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team of young men created the pen casing and ink delivery
system.
"This was a magical project that couldn't have been done
alone by any one of them-or me," assesses Associate Professor of
Chemistry Rebecca DeVasher, Ph.D., the groups' faculty mentor. "I
knew it would be challenging, but I was confident that bright and
highly motivated students could get it done."
Another innovative project had four students developing an
intricate pulley and belt system that utilized one motor to power
two fans for lifting and moving a model hovercraft.
"The system was revolutionary, a first-of- its-kind (for
the program)," says John Beutter of Los Altos, Calif. "When we
heard that it hadn't been done, we just had to do it."
The hovercraft did exceptionally well in the final speed
and obstacle course races. However, victory isn't the program's
goal- it is to motivate young minds into becoming the
problem-solvers paving the world's technological frontier.
"It was nice to learn something as a team," remarks Julie
Martin of Singapore, who used wind and water tunnels for the |
first time to study
the characteristics of flapping wings. "I now feel that I actually
know what I can do in engineering."
Admission to Operation Catapult is highly selective with
academic requirements being similar to those for admission to
Rose-Hulman. Approximately 35 percent of the program's participants
return to study on campus.
Alumnus Jon Edmondson (PH, '80/ MSAO, '88) wanted his
daughter, Kyra, to share the same Operation Catapult experience he
enjoyed during the summer of 1975. He has become a principal
engineer for the Raytheon Corporation. |
"Operation Catapult really turned me on to the endless
possibilities that engineering had to offer. I wanted (Kyra) to
figure out what she wants to do and where she might want to attend
college," Edmondson says.
Kyra's campus experience included helping her team create a
mechanical device that carries a small package by climbing
handrails.
"It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience," she said on the
last day of the June session. "I'm definitely more interested in
attending Rose-Hulman."
No doubt, Herman Moench and Al Schmidt would be proud.
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