If you’ve ever had a problem with soggy fries or perhaps trouble seeing if it’s safe to take a left turn then these students may have just the solutions you need,
Project Lead The Way’s Competition
Neuqua Valley hosted Project Lead The Way’s Engineering Design and Development Showcase, as 56 teams faced off in friendly competition.
“They’ve spent the entire year researching these projects. Finding out what’s already out there about the projects, contacting engineer’s about possible solutions, figuring out what their solutions is going to be creating a prototype solution, and now presenting it to the engineers,” explained Lisa Traut, a judge at PLTW Showcase.
Displays at The Engineering Design Showcase
Students first had to identify a real-word issue and then come up with a solution.
A group from Neuqua Valley wanted to create a safety mechanism for lockdown situations in schools.
“The door closer would fit into this little space right here and then when you let go the device locks itself and it locks over that. So if an intruder attempted to get in the room the door closer wouldn’t budge and the door would not open,” said Max Schiewe, showing his team’s mechanism.
While a former lifeguard from Waubonsie Valley wanted to prevent spinal injuries from happening on backboards.
“These pegs are brought in so they can be moved up or down the holes on the side of the board; here along with the foot so the rescuers will pull the board out they’re using these top handles so the person isn’t being pulled out by their necks. They’re being supported by their feet as well,” explained Maggie Zoerner.
How the Competition was Judged
After the projects were shown, engineers then took a closer look and judged the designs using several factors, like display and practicality.
Tony Tegtmeyer, the event’s organizer, says he receives about 20 emails every year from students thanking him for putting this showcase on.
“Whatever they learn here they can take with them because it’s a problem solving skill they can take anywhere,” said Tegtmeyer. “It’s very transportable, and that’s something that I’m very proud of.”
Tegtmeyer hopes to continue and expand the event, so more students can solve the world’s problems one engineering project at a time.
Naperville News 17’s Christian Canizal reports.
