumping water are a team of senior mechanical engineering students.