Capstone Design Showcase features top student projects
Senior students put their skills to the test to solve real-world engineering problems for their clients.
Thirteen teams from the University of Saskatchewan College of Engineering (USask Engineering) competed for $7000 in prizes at the 2024 Capstone Design Showcase on April 2 at Saskatoon’s Prairieland Park.
Students in the college are required to complete the capstone design class, which spans both semesters, in which they are assigned a design project specific to their discipline from a real-world client.
Akindele Odeshi, USask Engineering Associate Dean Academic, acknowledged the importance of the partnerships with those who bring projects to the college.
“We are grateful to you for entrusting this work with our students. This practical engineering experience is a critical part of their degrees,” he told the event.
Several smaller events were held in the weeks leading up to the college showcase in order to select the top projects from each discipline.
Odeshi thanked the capstone faculty supervisors for providing their insight and expertise to students as they prepare to begin their careers.
It’s USask Engineering grads who will work in the manufacturing, energy, agricultural, natural resource and technology sectors in Saskatchewan and beyond, he said, and it is important that they are ready to contribute.
“It is professional engineers who will lead and be part of teams that will design, engineer, manufacture, construct, operate and maintain industry projects in the decades to come.”
USask Engineering thanks the judges and the event and award sponsors whose support is critical in making the Capstone Design Showcase a reality.
Capstone Design Teams
Chemical Engineering Project 1: Waste Heat Recovery Using Heat Pipe Technology
- Kylee Hawkins, Mikaila Mahnke, Paige Perras
Chemical Engineering Project 2: Net Zero Ethylene Plant
- Justin Hertz, Joel Schemenauer, Kaeden Von Niessen
Civil Engineering Project 1: 24K Operations Tailings Management Area Expansion Dam
- Libby Epoch, Karem Mohamed, Andree Verdugo, Gabrielle Wormald
Civil Engineering Project 2: Battle River Bridge Project
- John Berlin Bayaras, John Larmour, Karim Maqsoudi, Shayan Mohammadi
Computer Engineering Project: Low Tech IV Pump
- Samuel Eaton, Nandish Jha, Daniel Oribhabor, Varun Pardeshi
Electrical Engineering Project: FlatSat Testing System
- Colton Breitkreuz, Kameron Jonasson, Rafeh Khan, Riley Smith, Nathan Tsandelis
Engineering Physics Project: ARMA (Automated Radioactivity Measurements in Aerosols)
- John Davies, Micheal Hogue, Adam Jones
Environmental Engineering Project: Remediation of an Acid Mine Drainage Impacted Site
- Kasey Burgess, Aimee Dumlao, Isabel Gerwing, Brooke Turner
General Engineering Project: Livestock Lens
- Jesse Aguirre, David Baik, Alexander Chen, Ethan Selinger
Geological Engineering Project: Robert Service Way Slope Stabilization
- Garrett Bazuik, Reid Bridges, Emilio Pavon, Colby Stoesz
Mechanical Engineering Project 1: 24-inch Tarasoff Telescope Optical Tube Assembly (OTA) Redesign
- Gavin Bendig, Yona Kasito, Aaron Leppa, Rylan Wilson
Mechanical Engineering Project 2: Automated Measuring and Cutting Device for Vacuum Infusion Materials
- Masson Altrogge, Jenna Hofmann, Thomas Pinder, Cole Stephens
Mechanical Engineering Project 3: Design of a Supplementary Wing Fold System for a De Havilland CS-2F Tracker
- Sebastian Bundrock, Bobby Erker, Evan Kishchuk, Katie Sofko
Prize Winners
Best Industrial Design, Sponsored by The Mosaic Company
Awarded to the top two capstone groups that developed a large-scale industrial design. The design should have an overall potential economic, social, and/or environmental impact and students should make a case for the originality of their design.
Winner ($1000): Remediation of an Acid Mine Drainage Impacted Site (Environmental Engineering)
Runner Up ($500): Waste Heat Recovery Using Heat Pipe Technology (Chemical Engineering)
Best Product Design, Sponsored by the Saskatoon Engineering Society
Awarded to the two top capstone teams that developed a product design. The design should demonstrate an overall potential economic, social, and/or environmental impact, with the students able to make a case for the originality of their design.
Winner ($1000): ARMA (Automated Radioactivity Measurements in Aerosols) (Engineering Physics)
Runner Up ($500): FlatSat Testing System (Electrical Engineering)
Most Positive Potential Social Impact, Sponsored by PCL Construction
Judged the project the judges believe is most capable of a positive social impact, particularly the ability to help people.
Winner ($1000): Low Tech IV Pump (Computer Engineering)
Most Positive Potential Environmental Impact, Sponsored by PINTER & Associates
To the project that the judges feel is most capable of positive environmental impact, interpreted as the ability to help preserve and/or remediate the natural environment.
Winner ($1000): Remediation of an Acid Mine Drainage Impacted Site (Environmental Engineering)
Best Consultation Award, Sponsored by Hatch
To the team that judges felt did the best job of working collaboratively with clients and other stakeholders throughout the design process.
Winner ($1000): Waste Heat Recovery Using Heat Pipe Technology (Chemical Engineering)
Audience Choice Award, Sponsored by the Engineering Advancement Trust
To the team judged most deserving, as voted on by the audience.
Winner ($1000): Net Zero Ethylene Plant (Chemical Engineering)