TERRE HAUTE —
Three teams prepared to launch their Walk-on-Water devices at Speed Lake on the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology campus Tuesday.
The goal for those piloting the devices was to stay afloat and make it to the other side of the lake.
In the end, one device fell apart, one sank and a third — which resembled a paddleboat — emerged victorious.
The high school seniors, including several from the Wabash Valley, were doing projects as part of Rose-Hulman’s Operation Catapult program. The second of two summer sessions concludes today.
The program enables students to participate in hands-on engineering projects and experience campus life. They learn more about careers in science, engineering and mathematics.
This summer, a record 310 students from 36 states and a few foreign countries have participated in the two sessions of Operation Catapult, which lasts about 21⁄2 weeks.
Among them is Lucas Peoples, a student at Terre Haute South Vigo High School, who helped develop a Walk-on-Water device called “Fish Feed.” It included two wooden, not-so-airtight skis, outriggers made of PVC pipe and a hinged “fishtail” for propulsion.
Alek Jansen piloted the ill-fated Fish Feed, which fell apart. “I think that’s the closest I’ve come to doing the splits,” Jansen said when he came back to shore.
While Fish Feed didn’t quite meet expectations, Peoples said he’s learned a lot at Operation Catapult.
“I’ve learned a lot about problem solving and just the difficulties that come with engineering and how you brainstorm to overcome them,” he said.
He’s enjoyed his time at Rose-Hulman. “This has been the highlight of my summer,” Peoples said.
Daniel Hartung of Libertyville, Ill., piloted the winning Walk-on-Water device, dubbed Moon Walk on Water “because we go the opposite way we are facing,” he said. “We thought it was kind of funny.”
The design included floaties and pop bottles covered by a tarp. The “walking” part involved stepping on a plywood paddle wheel. He also used a steering device decorated with a pirate flag.
Hartung also has enjoyed his time at Operation Catapult, including a field trip to Marathon Petroleum in Robinson, Ill. “Everyone here is great,” he said. “I’ve learned engineering takes a lot more writing than you would think.”
Through field trips, students get to talk to professional engineers and learn what engineers do in their jobs.
Another team that demonstrated a project Tuesday consisted of Sean Gardner and Jacob Norman, who demonstrated a portable shower device.
Things got a little testy at times as they quickly assembled their contraption, but in the end, it worked, and Norman showered using water from Speed Lake. “Don’t drink the water,” said Patsy Brackin, director of Operation Catapult.
Another Wabash Valley high school student participating in the Rose-Hulman program was Eleanor Holley of Paris, Ill. Her project involved re-creating the Pac-Man computer game.
At Operation Catapult, “I’m getting an experience at Rose and trying to figure out if it’s the right school for me,” she said. She’s also learning a new programming language and she’s getting experience working on a team.
Brackin said the goal of the program is to encourage students’ interest in science, engineering and mathematics. Students get hands-on experience working with Rose-Hulman faculty and they get to use Rose-Hulman facilities.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Will it float? High school student Alek Jansen of Warsaw tries to stay on top of his team's creation as part of the Operation Catapult program Tuesday at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza From here...: High School student Max Gordin (far right) of Detroit, launches a disk with his team's project as part of the Operation Catapult program Tuesday on the campus of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza ...to there: High school student Riley Wern catches a disk launched by his team's project during Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's Operation Catapult program on Tuesday.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Have shower, will travel: High school student Sean Gardner of Dallas maintains the pressure of a handmade shower as fellow student, Jacob Norman of Oxnard, Calif., rinses off his soap suds with the contraption Tuesday on the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology campus.
Discussion
Seniors put ideas to work at Rose camp
Operation Catapult focuses on hands-on experience
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