(Feb. 9, 2017) A toothbrush with dental floss attached, porta-potty covers and an apparatus to clean wine glasses efficiently were just some of the 10 capstone projects presented to six industry and community partners on Tuesday morning by senior pre-engineering students at Worcester Technical High School in Newark.
“The biggest achievement obstacle in our classrooms is making classroom work embody substantive intellectual engagement based on genuine connections between the material students discover in class and its relation to the real world,” said Valerie Zienty, a pre-engineering teacher at Worcester Technical High School. “Having a capstone course helps my students prepare for future college classes and teaches them how to develop partnerships and relationships with professionals.”
Ten teams of two or three students were given the task of developing a solution to a real-world problem by designing and creating a product.
After identifying the problem, teams administered surveys to determine a need and researched other products already on the market that are similar.
While keeping their target market in mind, students then began developing and creating their products by using a design concept before testing the finished projects’ reliability.
“I thought that presentations went great,” Zienty said. “My students were well prepared and had powerful presentations.
“Of course, as an educator, I always see little things I would’ve liked them to improve, but after hearing positive feedback from the panel of judges, I was very proud of my ‘all-grown-up’ kids,” she added.
The following were projects introduced:
Nagty
Gavin Harrigan and Parker Williams presented an alerting device to help track global positioning systems (GPS) that may become lost or accidentally dropped in the field.
The product was inspired by foresters who are constantly climbing hills and trees to perform their jobs.
Harrigan and Williams presented Nagty in a number of sizes. It consists of a battery, adjustable pressure-sensitive light switch, noise maker and strap.
Hygenius
Alison Snead, Allie Burton and Elizabeth Janson created Hygenius, a toothbrush with dental floss dispensed out of the bottom.
Hygenius was created because gingivitis affects 50 percent of Americans, yet is preventable by flossing daily. Also, people claim they are more likely to floss if it’s attached to their toothbrush.
The product is designed to hold 50 yards of floss, which should take about three months to use and is also when dentists recommend replacing toothbrushes.
MUC Toolbox
While researching for a problem, Ryan Sauer, Holly Adelhardt and Jacob Eash noticed mechanics were constantly having the same work-related injuries when getting up to get a different tool, which is when the concept for MUC Toolbox came to fruition.
They designed a flat tray on wheels with different compartments that can easily be stored when not in use and holds up to 200 pounds.
Cupperware
Tyler Birch, Alec Beckelman and John Revel noticed many drivers had issues with the interior of their vehicles and the most common complaint was inadequate cup holders.
To eliminate drinks being spilled because the cup holder is not the right size, students created two connecting parts with a drain, which allows for excess liquid to be dumped out later on.
The waterproof contraption was able to hold mugs, a coffee cup and Gatorade bottles efficiently without blocking the second cup holder.
El Cleano Vino
After finding out dirty glassware was the top restaurant turnoff, Megan McConnell, Ethan Call and Garrett Tinus decided to create the El Cleano Vino, which has adjustable electronic spinners resembling pipe cleaners.
All three students have worked in the restaurant industry and noted cleaning wine glasses during the dinner rush can be time consuming.
Benchfort
Wyatt Davy, Emma Leo and Ian Waggoner created Benchfort to eliminate wet and cold public benches.
Hollow tubes were used to make the bench and a retractable canvas cover protects it from the elements.
Codex Cradle
Erin Mowbray, Andrew Hoffman and Egor Reznikov noticed a couple problems with textbooks taking up too much space or closing when trying to do homework.
They created a stand for angled reading with a wooden base and rotatable clamps that attach to the pages. Codex Cradle is also collapsible, portable and compact.
Double-Take
While playing sports and drinking multiple liquids each day, Natalie Turner, Noah Shockley and Lindsay Kremer realized the need for a water bottle that can hold two different fluids at the same time.
The group created a product with a double lid and rubber partition in between the two liquids to prevent spills or mixing. Double-Take is insulated, dishwasher and microwave safe.
The product allows people to drink two different 15-ounce liquids out of the same bottle.
The End Bottle
Joshua Schmucki and Courtnee Logan created the End Bottle because one-third of customers throw away the last bit of product in a bottle, which wastes money and affects the environment negatively.
The key to the End Bottle was geometry and discovering a dome shape is the best for funneling products.
The End Bottle was able to funnel out 45 percent more product than a spray bottle sold in stores.
I & D Covers
Eliminating the porta-potty smell, seeing waste and being worried about germs and diseases were the inspirations for Imani Hasell’s and Devon Hayes’ product.
A circuit board running on batteries programs the motor and sensors, which opens two flaps when a person sits down and closes once they get up.
“The biggest achievement obstacle in our classrooms is making classroom work embody substantive intellectual engagement based on genuine connections between the material students discover in class and its relation to the real world,” said Valerie Zienty, a pre-engineering teacher at Worcester Technical High School. “Having a capstone course helps my students prepare for future college classes and teaches them how to develop partnerships and relationships with professionals.”
Ten teams of two or three students were given the task of developing a solution to a real-world problem by designing and creating a product.
After identifying the problem, teams administered surveys to determine a need and researched other products already on the market that are similar.
While keeping their target market in mind, students then began developing and creating their products by using a design concept before testing the finished projects’ reliability.
“I thought that presentations went great,” Zienty said. “My students were well prepared and had powerful presentations.
“Of course, as an educator, I always see little things I would’ve liked them to improve, but after hearing positive feedback from the panel of judges, I was very proud of my ‘all-grown-up’ kids,” she added.
The following were projects introduced:
Nagty
Gavin Harrigan and Parker Williams presented an alerting device to help track global positioning systems (GPS) that may become lost or accidentally dropped in the field.
The product was inspired by foresters who are constantly climbing hills and trees to perform their jobs.
Harrigan and Williams presented Nagty in a number of sizes. It consists of a battery, adjustable pressure-sensitive light switch, noise maker and strap.
Hygenius
Alison Snead, Allie Burton and Elizabeth Janson created Hygenius, a toothbrush with dental floss dispensed out of the bottom.
Hygenius was created because gingivitis affects 50 percent of Americans, yet is preventable by flossing daily. Also, people claim they are more likely to floss if it’s attached to their toothbrush.
The product is designed to hold 50 yards of floss, which should take about three months to use and is also when dentists recommend replacing toothbrushes.
MUC Toolbox
While researching for a problem, Ryan Sauer, Holly Adelhardt and Jacob Eash noticed mechanics were constantly having the same work-related injuries when getting up to get a different tool, which is when the concept for MUC Toolbox came to fruition.
They designed a flat tray on wheels with different compartments that can easily be stored when not in use and holds up to 200 pounds.
Cupperware
Tyler Birch, Alec Beckelman and John Revel noticed many drivers had issues with the interior of their vehicles and the most common complaint was inadequate cup holders.
To eliminate drinks being spilled because the cup holder is not the right size, students created two connecting parts with a drain, which allows for excess liquid to be dumped out later on.
The waterproof contraption was able to hold mugs, a coffee cup and Gatorade bottles efficiently without blocking the second cup holder.
El Cleano Vino
After finding out dirty glassware was the top restaurant turnoff, Megan McConnell, Ethan Call and Garrett Tinus decided to create the El Cleano Vino, which has adjustable electronic spinners resembling pipe cleaners.
All three students have worked in the restaurant industry and noted cleaning wine glasses during the dinner rush can be time consuming.
Benchfort
Wyatt Davy, Emma Leo and Ian Waggoner created Benchfort to eliminate wet and cold public benches.
Hollow tubes were used to make the bench and a retractable canvas cover protects it from the elements.
Codex Cradle
Erin Mowbray, Andrew Hoffman and Egor Reznikov noticed a couple problems with textbooks taking up too much space or closing when trying to do homework.
They created a stand for angled reading with a wooden base and rotatable clamps that attach to the pages. Codex Cradle is also collapsible, portable and compact.
Double-Take
While playing sports and drinking multiple liquids each day, Natalie Turner, Noah Shockley and Lindsay Kremer realized the need for a water bottle that can hold two different fluids at the same time.
The group created a product with a double lid and rubber partition in between the two liquids to prevent spills or mixing. Double-Take is insulated, dishwasher and microwave safe.
The product allows people to drink two different 15-ounce liquids out of the same bottle.
The End Bottle
Joshua Schmucki and Courtnee Logan created the End Bottle because one-third of customers throw away the last bit of product in a bottle, which wastes money and affects the environment negatively.
The key to the End Bottle was geometry and discovering a dome shape is the best for funneling products.
The End Bottle was able to funnel out 45 percent more product than a spray bottle sold in stores.
I & D Covers
Eliminating the porta-potty smell, seeing waste and being worried about germs and diseases were the inspirations for Imani Hasell’s and Devon Hayes’ product.
A circuit board running on batteries programs the motor and sensors, which opens two flaps when a person sits down and closes once they get up.