Winners announced in Fluid Power Challenge
| Published: 12/20/2010 |
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Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) and the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) held a Fluid Power Challenge on Dec. 13 at MSOE. Ten teams of eighth-grade students competed to solve a fluid power challenge by designing and constructing a mechanism that used fluid power technology. Participating schools included: La Causa Charter School, Milwaukee; Luxemburg-Casco Middle School, Casco, Wis.; Mitchell Middle School, Racine, Wis.; and Starbuck Middle School, Racine, Wis.
This year, all of the winning teams came from Starbuck Middle School, and were coached by Mr.
Clarence Allen. Team Starbuck A was the Portfolio Champion; Starbuck B was the Design Champion; Starbuck C was the Team Work Champion; and Starbuck D was the Team Challenge Champion. The Overall Champion was Starbuck B (pictured here with Eric Lanke, NFPA executive director (far left) and Tom Wanke, MSOE Fluid Power Institute director (far right)).
At a workshop in November, the students were given the assignment of designing and constructing a fluid power mechanism to perform a defined task. The mechanisms were required to use fluid power (hydraulics and pneumatics) to pick up weighted objects, and then place them on a platform for various point totals.
After working for four weeks, the teams came together again to compete against each other in a two-minute competition. Engineers from area companies served as judges, who graded the teams and presented awards in five categories-Overall Champion, Design Champion, Teamwork Champion, Portfolio Champion and Team Challenge Champion.
The program is designed to introduce students, and their teachers, to the world of engineering and careers in fluid power. Through the Fluid Power Challenges, the NFPA hopes to encourage students to select more mathematics and science courses in their high school curricula to keep their options open for technology-based post-secondary studies.
MSOE School of Engineering and its Fluid Power InstituteTM would like to congratulate all of the students and teachers who were involved in the competition. To learn more about the NFPA Fluid Power Challenge, please contact Carrie Tatman Schwartz at (414) 778-3347.
NFPA provides a forum for the fluid power industry's channel partners-manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, customers and educators. Its 330+ U.S. and multinational members work cooperatively in advancing hydraulic and pneumatic technology through the association's many programs and initiatives.
MSOE is an independent university with 2,600 students. MSOE offers 18 bachelor's degrees and 10 master's degrees in the engineering, engineering technology, architectural engineering and building construction, computer, business, nursing and health-related fields. The university has a national academic reputation; longstanding ties to business and industry; dedicated professors with real-world experience; and extremely high placement rates and starting salaries. MSOE graduates are well-rounded, technologically experienced and highly productive professionals and leaders.