Engineering Students Win International Hydropower Competition
Posted August 14, 2000FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Three York College Seniors Take Home $4,500 Worth in Prizes
York, Pennsylvania--Three York College seniors proved that it doesn't take an internationally known mechanical engineering program to win international competitions. They recently returned to York with $4,500 worth in prizes after taking first place in the annual International Hydropower Competition, held last week in Charlotte, N.C.
The three students, Ryan Seyler of York, Pa., Justin Mettee of Spring Grove, Pa., and Robert Annicelli of Orange, Ct., competed against six other teams in the "power class," two coming from as far away as Europe and Canada.
The "power class" competition presented each team with the same challenge--to rotate a turbine blade with water at a fast enough speed to lift a four kilogram weight about six feet in the air. The water ran from a supply hose, and the students were responsible for designing the nozzles that sprayed the water onto the turbine blades. The York College students completed the task in 13.8 seconds, beating the second place team by two whole seconds.
For their achievement, the students took home $4,500 worth in prizes: a $2,500 scholarship, $900 in cash, $500 to support next year's team, and three mechanical engineering software packages. Justin Mettee, who will be returning to York College for the fall semester, will use the scholarship money.
"This shows that a fairly small program with dedicated professors and hardworking students can compete on an international level," said Dr. Douglas Walcerz, associate professor of physical science at York College.
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