Engineering Exhibited

Capstone projects provide ECU seniors glimpses into the future

Students exhibited the very definition of engineering during East Carolina University’s Department of Engineering Capstone Symposium in the Main Campus Student Center.

“There’s always going to be something to go wrong. That’s the biggest lesson, but anything can be overcome,” said Joshua Waida, a Kinston senior who will graduate in the fall with a concentration in biomedical engineering.

Engineering student Joshua Waida talks about a project with Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge during the Engineering Capstone Symposium.

The symposium highlighted the projects student teams had been working on all semester — and in some cases more than one semester. The projects stretched far and wide, from electric vehicle infrastructure and boat maneuvering systems to small farm efficiency and devices to support those with disabilities.

Waida was part of a team that created a model to demonstrate water flow through Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge using 3D printed control structures. The interactive exhibit highlights the importance of peat soil and the refuge’s work on peat soil rehabilitation.

“This project is to educate the public,” Waida said. “We’re trying to show what the refuge does or has done, and we’re just modeling it and trying to educate visitors who come through the refuge.”

The team of Charlie Bosworth, Sydney Bosworth, Abby Miller and Yordana Schwarzbauer worked with a micrograin farmer on a planting tray cleaning system.

“Our sponsor suffered an upper body and neck injury a couple of years ago that limited his range of motion,” said Miller, whose concentration is in biomedical engineering. “He can’t lift anything above his shoulders and can’t lift heavy things, and that affects his overall farming process and the tray cleaning process, which is what we really focused on.”

They developed a system in which the tray is placed upside down in a rectangular device and is pressure-washed from below, allowing gravity to help rid the tray of dirt and debris. A sanitizing solution is included, and an airdry process allows for a reduction in time and labor.

“The actual manufacturing of the product was the most fun,” Miller said. “We had to deal with every issue that we came across, whether it was materials or welding the materials. It was really fun to be able to problem-solve and come up with a solution that was higher functioning.”

Sydney Bosworth said the project allowed the team to experience what work is like as engineers.

ECU engineering students, faculty and guests attend the Engineering Capstone Symposium.

“We were working with a real person, a real client,” said Bosworth, whose concentration is in mechanical engineering. “I think that helps in learning how to word things and deliver information and make our points clearly to somebody who may not be an engineer and may not understand all the terminology that we’re talking about, just how to communicate our information effectively.”

Dr. Teresa Ryan, interim chair of the Department of Engineering, thanked the students for their work.

“As you share your work today, take pride in the progress you’ve made. Celebrate the challenges you’ve overcome, the lessons you’ve learned,” she told them in her welcoming comments. “The path ahead of you may not always be easy, but our hope is that the foundation that you’ve built here with us serves you and makes sure that there’s no challenge too great.”

She noted that the capstone projects put seniors another step closer to commencement.

“This is one step closer to your next chapter,” Ryan said. “It marks the end of a yearslong journey that started with a life-changing decision to become an engineer. What you’ve accomplished is not just a reflection of your technical expertise, but also of your ability to think critically, collaborate effectively with so much teamwork and adapt. These qualities are going to serve you well in your next chapter.”

She told them that engineering is so much more than just fixing problems.

“Remember that engineering is not only about designing systems or solving equations, but it’s about making a difference,” Ryan said. “You have the potential to improve lives, to transform industries and pave the way for a more sustainable, innovative future. That’s the true power of engineering, the ability to harness knowledge and creativity to shape the world.”

ECU commencement is at 10 a.m. Dec. 13, while the College of Engineering and Technology Graduate Recognition ceremony is at 1 p.m. Dec. 13. Both will be inside Minges Coliseum.

Engineering students, from left, Lauren Simpson, Hannah Blackburn and Danielle Werts, talk about a prosthetic tread attachment project during the Engineering Capstone Symposium.