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News Release
COLLEGE NEWS RELEASE / March 13, 2009
Boise State University Engineering Students Take Second Place
in International Aero Design Competition
After four years of placing in the top 15, students in the Boise State
University College of Engineering are celebrating a second-place overall win
in the 2009 SAE Aero Design West competition held in Van Nuys, Calif., March
6-8. The international competition featured 54 teams from all over the
world, and Boise State came second only to Kansas State University in
designing, building and flying a remotely piloted aircraft capable of
carrying maximum payload while meeting strict competition specifications.
The distinction earned the eight-student team $750 in prize money, which
will help build a base for future contest submissions.
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Teams were tested separately on communication skills through a technical
design report and oral presentation, and Boise State took the top prize in
this category. The double victory validated nearly eight months and
countless hours of work on design and construction of an aircraft “superbly
suited for its intended mission.” Judges, other teams and professional
engineers from the Lockheed Martin Corporation were impressed with the
quality of construction and performance of the Boise State airplanes,
according to co-captain Landon Nye, an undergraduate in mechanical
engineering.
“Spectators and judges also commented on the good sportsmanship and positive
attitude of the Boise State team toward competitors,” Nye said.
Advised by Don Plumlee, an assistant professor of mechanical and biomedical
engineering, the team also included Matt McCrink, Cody Blevins, Mark McNew,
Joe Fouts and Eugene Castro from the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical
Engineering and Rebecca Ahern and Alex Miller from the Department of
Materials Science and Engineering.
“This competition provides an exceptionally valuable learning tool for
students, as it allows for the development of real world engineering and
project management skills in addition to reinforcing classroom concepts,”
said James Ferguson, chair of the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical
Engineering.
“With interested students and support from the College of Engineering, the
Aero Design team will continue to represent Boise State well,” added Nye.
SAE International is the premier membership society dedicated to advancing
mobility engineering worldwide. It has more than 121,000 members from more
than 97 countries — engineers, business executives, educators and students
who share information and exchange ideas for advancing the engineering of
mobility systems.
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Media Contact: Erin Ryan, University Communications, (208) 426-4910,
erinryan@boisestate.edu
Boise State University is “The New U Rising” with record student
enrollment, new academic buildings, additional degree programs and a growing
research agenda. Learn more at
www.boisestate.edu.
For cutline: Boise State
University sent a team of engineering students to the international Aero
Design West competition March 6-8, and they came back with a second place
overall win out of a field of 54 teams from around the world. Team members
from left to right: Alex Miller, Cody Blevins, Mark McNew, Landon Nye, Matt
McCrink, Joe Fouts, Eugene Castro and Rebecca Ahern.
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Last reviewed on
Friday, March 13, 2009
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