(CGUHS) On Tuesday, February 20, CTE Engineering students traveled to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Prescott, Arizona. They were met by Anne Boettcher, PhD, Assistant Dean of Research at the ERAU Undergraduate Research Institute and David Hernandez from the ERAU Admissions Office.
The first stop on the tour was a visit with Somaralyz Grullion, Project Manager for ERAU NASA ASCEND! Team, in the AXFAB Building. As the members of the CGUHS NASA ASCEND! Team attended the field trip, the students engaged in discussion and traded notes on their respective science missions and flight hardware development.
The next stop on the tour was at the AIAA Design Build Fly and Laser Lab, also located in the AXFAB Building. This lab consists of a student-managed workspace where ERAU students engage in design and fabrication of aircraft and other devices. Students learned the great similarity between the CGUHS Engineering program and university-level engineering education.
Two presentations on EagleSAT and a capstone Cellular Intrusion Detection project by ERAU senior Calvin Henggeler took place in the STEM Building. ERAU will fly their EagleSAT 3 cubeSAT on an upcoming NASA flight to low Earth orbit. “The spacecraft will carry dual scientific payloads; one designed to detect and track cosmic rays and the other to test how radiation in space can affect various types of commercially available computer memory.”
The group enjoyed lunch at the dining facility, hosted by David Lanning, Associate Dean, College of Engineering, and additional ERAU faculty and COE students. During the lunchtime conversation, students learned more about what it is like to be a student at ERAU, the educational philosophy of the school, and additional opportunities for research as undergraduates.
The students were treated to a demonstration and lecture of a small jet engine by Dr. Elliot Bryner of the ERAU Propulsion Lab. Students received a lecture on the theory of operation for a jet engine and mechanical specifications needed for the engine to work properly.
The final presentation was by Jake Dimarzio and his team on the status of their project for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The project involves creating an AI to address the need for subject matter experts for NASA programs. Students were shown a demonstration and engaged the ERAU students in discussion. CGUHS Engineering students have created a basic AI as a part of their coursework, so the topic was one with which they were familiar.
At their debrief, students realized how their projects and educational opportunities in the CGUHS CTE Engineering program lead directly to the types of research and projects being conducted not only at ERAU, but also at the other universities they have visited.
On the return trip, driving through Prescott National Forest, the group encountered large patches of unmelted snow. Since some students had never touched snow, we took advantage of a learning opportunity and stopped alongside the road, engaging in an epic snowball fight.
The Engineering students on the field trip were seniors Melody Limon, Elijah Ramirez, Angel Gonzalez, and Angie McQuilkin; juniors Emily Geen and Axel Carrera; sophomores Landri Howard, Ethan Morgan, Rayne Tarmann, and Raymond Tomminelli; and freshmen Aliceanna Villanueva and Zach Buchanan.
CTE Engineering is instructed by Mr. John Morris.