Undergraduate Students

Engineering seniors design life-saving systems for mountain rescues

alse6588 — Tue, 26 May 2026 22:18:16 +0000

Engineering seniors design life-saving systems for mountain rescues alse6588 Tue, 05/26/2026 - 16:18

Alexander Servantez

At many universities, engineering capstone projects are built for industry sponsors or corporate clients.

The WCU-��ӽ紫ý Engineering Partnership Program allows students to obtain bachelor's of science degrees in biomedical engineering or mechanical engineering as ��ӽ紫ý graduates.

With this partnership, they will have the opportunity to complete their first two years as Western students, and the balance of their education as ��ӽ紫ý students, all while remaining on the Western campus in Gunnison, Colorado. Graduates in the partnership will receive a bachelor of science degree and diploma from the College of Engineering and Applied Science at ��ӽ紫ý.

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But two groups of ��ӽ紫ý mechanical engineering seniors at Western Colorado University (WCU) are doing something a little different: designing equipment for Mountain Rescue volunteers who navigate Colorado’s rugged backcountry.

The projects, sponsored by the Western Mountain Rescue Team, were developed by students in the WCU-��ӽ紫ý Engineering Partnership Program. As part of their senior design course, they aimed to solve real challenges faced during wilderness rescues.

For a university nestled in the heart of Colorado’s Western Slope, the projects were a natural fit. Western’s Mountain Rescue Team President Riley LeHane said outdoor access and recreation are central to the campus identity, allowing students to engineer solutions for problems tied directly to the mountain environment they experience every day.

“There was a lot of interest in the rescue projects during the fall,” LeHane said. “It’s unique in the engineering space to blend outdoor recreation with borderline medical care. I think these teams take a lot of pride in trying to improve rescue services and benefit the local community.”

The two teams showcased their work at WCU’s Engineering Expo event on April 23. Here’s a closer look at this year’s Western Mountain Rescue Team projects:

Team 6: Western Mountain Rescue Truck System

A team six student showcasing his group's truck-bed organization system at WCU's Engineering Expo event (Credit: Cassondra Grover).

Search and rescue teams often have a myriad of equipment—such as medical kits, rope and harnesses—piled in the back of their response trucks. But when emergency calls come in, the time it takes to scramble and find these materials could mean the difference between life and death.

That’s why the truck management team designed and built a custom truck-bed organization system intended to make rescue response faster and more efficient in the field.

The project aimed to reduce mission preparation time at the trailhead by 30%, from ten minutes to seven, while improving accessibility, safety and long-term usability. It features a series of labeled sliding drawers and storage compartments so that critical, expensive gear is protected and easily accessible.

“Everything has a place and it’s easy to see,” said LeHane. “No more crawling to the back of the truck or digging through stacks of gear.”

But perhaps the most exciting aspect of the project is its potential for long-term impact. Once fully implemented, the system is expected to remain in use for the lifespan of the rescue vehicle, supporting Western Mountain Rescue volunteers responding to emergencies for years to come.

“It’s something that these engineering students can look back on and be extremely proud of,” LeHane said.

Team 7: Western Mountain Rescue Litter System

Students from team seven showcasing their rescue litter system at Engineering Expo (Credit: Cassondra Grover).

Carrying an injured person on a litter out of the backcountry can require rescuers to navigate steep trails, rocky terrain and long distances on foot.

To help ease that burden, the rescue litter team developed a new wheel attachment system in an effort to improve maneuverability, reduce physical strain on rescuers and increase overall patient stability during wilderness evacuations.

The design centers around a large single wheel mounted beneath the litter, allowing rescuers to transport patients more efficiently across uneven terrain without relying entirely on hand-carrying techniques. But unlike the truck-bed system, designing field equipment for real-world rescue operations comes with a unique set of challenges.

“There are a lot of testing and liability standards that come with rescue gear,” said LeHane. “Working around these complexities was a great challenge for the students.”

LeHane said the engineering student group’s current prototype will be used primarily in training settings. However, she believes the program’s partnership with the Western Mountain Rescue Team will create more opportunities for future teams to improve upon the initial concept and create a system ready for the field.

Two groups of ��ӽ紫ý mechanical engineering seniors at Western Colorado University (WCU) designed equipment for Mountain Rescue volunteers who navigate Colorado’s rugged backcountry. The projects, sponsored by the Western Mountain Rescue Team, were developed by students in the WCU-��ӽ紫ý Engineering Partnership Program. As part of their senior design course, they aimed to solve real challenges faced during wilderness rescues.

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New student-designed brace could aid drop foot patients

alse6588 — Tue, 26 May 2026 19:49:01 +0000

New student-designed brace could aid drop foot patients alse6588 Tue, 05/26/2026 - 13:49

Alexander Servantez

For years, Grand Junction eye doctor Tom Politzer has struggled with drop foot. Even a short walk could become frustratingly complicated.

But this year, three engineering students at Colorado Mesa University (CMU), including students earning their bachelor’s degrees through the CMU-��ӽ紫ý Engineering Partnership Program, set out to make those steps a little easier during their senior capstone design course.

The CMU-��ӽ紫ý Engineering Partnership Program gives students the chance to earn a ��ӽ紫ý engineering degree entirely in Grand Junction.

The first two years of the program are taught by CMU faculty and the second two years are taught by ��ӽ紫ý faculty who live in Grand Junction. The partnership follows the same hands-on curriculum for civil engineering, mechanical engineering, or electrical and computer engineering at ��ӽ紫ý, culminating in a year-long senior design project.

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Working directly with Politzer, the team designed and tested a custom ankle foot orthotic (AFO)—a wearable brace intended to better serve drop foot patients by improving stability, comfort and mobility.

“We did a lot of research on current AFOs in the market, including some of the ones that Politzer preferred. However, we found that many fell short in providing long-term durability and effectiveness,” said team member and mechanical engineering student Emma Coates. “Our project addresses these deficiencies by combining various brace designs into one better alternative.”

Drop foot, a neuromuscular condition caused by weakness or paralysis of the ankle dorsiflexor muscles, can make it difficult for patients to lift the front portion of their foot while walking. It’s often characterized by instability, changes in gait and an increased risk of tripping or falling.

According to a study in the National Center for Biotechnology, drop foot affects approximately 19 out of every 100,000 individuals in the United States. That includes Politzer, whose experience with the condition became the foundation for the team’s project.

A close-up look at the team's ankle brace designed for drop foot patients.

“Last year, Politzer sponsored a project in the senior design program using his background as an eye doctor to help people with impaired vision,” said group member mechanical engineering technology student Sami Mettler. “This year, he chose to continue that contact with the school by drawing upon his own struggles with drop foot.”

Several commercially available brace designs already exist for drop foot patients, offering support in a neutral, lifted position while walking to prevent the foot from dragging. Among them is the TurboMed XTERN, a brace Politzer has relied on for years.

Still, the group said current AFOs on the market were far from perfect.

“The TurboMed brace was durable, but Politzer said it could be uncomfortable and still allowed his foot to catch at times,” Coates said. “Our design aimed to improve both comfort and force output, giving him better stability while walking.”

Using technology at CMU’s Human Performance Laboratory, the team was able to create a brace prototype that improved comfort, breakage and provided more adequate dorsiflexion assistance. But that wasn’t the group’s only impactful outcome.

Team member and mechanical engineering student Izaak Siefken said that their design could help make AFO devices more accessible, as well.

The team's motion capture testing, conducted at CMU's Human Performance Laboratory.

“The cost of purchasing a durable, medical-grade brace is high. Every two years, patients can get a new one through insurance, but obviously things happen. They can get lost or even break,” said Siefken. “Our goal was to find a way to develop an effective device that was less expensive than the existing options.”

Beyond the brace itself, Siefken said the project also highlighted a major gap in how AFO performance is tested, evaluated and prescribed.

“There isn’t a system within the orthotic space where they can quantify if an AFO works well for someone. The only thing patients can do is try a brace and see how it feels,” Siefken said. “We did a lot of testing and gathered a lot of metrics in the Human Performance Lab. Maybe one day, doctors can use that data to set up a criteria of performance that can justify a brace choice.”

After months of research and development, the team unveiled its project at CMU’s Student Showcase on May 1. Along with the AFO prototype itself, they displayed design iterations and motion-capture data collected from the lab, allowing visitors to see how the brace affected Politzer’s walking in real-time.

Despite some struggles early on, the group said they were extremely proud of how their project turned out. But they believe the lessons they learned throughout their capstone journey extend far beyond their presentation at the showcase.

“We’ve had some internships in the past where you’re working on small projects and tasks for others,” Siefken said. “But in the senior design program, you are in charge of the entire project from start to finish. It’s on you to bear responsibility, take risks and develop a product that works.

“That’s exactly how it is in the workforce, and I think we are all prepared to succeed in that environment.”

Three engineering students at Colorado Mesa University (CMU), including students earning their bachelor’s degrees through the CMU-��ӽ紫ý Engineering Partnership Program, designed and tested a custom ankle foot orthotic (AFO)—a wearable brace intended to better serve drop foot patients by improving stability, comfort and mobility.

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Graduating student Asaiah Gifford wins prestigious Silver Medal award

alse6588 — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:40:54 +0000

Graduating student Asaiah Gifford wins prestigious Silver Medal award alse6588 Wed, 04/29/2026 - 14:40

Alexander Servantez

For many students, opportunities are like doors. They wait for them to open and take advantage when they do.

But Asaiah Gifford has taken a different path, building opportunities for herself and for others along the way.

Gifford, a mechanical engineering student graduating this spring, has been selected by the Colorado Engineering Council to receive this year’s Silver Medal Award. One of the state’s top honors for undergraduate engineers, the Silver Medal recognizes students who embody the values of academic excellence, personal integrity, professionalism and community service.

She is the third student from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering to win the award since 1994.

Asaiah Gifford speaking at the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship Summit.

“I am extremely honored to receive this award,” said Gifford. “During my time at ��ӽ紫ý, Rady Mechanical Engineering has invested in me and allowed me to be myself and fill in the gaps I see wherever possible. The guidance and collaboration I have received from mentors and peers in this community has made me a better person in all facets of my life.”

As a Boettcher Scholar, Gifford was poised to make a difference early. She was accepted into ��ӽ紫ý’s Engineering Honors Program, where she continued to challenge herself academically while seeking out leadership and service opportunities.

During her undergraduate years, Gifford was also selected for both the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship and the Brooke Owens Fellowship—two highly competitive, nationally recognized programs dedicated to supporting underrepresented students pursuing aerospace engineering careers.

Through these programs and her coursework, Gifford was able to develop and combine technical skills with real-world experiences. Her first-year engineering project, focused on sustainable transportation and carbon emissions education, won several awards, including being selected to be presented at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

That foundation led Gifford into the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR), where she worked under Professor Virginia Ferguson in the Ferguson Biomechanics and Biomimetics Lab. There, she applied her interdisciplinary strengths to help investigate how disease affects bone material properties.

“Asaiah is one of the most impressive undergraduate research students I have ever worked with,” said one of Gifford’s nominators. “The results of her research could potentially guide new discoveries and help others.”

Gifford’s perspective on engineering has also been shaped far beyond Boulder. She has participated in multiple education abroad programs, including a five-week seminar in Barcelona focused on literature and culture, a two-week leadership intensive in Rwanda and a semester at the National University of Singapore, where she completed a full course load in mechanical engineering.

But perhaps the most impressive aspect of Gifford’s college journey is her impact outside of the engineering classroom.

Gifford (left) posing with Chip the Buffalo and other students at an Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority event.

Inspired at a young age by Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to travel into space, she has worked hard to help broaden opportunities for others, as well.

Gifford reactivated and served as the president of the Alpha Kappa chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the only Black Greek Letter Organization on campus. In this role, she strived to promote community among Black women on campus.

As a Patti Grace Smith fellow and a member of the ME Community Engagement & Outreach Committee, Gifford helped connect young students with unique professional development opportunities and plan events centered around Black History Month and Earth Day.

And finally, as a student signer for New Era Colorado, she even encouraged civic engagement by helping fellow students register to vote.

“Asaiah has earned respect and acknowledgement for her hard work and aspiration to help others, particularly Black women in engineering,” said another nominator.

She also gave back to communities away from campus, mentoring the next-generation of Boettcher Scholars and advocating for fellow students at the state-level.

“I participated in events ranging from environmental sustainability and social justice advocacy to youth STEM engagement,” Gifford said. “I have been able to mentor other students seeking similar professional paths. It’s been amazing to bond with my peers and grow as a person.”

This summer, Gifford will intern at United Launch Alliance in Alabama on the mechanical engineering strength analysis team. She will return to ��ӽ紫ý in the fall to complete her master’s degree through the Bachelor’s-Accelerated Master’s Program (BAM).

And while her future is already taking shape, Gifford still takes the time today to reflect on her past. Not about the awards or the accomplishments—instead, it’s something that will carry her forward far beyond the university.

“My greatest achievement is that I have sought out and created opportunities to serve and learn from my communities,” said Gifford. “I feel overwhelmingly grateful to have made an impact in the process.”

Asaiah Gifford, a mechanical engineering student graduating this spring, has been selected by the Colorado Engineering Council to receive this year’s Silver Medal Award. One of the state’s top honors for undergraduate engineers, the Silver Medal recognizes students who embody the values of academic excellence, personal integrity, professionalism and community service.

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Nine mechanical engineering students earn 2026 graduating student awards

alse6588 — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:21:04 +0000

Nine mechanical engineering students earn 2026 graduating student awards alse6588 Wed, 04/29/2026 - 10:21

Alexander Servantez

Nine students from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering have earned graduating student awards from the College of Engineering and Applied Science in 2026.

These awards honor seniors who are nominated by faculty, staff or fellow students for their outstanding contributions.

Each of the nine award winners will be recognized and celebrated at the department's Graduation Recognition Ceremony on Friday, May 1.

Read below to learn more about these students and their amazing achievements.

Tegan Chanders

Chanders is receiving the Academic Engagement Award because of her relentless commitment to her studies. As a member of the Engineering Honors Program, Chanders has consistently demonstrated excellence by maintaining a high GPA while balancing a demanding and rigorous schedule. She has even leaned into early graduate-level coursework in preparation for her future.

On top of her studies, Chanders has also shown engagement in other areas of academia, including a semester studying abroad and internships with local startup companies. She is also a member of the Society of Women Engineers and the Women in Aeronautics and Astronautics, helping to create a supportive community for women in engineering and inspire the next generation of engineers.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

I am continuing my education at ��ӽ紫ý by pursuing my master's degree in mechanical engineering through the Bachelor’s-Accelerated Master’s Program (BAM). My undergraduate degree at ��ӽ紫ý helped me gain a foundation in mechanical engineering and gave me the opportunity to discover what I am passionate about.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

Get involved, make friends, go to class and get to know your professors! Everyone at CU wants to help you succeed, so take advantage of all of the opportunities you get and experience lots of new things.

Daniel Pagatpatan

Pagatpatan, an Academic Engagement Award recipient, has put together an impressive academic path during his time at ��ӽ紫ý. As an ME major with minors in both engineering management and biomedical engineering, Pagatpatan is constantly stepping out of his comfort zone and pursuing more. He has completed five graduate-level courses during his undergraduate studies and even applied innovative approaches to his senior design project, which has resulted in a patent pending technology to advance robotic assisted surgical systems.

Pagatpatan has served as a course assistant for several core engineering classes across four separate semesters, too. In these roles, his nominator says he has gone “beyond basic grading” to lead entire lab sections and mentor new course assistants. He is also a dedicated advocate for all students and staff, helping them navigate difficult course topics in subjects where he has already achieved success.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

I will be pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering here at ��ӽ紫ý as part of the BAM Program! The opportunities offered by ��ӽ紫ý allowed me to learn more about topics that are of interest to me and helped me develop both the technical and soft skills necessary to be confident in my abilities as an engineer.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

My best advice for other students would be to put yourself out there! Getting to know your peers and your professors will help build a strong network and support group where each person brings their own strengths to the table and everyone can learn from each other.

Isabella Wheeler

Wheeler is receiving the Academic Engagement and Perseverance Awards for her dedication to academic success and outstanding resilience. With a background in premedical studies, Wheeler has integrated a diverse, human-centered approach to her engineering studies and volunteer work in healthcare settings. She has also served as a course assistant for multiple undergraduate engineering classes, dedicating nearly 25 hours a week towards managing everything from course logistics to writing exam questions for nearly 100 students.

But her journey has not been easy. Wheeler has dealt with sudden health issues, academic setbacks and even instances of exclusion over the past four years. However, her nominator says she never retreated. She kept pushing and taking proactive measures to progress forward. She is not only the epitome of strength and courage—she has become a beam of inclusivity and a welcoming presence for others facing adversity.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

My next step will be a full-time position as a Thermal Engineer at SpaceX in Los Angeles, where I’ll be working on satellites. I’m incredibly excited for this opportunity and the chance to dive deeper into a specialized technical field that I’m truly passionate about.

��ӽ紫ý and the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) played a major role in preparing me for this next chapter. As both a student and an educator, I was able to explore a highly specific niche in thermal engineering while also receiving a well-rounded education that gave me the flexibility to take on new challenges.

Through a ��ӽ紫ý–sponsored career fair, I connected with Sierra Nevada Corporation, where my internship became one of the most transformative experiences of my early career. That role helped me grow significantly as an engineer and shaped the direction of my professional path.

The Design Center Colorado Senior Design Program was also instrumental in preparing me for this opportunity. Through a company-sponsored project with Sierra Space, I gained hands-on experience working on satellite systems for the first time.

This project sparked my interest in the space industry and played a key role in motivating me to pursue a career at SpaceX. It also taught me invaluable lessons in teamwork, systems-level thinking, and the technical aspects of spacecraft thermal control, including radiator design. Together, these experiences gave me both the confidence and the skill set to take this exciting next step.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

For future students, my advice is simple: fail often and fail early. Failure is not a reflection of your potential, it is a necessary part of growth. Allowing yourself to struggle, to take risks, and to step outside of your comfort zone will accelerate your learning and help you discover what you are truly passionate about.

Do not be afraid to ask questions, to seek help, or to challenge yourself with difficult material. Academic success is not reserved for those with prior knowledge or natural talent; it belongs to those who are willing to persist, to reflect, and to continue moving forward despite setbacks.

Asaiah Gifford

Gifford is receiving a multitude of recognitions this spring, including the Community Impact Award, Culture Impact Award and Global Engagement Award.

Gifford’s impact on community and culture starts with her strong commitment and demonstrated effort to create a welcoming environment for Black students on campus. She serves as the president of the Alpha Kappa chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the only Black Greek Letter Organization on campus. She has helped connect young students with unique professional development opportunities, helped plan Black History Month and Earth Day events and even encouraged civic engagement by helping fellow students register to vote.

Gifford also displays excellence abroad. As a dedicated board member of CU Engineers Without Borders, she has traveled abroad three times to Spain, Singapore and Rwanda. In each place, her nominator said she was able to bridge communication gaps and navigate different knowledge systems in a professional engineering capacity. But most of all, she treated other communities with respect and kindness, inspiring her peers to study abroad and participate in global efforts themselves.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

After graduation, I will be interning at United Launch Alliance on the mechanical engineering strength analysis team at their factory in Decatur, Alabama, and will be a Brooke Owens Fellow. I'll return to ��ӽ紫ý in the fall to complete my master's degree through the BAM program.

��ӽ紫ý gave me the opportunity to explore different parts of the world and what engineering can and should look like in a range of fields. Those experiences helped me better learn what I value and how I can uphold my values in any work I do.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

The most valuable part of my time in college has been the opportunity to be invested in by others, and my only advice is that other students seek out and build connections that invest in them.

While it’s true that I am very passionate about the activities and experiences I had, and was intentional in my pursuit of them, the meaning I have gleaned comes in whole from the mentors, professors, peers, and other community members that guided and collaborated with me. These amazing individuals are abundant at ��ӽ紫ý, so take advantage!

Madison Seckman

Seckman is receiving three awards this spring, including the Community Impact Award, Global Engagement Award and Research Award.

Her community contributions come from an interesting and unique place. As part of the Balance Builders program, Seckman created a cooking course called Cooking and Community Nights, sponsored by Engineering Connections. Designed around mental health themes, each night was a culinary metaphor for a common mental health struggle experienced by first-year engineering students. The sustainable program helped facilitate difficult conversations regarding mental health and transition periods.

She also served a four-year commitment with Engineers Without Borders Ecuador, where she helped lead the design of essential infrastructure, such as taps and meters, for a community in need. Her nominator says she has demonstrated a clear ability to deliver technical engineering practices while respecting and collaborating with Indigenous Knowledge systems.

Seckman has exhibited outstanding research ability, as well. She spent nearly a year working in the Pellegrino Lab, led by Research Professor John Pellegrino, where she focused on the development of semipermeable graphene-based membrane electrodes. Her work was highly innovative, aiming to create a device capable of powering medical implants like pacemakers and prosthetics using only blood flow.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

Starting this fall, I am transitioning from an internship to a full-time position with Medtronic as a CAS Clinical Specialist providing technical support for physicians in hospitals. I am also moving to Durham, North Carolina where I will be a part-time graduate student at Duke University earning a master's in mechanical engineering.

��ӽ紫ý helped me make connections at Medtronic through the Biomedical Engineering Society, and provided rigorous coursework that helped me get into grad school at Duke.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

Don't be afraid to have fun! Focus on your grades when you need to, but stay ahead so you can be spontaneous. Try a new sport or learn a new skill!

Zachary Weiner

Weiner, a Global Engagement honoree, is well-known for his presence on ��ӽ紫ý’s Engineers Without Borders USA chapter. Here, he served as the president and project manager on water source and distribution projects in Guatemala and Ecuador. He even helped establish an exciting new partnership with the Mortenson Center.

Since his involvement in the program began in 2022, Weiner has prioritized listening to community stakeholders, recognizing local expertise and adapting engineering plans to align with cultural values, environmental conditions and community-defined needs. His nominator says that global communities improved as a result of Weiner’s social awareness and responsible engineering.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

This summer, I will start as a Field Engineer with Mortenson Construction's wind team. ��ӽ紫ý gave me the opportunity to explore a wide variety of engineering fields and industries so that I could find what most interested me.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

Find clubs and organizations that you care about and get as involved as possible. That is where so much learning and growth happens that can't happen in the classroom.

Danielle Swen

Swen is receiving the Perseverance Award for her unwavering resilience in the face of pressure and adversity. During her time at ��ӽ紫ý, she has juggled heavy coursework and difficult responsibilities while also dealing with personal loss.

But despite these struggles, Swen has always stayed on track and remained a selfless advocate for her peers. She has been a vital support system for others, helping conduct resume reviews and leading professional workshops. Her nominator says she is a student who perseveres by “maintaining a well-rounded and community-focused life.”

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

I'm headed to SpaceX as a Propulsion Engineer! CEAS has helped me prepare for this incredible opportunity through great mentors and challenging developmental courses.

As my classes progressed, I began to truly understand the fundamentals of engineering. This helped me become a strong problem solver and better able to make sense of the world around me.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

College was not easy. In fact, it was very difficult!

But that’s okay. One day it will all be done and you will look back and appreciate all of the hard work you put in, how much you learned and the incredible people you met. It is easy to get caught up in the chaos and commotion, so remember to appreciate everything around you every once in a while.

Alexander Aronov

Aronov has earned a Research Award for his work on the SCENIC Colorado program, a National Science Foundation funded effort working to broaden access to engineering education in rural high school classrooms. Every year, SCENIC connects ��ӽ紫ý students with rural high schools to introduce hands-on engineering experiences into the classroom, turning local questions about air and soil quality into real-world research projects.

By investigating how students engage in asking research questions, developing hypotheses, and finding engineering solutions, the SCENIC program has helped address critical gaps in rural STEM education. Aronov’s contributions were significant enough to present at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Rocky Mountain Conference, as well as publish the team’s results in a primary-authored research paper, marking him as a high-achieving undergraduate researcher.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

This fall, I'll be starting as a 1L at the University of Chicago Law School. Because of my engineering education at CU, I feel better prepared than most might think.

Engineering taught me how to take enormous problems and break them into workable pieces. From senior design to research, the work demanded rigor and collaboration. The combination of thinking analytically while working alongside others is invaluable in any field.

It's a different path than the typical pre-law background, but I think that's going to be an asset. The legal field is full of complex, layered problems with unclear answers. I've been trained to tackle exactly that alongside world-class peers at Boulder.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

Find things you are passionate about, and don’t be afraid to push yourself. Take full advantage of the incredible opportunity you have at ��ӽ紫ý. Fill your schedule with a compendium of responsibilities you are genuinely excited about. Wake up Monday morning with that delightful anxiety and excitement as you see how busy the week ahead is.

Few have ever looked back on college and said, “I wish I had done less.”

Mari Sippel

Sippel has earned a Research Award for her incredible research in the Precision Laser Diagnostics Laboratory, led by Professor Greg Rieker. Since her sophomore year, she has progressed from organizing the workshop to conducting complex research that requires precise data acquisition and the use of specialized cameras. Her dedication to consistency ensures that each test provides reliable data for further analysis.

Sippel has taught herself Python and mastered advanced data acquisition methods. While her work involves projects for 3M, the broader impact of her research supports the development of more accurate simulations in the field of fluid dynamics. Sippel’s nominator says she is actively involved in the formal dissemination of her research and is currently in the process of writing a paper for publication.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

This summer, I will be interning at Lerch Bates, an engineering consulting company in Golden. Additionally, I am considering staying at ��ӽ紫ý for my master's degree starting in the fall.

CEAS helped me prepare by connecting me with Katherine McConnell and the MCEN Professions class, which helped me with my resume and networking. I also got my research position through her email list with job opportunities.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

Get involved in something outside of class! For me, it was the swim/dive team and research. It was great for meeting new people and learning new things.

Nine students from the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering have earned graduating student awards from the College of Engineering and Applied Science in 2026. These awards honor seniors who are nominated by faculty, staff or fellow students for their outstanding contributions to the college and campus community.

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ME senior project turns waste heat into clean energy savings

alse6588 — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 19:17:34 +0000

ME senior project turns waste heat into clean energy savings alse6588 Wed, 03/25/2026 - 13:17

Alexander Servantez

From craft breweries to steel manufacturing plants, many industrial facilities rely on cryogenic gases for processes such as cooling, materials testing or energy transport.

But before those gases can be used, they must be vaporized with electricity-intensive equipment that can cost companies tens of thousands of dollars each year.

A team of seniors in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering are working on a new solution. For their senior capstone project, the group is developing a heat-exchange device that captures waste heat circulating through refrigeration systems.

The project could help facilities drastically reduce energy consumption and operating costs, providing them with a sustainable new alternative.

“Think of a local business with a small facility like Avery Brewing. We found that they spend over $20,000 a year just to heat those cryogenic gases electrically,” said test and systems engineer Zachary Weiner. “Our device would cut that cost completely and recovering waste heat makes for a great green energy alternative.”

Members of the team chatting with local brewing industry professionals during a research visit.

However, the idea didn’t come together overnight. As part of the Senior Design program’s Engineering for Social Innovation (ESI) track, the team was responsible for developing their own project from scratch without being assigned to industry-sponsored prompts.

After extensive research, the team decided to explore waste heat recovery in the brewing industry. It wasn’t until they visited some local breweries and distilleries that the project truly came into focus.

“All the engineers we met with on our visits were so interested in our early concept and that’s what really inspired us,” said manufacturing engineer Ian Mcleod. “Some of these small and mid-sized businesses are trying to cut costs and be more sustainable so they can prevent them from closing down. Our passion in this project is about helping them save energy and remain open.”

The problem is simple: cryogenic gases are liquefied and stored at extremely low temperatures to maximize storage and enable easier transportation. In order to be used in industrial facilities, though, they must be vaporized into gas.

To do this, most places today use an energy-intensive electric pressure builder that draws directly from the power grid. But the group’s new heat-exchange device is different.

Instead of using electricity, the device takes in a hot, refrigerant liquid called glycol. In breweries, glycol is already being chilled and circulated through cooling systems to keep tanks and other equipment at safe temperatures.

Test and systems engineer Zachary Weiner working on the senior design project in the Idea Forge.

By using glycol, the team says the device can repurpose its existing heat rather than relying on new energy from the grid.

“We are essentially saving energy that would be taken out anyway through the glycol cooling process,” said project manager Gavriel Fox.

The group is currently working on a test article for their heat exchanger model. They plan to showcase the small-scale design and validate their simulations at this year’s Engineering Expo event in April.

But Engineering Expo is only part of the journey. The team will also be competing in the New Venture Challenge (NVC), where they will refine their business model and pitch the technology as a scalable solution for multiple industries.

“Our device is relevant wherever there is bulk gas that needs cooling. It can be oxygen in hospitals, nitrogen in oil and gas industries or even argon in commercial steel facilities,” said logistics manager Asaiah Gifford. “We see breweries as our market entry space. If the device works in breweries, then we know we can expand from there to much larger industries.”

If selected to compete at the NVC finals in April, the group will have capped off a year-long project with an exciting finish. And while the process has been stressful, the team says the experience has been equally rewarding.

“We have a great team and this project has pushed us to become independent thinkers with agency,” said Fox. “We’ve even become better engineers with a strong foundation of business knowledge.”

Join us at Engineering Expo 2026!

Everything ��ӽ紫ý engineering students learn culminates in capstone design projects, presented at the annual Engineering Projects Expo. Explore amazing new inventions and technologies created by our next-generation of engineers!

Who: K-12 students, prospective CU Engineers, and community members are all encouraged to attend.

When: Friday, April 17 from 2 to 5 p.m.

Where: Ford Practice Facility, 2150 Colorado Ave., Boulder, CO

Parking: Available in Lot 436 and the Regent Parking Garage for $5.

Many industrial facilities rely on cryogenic gases for processes such as cooling, materials testing or energy transport. But before those gases can be used, they must be vaporized with electricity-intensive equipment that can cost companies tens of thousands of dollars each year. A team of seniors are working to address that problem by developing a heat-exchange device for their senior capstone project that captures waste heat circulating through refrigeration systems.

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From left to right: Ian Mcleod, Gavriel Fox, Jasmine Bieniek, Keiron Hannula, Asaiah Gifford and Zachary Weiner

ME undergraduate designs custom sauna for athlete recovery

alse6588 — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 22:22:49 +0000

ME undergraduate designs custom sauna for athlete recovery alse6588 Tue, 03/03/2026 - 15:22

Student-athlete James Overberg has designed and developed a custom sauna that is crucial for helping endurance athletes recover from intense exercise. The new technology is now a permanent part of the Endurance Lab located in the Ford Indoor Practice Facility where it will assist Colorado student-athletes for years to come.

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Student feedback drives major ME curriculum changes for fall 2026

alse6588 — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:52:20 +0000

Student feedback drives major ME curriculum changes for fall 2026 alse6588 Wed, 02/04/2026 - 09:52

Alexander Servantez

Mechanical engineering students at ��ӽ紫ý can expect some big changes to their curriculum coming soon.

Janet Tsai, associate teaching professor and associate chair for undergraduate education, said the changes will help improve student learning experiences for all current and prospective students.

Here’s a breakdown of what students can expect starting fall 2026:

1. Splitting MCEN 1025 into two courses

The first change involves MCEN 1025, currently a four-credit computer-aided design (CAD) and fabrication course required of all mechanical engineering undergraduate students.

Students performing fabrication work in the Idea Forge.

The course will be split into two courses:

A three-credit CAD class (MCEN 1026) that will include classroom lectures and activities centered on learning the basics of CAD software.
A one-credit fabrication class (MCEN 2026) that will allow students to perform hands-on fabrication work in the Idea Forge machine shop.

Student feedback indicates the change will help resolve scheduling issues and improve flexibility—especially for transfer students—as they move through their college journey.

Tsai said the new class structure will also help create a clearer progression of hands-on experiences for students throughout the curriculum.

“The nice thing about the fabrication course is that it will be a 2000-level class,” Tsai said. “Currently, students take MCEN 1025 during their first year and have a year-long gap before their next hands-on course. But starting in the fall, there will be opportunities for hands-on, project-based learning in every year of the curriculum.”

2. Adjusting credit allocations across multiple courses

The second change tackles a student concern about class workloads not matching credit hours.

Many students expressed that certain classes were much more time consuming and difficult than the course’s allocated credit hours suggested. In order to address this issue, the department is restructuring credit allocations to better represent the amount of time and work students should expect in their courses.

Starting in the fall, students will no longer be required to take a three-credit standalone Math/Science Foundations class. The department will also be eliminating the lab component in MCEN 1030: Introduction to Engineering Computing and reducing the course’s credit hours from four to three.

Students studying in the Discovery Learning Center.

This frees up four total credit hours that the department will allocate to four other three-credit classes in need of adjustment. The classes that will receive an increase in credit hours are:

MCEN 3025: Component Design
MCEN 4026: Manufacturing Processes and Systems
MCEN 4043: System Dynamics
MCEN 4045: Senior Design I

Tsai believes the changes will help streamline degree requirements and stay compliant with registrar guidelines without adding or removing any credit hours. If students get caught between the old and new requirements, they will work very closely with them to ensure they can graduate on time.

“Right now, first- and second-year students are being advised of these changes so that they can schedule accordingly,” said Tsai. “Most juniors and seniors have achieved a majority of the old curriculum so they are still on track. But there are a couple of students in the middle that we are working on moving credits around with and they will definitely graduate just fine.”

Both of the changes were guided by a series of department-led student town hall meetings that began during the fall 2024 semester. The events served as a direct venue for students to voice any concerns they have regarding department leadership, programming or education.

“We believe it’s very important to hear directly from our students,” Tsai said. “So far it’s already led to a lot of great ideas and solutions that leadership and students are looking to build upon together.”

For example, the department is working to create a student advisory board, which will include students with a wide range of journeys and experiences. Tsai and her team are reviewing student-submitted applications to find a cohort that can help represent the student ecosystem and foster healthy discussion.

Above all, Tsai wants mechanical engineering students to know their changes and efforts are always implemented with their best interests in mind.

“These credit changes are something that we’ve been talking about for a long time and will greatly benefit our students,” said Tsai. “We want to show them that we are actively listening to their feedback and evolving to ensure they are getting credit for their work and receiving the best hands-on experience possible.”

Starting in fall 2026, the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering is rolling out two major curriculum changes—guided by student feedback—that aim to rebalance credit allocation and streamline degree requirements. Janet Tsai, associate teaching professor and associate chair for undergraduate education, said the changes will help improve student learning experiences for all current and prospective students.

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Mechanical engineering students shine at the 2025 CSC Finals

Alexander James Servantez — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 19:46:57 +0000

Mechanical engineering students shine at the 2025 CSC Finals Alexander Jame… Thu, 11/06/2025 - 12:46

Mechanical engineering students Jack Mulvaney, Josh Shrewbridge, Hayden Dondlinger, Kai Groudan, Duncan Laird and Gregory Reilly shined at this year's Colorado Sustainable Challenge, receiving nearly $8,500 in awards during the two-week hackathon-style event designed for anyone passionate about solving problems and building a solution to impact sustainability.

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Campos Student Center celebrates community and future success

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 21:47:12 +0000

Campos Student Center celebrates community and future success Alexander Jame… Fri, 09/05/2025 - 15:47

The College of Engineering and Applied Science honored the ribbon cutting ceremony of the newly named Campos Student Center in recognition of a $5 million investment for student success from Marco Campos and the Campos Foundation. Fourth-year mechanical engineering student Julia Wall weighs in on the importance of the center and how important the investment will be for its future.

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ME undergraduate student works to address methane crisis in summer project

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 18:06:04 +0000

ME undergraduate student works to address methane crisis in summer project Alexander Jame… Fri, 08/29/2025 - 12:06

Alexander Servantez

Alex Hansen stepped foot in a landfill this summer for the first time to study the consequences of methane emissions. What he saw sparked a growing interest in climate change research and environmental data analysis.

Hansen, a rising senior in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, spent his summer break in ��ӽ紫ý’s Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR).

Alex Hansen (right) working alongside graduate student SPUR mentor Gabriela Cortes (left) in the Hannigan Air Quality and Technology Research Lab.

The program aims to increase undergraduate research engagement and interest by pairing nearly 125 engineering students from across the college in research labs with faculty members and graduate mentors. For 10 weeks, students foster unique, hands-on research experiences—like a trip to a landfill in Los Angeles—and develop crucial skills that serve them well beyond their undergraduate journey.

For Hansen, it was a special curiosity that led him to the SPUR program. One that started from a simple conversation.

“I spoke with someone I ran into one day a while back who worked at a landfill. He was telling me how dangerous methane is and how important it is to burn off methane,” said Hansen. “I was just so fascinated by it all. When I saw the project description on the SPUR website, I knew it was something I wanted to learn more about.”

And dangerous is an understatement. Methane, one of Earth’s most potent greenhouse gases, is one of the primary contributors to climate change. Its atmospheric lifespan may be shorter than other greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, but it can trap significantly more heat per molecule, making it extremely hazardous to human and environmental health.

According to the UN Environment Programme, methane is 80 times more potent at warming than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. It’s also responsible for nearly 30% of global warming since pre-industrial times and is a key culprit for the formation of ground-level ozone, which causes one million premature deaths every year.

It’s a spiraling issue, but Hansen says his SPUR project titled “Characterizing Landfill Methane through a Low-Cost Ground-Based Sensor Network,” looks to attack the crisis by addressing some of the world’s most prevalent methane emissions sites.

“Landfills are one of the largest emitters of methane in the United States,” Hansen said. “I believe waste is about third for methane emissions across the entire world. If we are able to study a landfill and learn more about the way methane spreads in the atmosphere, maybe we can find a way to make improvements to landfill infrastructure and lower emissions.”

To do this, Hansen and his lab mates in Professor Michael Hannigan’s Hannigan Air Quality and Technology Research Lab started working with a network of 24 low-cost air quality sensors called L-Pods that were deployed across a landfill in Los Angeles at the beginning of 2025.

The L-Pods are equipped with two metal oxide sensors that collect air pollutant data and another sensor that tracks temperature and relative humidity. The data is then stored locally and transmitted to the cloud every 10 seconds for ongoing monitoring.

These unique sensors may not be as individually powerful as the industry-grade technology used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but they are cheap and efficient. This allows the group the ability to position more sensors across a landfill than they previously could, giving them a precise methane reading that represents a much larger region.

Hansen showcasing the inner workings of an L-Pod air quality sensor.

Hansen spent a majority of his summer SPUR experience helping the team analyze the data gathered from the sensors. But he was able to see the sensors in action firsthand at the Los Angeles landfill where they are deployed.

It was crazy seeing how much trash we make and the operations needed to contain it all,” said Hansen. “And these low-cost sensors were awesome to see, too. We can add so many more positions and measure way more often than traditional measuring devices. It’s super exciting to see the data we collect in real-time and how impactful it is.”

Hansen’s journey through the SPUR program ended with a final presentation at the end of July. It was a chance for him to share his learning and reflect on his summer.

In many ways, he said it was a rollercoaster ride filled with highs and lows. Some seasoned researchers might call that the typical research experience.

But Hansen also said it was valuable and fulfilling. So much so, that he might be eyeing a future career in research.

“Being in the lab was definitely a learning curve at first. Just learning the terminology and trying to get up to speed as quickly as possible was tough,” Hansen said. “But there’s so many opportunities to make a big impact in research. I’ve learned so much from amazing people this summer and I am definitely curious about pursuing research in a master’s program after graduation.”

Rising senior Alex Hansen spent his summer break in ��ӽ紫ý’s Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) studying the consequences of methane emissions. His work analyzing data gathered from unique methane detection sensors can one day help researchers address the methane crisis at some of the world's most prevalent methane emissions sites.

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