2015 Grads Win Third Place in SourceAmerica Design Challenge

The capstone team of Connor Howlett, Luke Martin, and Christal Theriot (mechanical engineering majors in the Class of 2015) were named third place winner (out of 75 entries) for the 2015 SourceAmerica Design Challenge sponsored by the Institute for Economic Empowerment to develop a device to assist workers with disabilities. The team designed, built, and tested the Stapler Operation Aide Resource (S.O.A.R.) device to improve the assembly process for heavy-duty staplers at Access: Suppol0rts for Living (formerly Occupations, Inc.) in Middletown, NY, as part of their senior design project. Project advisors were COL Daisie Boettner and MAJ Dan Fox. The team’s device significantly increased productivity and accessibility for workers with disabilities. A demonstration video of their device (part of the competition requirement) and the other finalists’ videos is at http://www.instituteforempowerment.org/design-challenge/2015-college-challenge/2015-college-finalists. Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney presented the team their award during an evening Congressional reception in Washington, D.C., at the Rayburn House Office Building on 10 June 2015.