TERRE HAUTE —
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students are on the fast track, placing a strong 15th in this year’s Society of Automotive Engineers’ formula racing challenge, one of the most competitive of collegiate engineering design challenges.
The Formula SAE competition has teams designing, building and testing a prototype based on a series of rules whose purpose is both to ensure on-site event operations and promote problem solving.
Then, over the course of three days at Michigan International Speedway, the vehicles were judged in a series of static and dynamic events, including: cost analysis, engineering design, solo performance trials and high-performance track endurance. The events are scored to determine how well the car performs.
Better motor performance and a 72-pound weight reduction helped Rose-Hulman improve 40 positions from last year’s 55th-place performance. The team was a model of consistency on the track, placing 14th in the endurance event, 17th in the skidpad event, 20th in the economy event and 22nd in the autocross event.
“We designed smart, had great teamwork and knew how our vehicle performed — inside and out,” stated Andrew Marrack, a 2012 mechanical engineering graduate. “It’s hard to put into words the feeling of accomplishment that this team has in this vehicle.”
Fellow mechanical engineering student Malhon Godwin added, “The highlight was seeing everything come together in one competitive race car — from tubes in the garage last fall to one of the strongest teams at the competition this spring. It has been a labor of love for some dedicated team members.”
Students and faculty advisers Patrick Cunningham and Daniel Kawano also take pride in re-establishing Rose-Hulman in the Formula SAE competition after a 21-year absence.
“Other teams and the SAE officials took notice of our strong performance this year,” said Daniel Watson, a 2012 mechanical engineering graduate. “The seniors came into this project wanting to showcase Rose-Hulman in this top racing competition. We’re not satisfied yet, but we have taken big strides during the past two years. We have set a strong foundation for the future.”
This year’s Formula SAE competition attracted 118 teams from Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Singapore, South Korea, Venezuela and the United States. Rose-Hulman’s performance was eighth best among American college and university teams. The team also earned a Formula SAE Recognition of Accomplishment Award for successfully scoring in all events.
“It was exciting to see the creativity and innovation displayed by collegiate engineering students who are preparing to enter the workforce,” Matt Miller, director of the SAE Foundation and pre-professional programs, said in a news release about this year’s event. “Events like Formula SAE competitions showcase the talents of students from around the world who are the future of our industry. The highly competitive outcomes of the competitions were a testament to the education these students are receiving in the classroom.”
Godwin, one of the drivers for the Rose-Hulman team, stated, “Passing other cars on the track was really fun. Knowing that we had built a fast car, entirely from scratch, really got our competitive juices racing.”
Junior mechanical engineering student Cody Jolly brought considerable go-cart racing experience to driving Rose-Hulman’s vehicle in the endurance and autocross events.
“Being behind the wheel of that car was thrilling and awesome. I couldn’t get enough,” he said. “Really, I didn’t want the competition to end. I was having too much fun. This was definitely my best experience so far at Rose-Hulman. I can’t wait until next year.”
Other drivers were Graham Blyth, a 2012 mechanical engineering graduate, and Watson. Recent graduate Matt Kennedy and senior Jay Kautz made the team’s cost impact presentation.
The Formula SAE project is part of Rose-Hulman’s Advanced Transportation Systems program. Learn more about the program at www.rose-hulman.edu/advancedtransportation/.
Schools
Rose-Hulman students race to strong 15th place in National SAE Competition
- Schools
-
-
BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: Montgomery Meigs establishes Arlington National Cemetery
This week (June 15) in 1864, Brig. Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs, who had been appointed Quartermaster General of the Union Army in 1861, established Arlington House, the former home of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, as a cemetery for the Union’s soldiers. Today Arlington National Cemetery is America’s national military burial ground.
- Vigo County School Corp. High School Honor Roll
- Goals, Pride & Achievements: June 13, 2013
-
BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: This week in 1944: D-Day and the Airborne assault on Normandy
This week (June 5) in 1944, with the D-Day invasion of the Nazi-occupied Normandy coast set to begin, the man in charge of that invasion, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, paid a special visit to members of the U.S. 82nd and the 101st Airborne.
-
Terre Haute North, South African-American clubs taking educational journey to Washington, D.C.
Students and teachers from Terre Haute North and South Vigo high schools saw three years of hard work pay off Monday afternoon as they lined up eagerly at the doors of a school bus to start a long ride to Washington, D.C.
-
BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: A woman’s voice of moral clarity
This week (June 1) in 1950, Margaret Chase Smith, the Republican senator from Maine and the first woman ever to serve as both a U.S. senator and member of the House of Representatives, gave a speech that, looking back, was a voice of moral clarity amidst a cacophony of madness and vilification.
-
Education-technology grants given to Valley
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz has announced the 2013 Technology Resource Grants, awarded to help organizations purchase technology resources for student instruction in career and technical educations classrooms.
-
Turkey Run presents academic awards
Turkey Run High School freshmen, sophomores and juniors were honored at an awards program on May 16.
-
Goals, Pride & Achievements
Laci Pethtel of Oblong is the 2013 recipient of the Lincoln Trail College Professional Assistants Group scholarship.
-
VCSC to offer summer meals
Sarah Scott Middle School will offer free breakfast and lunch for people 18 years old and younger Monday through June 20.
-
Road Runners name scholarship winners
The Wabash Valley Road Runners have named Anne Mullican and Justin Clapp as the recipients of the 2013 WVRR scholarships.
-
South student blazes competition with research
Ryan Chung, a junior at Terre Haute South Vigo High School, placed first at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in the computer science category.
-
Indiana State University Dean’s List
Indiana State University has announced its dean’s list for the spring 2013 semester. Area students recognized for their academic achievement include:
-
RP recognizes outstanding students
Riverton Parke High School’s class of 2013 was honored on May 15 at the annual senior awards night in the school’s cafetorium.
-
Student blood donors receive scholarships
Roche Diagnostics and Indiana Blood Center are recognizing 81 high school seniors in Indiana who participate in community service.
-
Bruce’s History Lessons: Morse’s telegraph and its impact as a ‘game changer’
This week (May 24) in 1844, Professor Samuel F.B. Morse sat in the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., surrounded by members of Congress, who had come to witness history.
-
High schoolers attend automotive, welding skills competitions
Area high school students put their skills to the test at the annual Automotive Skills and Welding Skills competitions on April 18 at Ivy Tech Community College—Wabash Valley.
-
Riverton Parke presents concert, music awards
The Riverton Parke Jr.-Sr. High School Music Department presented its annual Spring Concert on May 13 in the school gymnasium.
-
Turkey Run senior awards and honors
Turkey Run High School seniors were honored at an awards program May 13. Scholarships and departmental and activity awards were presented.
-
South earns national yearbook design honor
The Terre Haute South yearbook, Uaxactun, has been recognized for excellence and featured in the 2013 Gotcha Covered Look Book, Volume 11 celebrating the best-of-the-best in yearbook design and coverage.
-
Vincennes University Dean’s List
The Vincennes University Dean’s List for Spring 2013 includes students from the Vincennes campus, Jasper campus, Aviation Technology Center in Indianapolis, military bases, and other extended sites.
-
4 more honored as Four Star Schools
In addition to the three Vigo County schools (Terre Haute South Vigo High School, Dixie Bee Elementary and Fayette Elementary schools) that were announced earlier, four more Wabash Valley schools were recognized as Indiana Four Star Schools.
-
Bruce’s history lessons: Truman’s decision to recognize Israel
This week (May 14) in 1948, at the direction of President Harry Truman, the United States recognized the existence of the newly formed state of Israel, which had declared independence earlier that day. It was, Truman later stated, among the most important decisions of his presidency.
- Reunion listings: May 16, 2013
-
Chances and Services for Youth to participate in food program
The Chances and Services for Youth recently announced plans to participate in the Summer Food Service Program.
-
South Latin students compete at convention
Terre Haute South Vigo High School Latin students competed with other Indiana schools at the recent state convention at ISU.
-
Southwest Parke School Corp. receives eLearning grant
Southwest Parke Community School Corp. has received an Imagining and Creating eLearning grant for the 2013-2014 school year through the Indiana Department of Education.
- Newsmakers: May 16, 2013
-
Otter Creek competes in regional Academic Super Bowl
The Otter Creek Academic Super Bowl teams competed in the regional Academic Super Bowl competition on April 27 at Sarah Scott Middle School.
-
Riverton Parke FFA teams compete at April 16 contest
Two Riverton Parke FFA Parliamentary Procedure Teams competed at the section competition for the Parliamentary Procedure Demonstration Contest on April 16 at the Indiana FFA Center in Trafalgar.
- More Schools Headlines
-
BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: Montgomery Meigs establishes Arlington National Cemetery




