Back row (left to right): Anthony Crespo, Brandon Willis, Joseph Roche, Jonathon Weidner , Daniel Loza; Front (L-R): Alison Gardner, Stephanie Grasse

Moraine Valley Community College students swept the engineering portion of the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) poster competition hosted April 21, at Elgin Community College.

First place was awarded to Hardy Adjunta, of Orland Park; Anthony Dudlo, of Tinley Park; and Jonathan Weidner, of Oak Lawn; for their entry, “Clearing Up Space! Designing a CubeSat Mission to Remove Nonfunctional Satellites from Orbit.”

The students, under the direction of Steven Merriman, instructor of physical science, focused on a design that included necessary components, orbital parameters, launch requirements, and a modeled structural analysis, that would effectively carry a nonfunctional satellite from geosynchronous to graveyard orbit.

Stephanie Grasse, of Justice; Allison Gardner, of Summit; Joseph Roche, of Justice; and Brandon Willis, of Bedford Park; earned second place for their entry, “Analysis of Renewable Energy Resource Applications to Operate a Smart Watch.”

With guidance from Dr. Jennene Fields, associate professor of physics, the students analyzed thermoelectric, kinetic and solar energy to create optimal power to cost relationship and demonstrated the diverse applications of clean energy on a practical and cost-effective scale.

Third place in the engineering portion went to Jordan Murray, of Burbank; for his entry, “Gait Pattern of Quadrupedal Robots.”

Under the direction of Panos Hadjimitsos, assistant dean of Science, Business and Computer Technology, who assisted as research advisor, Murray designed a walking quadrupedal robot that would achieve the longest possible stride while maintaining balance. Using 3-D printed parts, an Arduino microprocessor board and servo motors, the robot was able to achieve motion.

“I am happy to see the outstanding work of Moraine Valley engineering students be recognized at this year’s competition,” said Ryen Nagle, Dean of Science, Business and Computer Technology. “ It is a testament to both the quality of students we are attracting due to our Engineering Pathways program with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and to the top-level education students are receiving when they come to study at our institution.”

The Engineering Pathways program offered at Moraine Valley guarantees transfer admission into the College of Engineering at University of Illinois at the Urbana-Champaign. This competitive program is designed for high school seniors who plan to enroll as first-time college students for the fall semester.