Stevens Institute of Technology: Admissions Blog

ECOES 2009

2009-07-08T12:31:57-04:00

Ever wanted to perform a basic site survey for a proposed building? What about use a wireless electrocardiogram to investigate how your heart works when at rest and after exercise? Or perhaps you’d like to explore how nanoscale phenomena can be exploited to create new products and technologies?

Beginning next week, the Exploring Career Options in Engineering and Science (ECOES) program will allow high school students to spend two weeks on campus doing all of the above and more. Divided into two sessions, Stevens will host almost 120 rising high school juniors and seniors between July 12 and August 7. Students will live on campus and participate in exploratory activities introducing them to engineering, science and technology.

In past years, the ECOES sessions have been extremely successful, with many participants parlaying their experience into a college career at Stevens. This year’s groups include students from many states across the US, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, California, Florida and Minnesota, in addition to multiple countries including Greece.

This year, the addition of unique, innovative research projects will help students further hone their skills as they participate in hands-on research, learning and development. Maia Hadidi, Summer Programs Coordinator and Director of the ECOES program, says: “We have introduced a music and technology module this year, which I am very excited about. Our research project options have increased and cover a variety of tracks, allowing students to delve deeper into whichever area their interest lies.” Other research project topics include robotics, chemical biology, planar truss construction and database driven web programming.

Of past programs, Maia continues: “It is so amazing to watch these students come in and develop not only skills in engineering and science, but also camaraderie among their peers. There are ECOES reunions and groups on Facebook… each year the ECOES participants form connections for life, all while having fun and learning about all that Stevens has to offer.”

ECOES 2008

Build IT!

2009-06-05T16:49:43-04:00

This week, the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) at Stevens hosted Build IT. An underwater LEGO robotics competition for middle school and high school students, Build IT was partially funded by grants from the National Science Foundation and Motorola this year, which allowed almost 30 area schools to participate.

Each team’s goal was to create a robot, using LEGOs and up to four motors, that could be submerged into a pool and complete specified tasks. The prize categories included Innovation and Speed, in addition to the overall Main Competition. The teams gathered on campus on the Babbio Patio to test out their robots, while judges, classmates, the media and other onlookers cheered them on.

After an intense competition, the winners were announced by Dean Daniel Gallagher at the closing ceremony held in DeBaun Auditorium. Dean Gallagher started the ceremony by telling the students: “This competition is about more than just building, it’s about creativity, design and innovation. If you continue to foster those skills, and you challenge yourself to think like a problem-solver, you will be able to develop the solutions needed in today’s world.”

The Innovation Award, which was assessed by combining originality and performance of each team’s robot, went to Henry Beck Middle School in Cherry Hill, NJ and Technology High School of Newark. The Speed Trial Award went to Valley View Middle School of Watchung, NJ and Passaic County Technical Institute (HS) in Passaic, NJ.

There were three prizes for the Main Competition for both middle school and high school teams. For the middle school competition, Lincoln Park (NJ) Middle School placed first, with Henry Beck Middle School and Ann Street School (Newark) placing second and third respectively. The high school winners were Technology High School in first place, Hoboken High School in second, and Robbinsville High School of Washington Township, NJ placing third.

Lincoln Park Middle School

Technology High School

Congratulations to the winners and all of the participating schools!!

H2prO Wins Top Prize at the 2009 Pitch Olympics

2009-06-03T16:15:00-04:00

On the heels of Stevens annual Senior Design Expo, this year’s Pitch Olympics, a segment of Research & Entrepreneurship Day, was held in May. All Senior Design project teams were considered to be part of the Pitch Olympics and ten groups moved on to participate. Each group that participated was required to prepare a two-minute elevator pitch presented by one designated representative of the team to a panel of judges.

This year’s top prize was awarded to Amanda Grimes, Nicole Migliore, Michael Mitchell and Joanna Sweetgall, a group of Biomedical Engineering students who presented H2prO, a portable, mechanically powered UV water treatment unit designed to provide safe drinking water for any individual, in any location, under any circumstance. An alternating current generator crank powers the UV bulbs, which, in turn, purify the water.

Michael, who represented the group in the Pitch Olympics, said that the team identified the need for this based on the number of people who travel around the world and contract illnesses from drinking water. The team wished to develop a cost-effective, simple, portable device to combat this issue and allow people access to clean, safe drinking water instantly.

“Our target market is wilderness enthusiasts, people who are traveling, and taking water out of a lake or a stream and are not sure whether the purification level is trustworthy or not,” said Nicole. “They can use our product to treat the water and make it safe for them to drink in any circumstance, in any situation, without an external power supply because it’s powered by a crank system. So it’s very easy to use for everyone.”

Dr. Vikki Hazelwood served as the team’s overall advisor. Michael said: “While Dr. Hazelwood pushes us to build a prototype, she also encourages us to envision our prototype translating to industry and production, and the potential applications it might have.” Inspired by this, the H2prO team is currently in the process of securing a provisional patent. The team’s clinical advisor was Dr. Robin E. Stutman, a New York-based infectious disease specialist.

Ethics Bowl 2009

2009-06-03T16:11:24-04:00

Students from sixteen high schools converged on the Stevens campus this week to compete in this year’s Ethics Bowl. Hosted by the College of Arts & Letters, the Ethics Bowl is a half-day event designed to challenge young thinkers to dissect current affairs and present, debate and argue the ethical ramifications of each topic.

Competitors in the Babbio Atrium

Throughout the day the students showed their enthusiasm for the debates as they huddled with their classmates and discussed the day’s topics. Students from Bethpage High School in Long Island, NY displayed their winning attitudes with t-shirts emblazoned with pro-ethics statements like “I Heart Ethics” and “Go! Go! Philosophy Rangers!”

Neptune High School Team

The Union City High School team from Union City, NJ is part of the Ethics Club at their school. Michelle Perez, a freshman who competed in Round One of the Ethics Bowl, said it started as a group of students in Honors Biology class who liked to discuss Ethics, which led them to Stevens to compete. The group of students from Neptune High School in Neptune, NJ said they are used to competing together. Hand-picked by the principal for the Ethics Bowl, sophomore John Park, juniors Nick Larosa, Alyssa Sokol and Ashley Zawistowski and seniors Kyle Sawicki and Taylor Wieczerak represented their school in the competition. Taylor said that they didn’t know what to expect coming into the Ethics Bowl, and Kyle was quick to add that the team was really happy with the way they did in the first round. Nick, whose father is an engineer, commented that Stevens is on his list of colleges to check out because “if I want to be an engineer, it’s definitely the best!”

Professor Michael Steinmann Announces the Winners of Round One

Students Prepare for Round Two

After a very close second round, Clifton High School (Clifton, NJ) Team 1 emerged as the 2009 Ethics Bowl winners. Two high school teams, Bethpage High School Team 2 and Indian Hills High School (Oakland, NJ), both placed second. Michael Steinmann, Associate Professor of Philosophy, said, “There were actually five winners of the second round, and the race was extremely close. All five of these teams were excellent and there were only four points difference between the first and the fifth place schools.” The two addition teams that placed were The Spence School from New York City and Matawan Regional High School from Matawan, NJ.

Stevens faculty, staff and students were on-hand throughout the Ethics Bowl and all were impressed with the commitment from the students participating. Professor Steinmann noted: “All of the competing schools presented themselves very well!”

Congratulations to all of the schools who participated in the 2009 Ethics Bowl, and especially the five winning schools. Stevens looks forward to welcoming you back next year!

Congratulations Class of 2009!

2009-05-22T13:00:00-04:00

“Class of 2009, we are awesome!!” proclaimed valedictorian Michael Bertucci as he addressed administration, faculty, families, friends and his fellow graduates at the Undergraduate Commencement ceremony yesterday.

The weather was perfect and DeBaun Athletic Complex was filled with proud well-wishers honoring the Class of 2009. David Ladd spoke to the graduates, imparting valuable advice for the transition from school to the “real world” and quoted the popular Dr. Suess book Oh! The Places You’ll Go. Then Michael Bertucci took the podium, speaking of the extensive accomplishments of this year’s class, and encouraging his peers with the advice that as long as everyone keeps their eyes open to all possibilities, they will have much success.

Degrees were then conferred on 427 students by their respective Deans, as friends and families cheered them on. Following the recession, a reception was held on the lawn of the Schaefer Center honoring the newest crop of Stevens alumni.

The Power of Placement

2009-05-20T14:00:00-04:00

Three years ago, Rukyah Hennessey made the decision to transfer to Stevens. Now, she is poised to graduate with a BE in Chemical Engineering and a ME in Environmental Engineering, and to begin her career as an associate scientist with Schering-Plough.

“I’m really happy I came here,” Rukyah says. “One of the key reasons I transferred was because of Stevens reputation for exceptional placement, and it really paid off.” Rukyah worked with the Office of Career Development and began the interview process at the end of the fall semester. She received her offer early in the spring semester, and will start at Schering-Plough in July, where she will also work towards her Professional Engineering license.

During her time at Stevens, Rukyah was a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AICE). She also held two internships, the first in environmental consulting and the second in the food industry, which is when she discovered her interest in working in the pharmaceutical industry.

Rukyah says: “Stevens students are still getting interviews – and jobs – despite the current economy. Because I am graduating from Stevens, I was able to secure a great job early in my last semester. I don’t think that would have been achievable elsewhere.”

Keeping Stevens in the Family

2009-05-15T16:48:28-04:00

Michael Mitchell is just a couple days away from Commencement, where he will graduate with a BE in Biomedical Engineering and a ME in Materials Science. After graduation, he will be attending Cornell University where he will pursue a Ph.D. in the biomedical field. From there, he hopes to become a professor and continue to conduct research.

During his time at Stevens, Michael was involved with co-op, Tau Beta Phi, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Habitat for Humanity and the Biomedical Engineering Society. Recently, he completed his Senior Design project, h2pro, with much acclaim. He and his team members received the Center for Environmental Systems HydroGlobe award, they won the student technology pitch Olympics, and earned a spot at the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering national competition.

Getting involved is something Michael really enjoyed during his time at Stevens. He says: “Everyone at Stevens is so helpful, they really want you to succeed. I encourage students to go out and explore their interests, whether it is research or clubs or organizations. There are lots of opportunities at Stevens and always someone there to help you develop yourself.”

Michael’s father, John Mitchell, is effusive about the Stevens experience, and credits his son’s education with providing him opportunities for the future. Mr. Mitchell says: “As far as my wife and I are concerned, this was a terrific five years. Back in August 2004 we dropped off a boy and soon we will see a young man graduate with both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.”

The Mitchell family’s time at Stevens won’t end next week though. Michael’s younger brother, Marc, has chosen to attend Stevens and will begin his studies here in the fall. After showing an interest in science and engineering, Michael encouraged Marc to explore Stevens. “I like that Marc is coming here. He is going to have a lot of opportunities at Stevens. I will help guide him, but I also want him to be able to forge his own path.”

Mr. Mitchell is also thrilled that Marc has also chosen to attend Stevens. He says: “I can only hope that Marc has the same experience as his brother. I am very confident that he will.”

A Freshman Perspective: Nick Catania, '12

2009-05-01T08:00:00-04:00

As the end of his freshman year approaches, Nick Catania (Engineering/Physics and Music & Technology, ’12) reflects on his freshman year at Stevens. Originally intent on attending a music school for piano and composition, Nick realized that he wanted to explore his passion for building. While at a music fair, he learned about Stevens and the unique way he could combine his love for music with his interest in building. Nick says: “After I looked into Stevens a bit more, I realized it was a hidden gem… the programs really appealed to me, especially when I learned I could study both engineering and music.”

After visiting Stevens during the Accepted Students Reception, the deal was sealed. Nick knew this was the place for him: “I loved the location, and the fact that it is a small, tight community. The professors really made me feel welcome too.” During his first year, Nick has gotten involved in the Jazz Band, the Society of Physics Students, Bandwidth, the Stevens choir, the sax ensemble, and he serves as a freshman senator on the Student Government Association.

“I love it,” Nick says about his first year. He values the limitless possibilities of his studies and the ability to maneuver between both his majors. He credits the “cool projects” and “non-generic, really interesting courses” as highlights of his freshman year. In addition, he says that the lectures and seminars that Stevens hosts are vital to the experience here. Nick feels this is an opportunity he wouldn’t get just anywhere and encourages his fellow students to take advantage of all that Stevens has to offer.

“It’s crucial for students to get out there, meet other people, network,” Nick asserts. “Come to campus, see and feel the community. Undergrads are valued here, professors really care about incoming students. Stevens has been such a motivational experience so far.”
All that and it’s only his first year!

Senior Sets Her Sights on Optometry School

2009-04-29T16:42:17-04:00

There are a lot of sayings out there about the eyes, but for one Stevens student, the eyes are soon to be a career. Senior Diana Espaillat (Chemical Biology) will begin graduate school at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in the fall, where she will work to receive her Doctor of Optometry degree.

Intrigued by eyes from a young age, Diana came to Stevens for the exceptional science background she knew she’d receive here. She originally considered medical school, but after working in a hospital, knew it was optometry she was really interested in. Diana says: “I’ve had the opportunity to job shadow several optometrists. It was so rewarding to observe them. I love the idea of helping people – especially children – to see.”

During her time at Stevens, Diana has been involved in the Latin American Association, Stevens Christian Fellowship, Gear & Triangle and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. She also participated in the Stevens Technical Enrichment Program (STEP), which she felt was like a “mini-family” that was always extremely helpful to her throughout her entire time here.

Diana also credits the Office of Career Development with helping her prepare for her next step. She says: “The relationship their staff has with the students is great. They gave me great advice for my grad school application, including help with my personal statement. Plus they really prepared me for my interview at the school.” In addition, Diana feels that her professors always went above and beyond to help her and her classmates, saying they provided guidance and support throughout the program.

As she moves forward to the next step on her path to becoming an optometrist, Diana looks forward to getting involved at her new school the same way she did here. She says: “I have learned so much from my professors, and from fellow students at Stevens. Everyone here is so supportive, you are a face and a name. Stevens has taught me many things that I will take with me, and I feel prepared to conquer any challenges that come my way.”

The Ducks Take Flight

2009-04-27T16:47:35-04:00

They made it to the NCAA Championships, and now they are poised to continue that success off the field as the seniors on the Stevens men’s soccer team move forward into their professional lives.

The four graduating seniors – Chris Greenfield (Civil), Craig Moquin (Mechanical), Jason Nachman (Civil) and Harry Papademas (Electrical) – have all secured post-graduation placements, either in full-time jobs or grad school. Coach Tim O’Donohue says: “I am very proud of all of the seniors. They were all great student-athletes and a true pleasure to coach and mentor. They will be sorely missed and I know that Stevens has prepared each of them for their next challenge."

Jason will be attending grad school where he will pursue his Master’s degree in structural engineering. He has been accepted to Penn State, North Carolina State and University of Maryland. Though he hasn’t decided which one he’ll begin this fall, Jason says: “After completing my Master’s degree, I hope to secure a job with a structural engineering firm, and ultimately obtain my Professional Engineers License.”

Chris has accepted a full-time position with Bank of America’s Global Equities Group. His job is set to begin in July. Harry secured a position as an Assistant Engineer with Jersey Central Power and Light. He will be located in Morristown.

Craig will be working at Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc (BPMI), and is planning to move to Pittsburgh after graduation. “I have not been assigned to a specific group in the company yet, but I will be involved with either fleet support or the design of equipment used on naval ships and submarines,” he says of his position.

From a history-making season to successful and exciting next steps, we wish them the best of luck!