FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications, 304-696-7153
 

Engineering Academy at Marshall University attracts students from seven states

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Thirty-six students from high schools in seven states will be on Marshall University’s Huntington campus Sunday, June 14 through Friday, June 19 to take part in the ninth annual Exploring Engineering: Academy of Excellence (EEAE).

Dr. Betsy Dulin, dean of Marshall’s College of Information Technology and Engineering, said the engineering academy is one of the highlights of summer for the college. It provides an excellent opportunity for high school students to explore engineering as a career, to meet practicing engineers, and to experience living on Marshall’s campus.

“We’ve been pleased and honored during the past eight years to host the students participating in the camp,” Dulin said. “We look forward to meeting the outstanding students participating this year as well.”

Dr. William Pierson, chair of the Weisberg Division of Engineering and Computer Science at Marshall, said one theme of the camp’s activities is teamwork – the importance of teamwork in planning and in working together to achieve a common goal.

“The academy is a good way to make students aware of the important role of engineers in our modern society and what an exciting profession engineering is,” Pierson said.

He said one of the major themes of the 2009 academy is “Engineers Make a Difference.”  To help emphasize this theme, Rodney Holbert of Burgess & Niple (an engineering and architectural firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio) will give a presentation on opening day about his experiences with Engineers Without Borders.

Beth Wolfe, MU’s director of recruitment, said not only is the academy a great way for students to explore the field of engineering, it is a wonderful opportunity for them to explore Marshall University and all it has to offer.

“By living in our residence halls and interacting with our faculty and students, they get a real sense of life at Marshall,” Wolfe said.

The academy is funded through donations from individuals and corporations. This year’s premier sponsors, Chesapeake Energy and the Nick J. Rahall, II Appalachian Transportation Institute (RTI), contributed a combined $50,000 allowing the academy to expand activities.

“RTI and Chesapeake are proud partners in supporting a program that allows students to actively participate in such a valuable learning experience,” RTI Director and CEO Bob Plymale said. “The additional funding allows the academy to increase the number of students participating, and enhance the learning experience.”

Students are selected for the camp based upon their interest in and aptitude for engineering. Grades, courses taken and letters of recommendation are taken into consideration. The camp primarily tries to attract rising high school juniors. 

The 2009 participants include:

Elishah Cabarrus of Huntington; J.P. Calo of Martinsburg, W.Va.; Jordan Coldsmith of Chambersburg, Pa.; Sydney Combs of London, Ky.; Grayson Davis of Huntington; Emily Deinert of Jackson, Ohio; Alex Dutkevitch of Indianapolis, Ind.; Levi Exline of Jackson, Ohio; Ronald FiField of Paw Paw, W.Va;

Colin Frosch of Fairmont, W.Va.; Ethan Garrison of Sistersville, W.Va.; Sam Huffman of Hurricane, W.Va.; Zach Humphreys of Wheelersburg, Ohio; Hollie Keesee of Huntington; Cara Lauber of Fort Collins, Colo.; David Leaphart of Thurman, Ohio; Jason Long of New Martinsville, W.Va.; Brandon Maynard of Fort Gay, W.Va.;

Tori Morgan of Glasgow, Ky.; Carly O’Dell of Fairmont, W.Va.; Mat Pack of Leon, W.Va.; Alex Poindexter of Glasgow, Ky.; Drew Price of Kenova; Conor Pyles of Chapmanville, W.Va.; Luke Rapp of Huntington; David Russell of Barboursville; Allie Shaner of Farmington, W.Va.;

Natalie Shields of Glasgow, Ky.; Tucker Simonton of Orange Park, Fla.; Connor Stephens of Hilliard, Ohio; Dylan Watson of Wayne; Emily Wells of Sistersville, W.Va.; Anthony Whaley of Ironton, Ohio; Lauren Wheeler of Bridgeport, W.Va.; Emily Wildman of Paden City, W.Va., and Ruth Williams of Summersville, W.Va.

Here is the complete schedule of events for the 2009 academy:

Sunday, June 14

·         2 to 3 p.m.: check-in – Haymaker Hall, Marshall Commons

  • 3 to 5 p.m.: welcome and presentation by Rodney Holbert, PE, PS, Burgess and Niple, “Engineering Without Borders” – Smith Hall 154. Families of students are encouraged to stay for this event.
  • 5 to 6 p.m.: dinner – Memorial Student Center cafeteria
  • 6:30 to 9 p.m.: icebreaker and team-building activities – Marshall Recreation Center

Monday, June 15

·         8 to 9:45 a.m.: lecture time – Weisberg Engineering Lab classroom (WEL 101)

  • 9:50 to 11:30 a.m.: introduction to civil and environmental engineering: surveying, GPS, materials testing and environmental sampling – Buskirk Field and Weisberg Engineering Lab
  • 11:30 a.m. to noon: lunch – Harless Dining Hall
  • 12:30 to 4 p.m.: introduction to civil and environmental engineering: surveying, GPS, materials testing and environmental sampling – Buskirk Field and Weisberg Engineering Lab
  • 4:30 to 5 p.m.: dinner – Harless Dining Hall
  • 5:30 to 7 p.m.: introduction to GPS, Jamie Wolfe – Weisberg Engineering Lab
  • 7 to 8:30 p.m.: work on landscape design

Tuesday, June 16

·         8 to 9 a.m.: introduction to trebuchet design – WEL 101

  • 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: trebuchet design and construction – Buskirk Field
  • 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: luncheon with Society of American Military Engineers members – Harless Dining Hall, Ed Grose Room
  • 12:30 to 2 p.m.: complete trebuchet construction
  • 2 to 3 p.m.: trebuchet competition
  • 3 to 4:30 p.m.: Visualization Lab presentation – Weisberg Engineering Lab
  • 4:30 to 5 p.m.: dinner – Harless Dining Hall
  • 5:30 to 7 p.m.: Intelligent Transportation Systems presentation, Andrew Nichols – WEL 101
  • 7 to 8:30 p.m.: work on landscape design

Wednesday, June 17

·         8 to 9:30 a.m.: introduction to Intelligent Transportation Systems (using Lego robotics) – GH5

  • 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: work on robot design/construction – GH5
  • 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: lunch – Harless Dining Hall
  • 12:30 to 2 p.m.: finalize robot design – Weisberg Engineering Lab
  • 2 to 3 p.m.: robotics competition – Weisberg Engineering Lab
  • 3 to 4 p.m.: concrete testing – Weisberg Engineering Lab
  • 4:30 to 5 p.m.: dinner – Harless Dining Hall
  • 5:30 to 7 p.m.: GPS competition – Memorial Fountain
  • 7 to 8:30 p.m.: work on landscape design

Thursday, June 18

·         8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: field trips

  • 8 to 9:30 a.m.: travel to WV American Water Plant in Charleston
  • 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: WVAW Treatment Plant tour
  • 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: lunch at Golden Corral, Cross Lanes
  • 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.: travel to Toyota Plant in Buffalo
  • 1:15 to 3:15 p.m.: tour Toyota
  • 3:15 to 4 p.m.: travel to J.H. Fletcher
  • 4 to 6 p.m.: tour J.H. Fletcher
  • 6 to 6:30 p.m.: travel to Waves of Fun
  • 6:30 to 9 p.m.: dinner and pool party, Waves of Fun
  • 9 to 9:30 p.m.: return to Marshall

Friday, June 19

·         9 to 10:30 a.m.: landscape design presentations – Weisberg Engineering Lab

  • 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.: EEAE evaluation and wrap-up – WEL 101
  • 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: awards luncheon, students, families, sponsors, staff and guests – Memorial Student Center BE5.

Sponsors of the 2009 engineering academy are:

Premier sponsors: Chesapeake Energy and the Nick J. Rahall, II Appalachian Transportation Institute.

Team sponsors:  J.H. Fletcher & Co.; Kanawha Stone; GRW Engineers, Inc.; Chapman Technical Group; The Dow Chemical Company; American Society of Civil Engineers, West Virginia Section, and the Society of American Military Engineers, Huntington Post.

Activity sponsors: West Virginia American Water; Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia, and WV Research Challenge Fund.

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