College of Engineering awards over $100,000 to student projects and activities

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Engineering recently awarded over $100,000 to select student projects and clubs to fund their activities for the spring semester and beyond. A total of 11 student projects involving 150 engineering students received funding totaling $75,000, with an additional $25,000+ funding clubs and other student activities.

These funds were generated by the college’s 2019 Annual Banquet, the college’s largest annual fundraiser that directly supports such projects.  Banquet sponsors included local industry partners, alumni, and other friends of the college.  The awardees for Spring, 2020 are:

• Steel Bridge project
• Concrete Canoe project
• Autonomous Vehicle and Traffic Coordination project
• Unmanned Aerial Delivery System with Vertical Takeoff and Landing project
• Autonomous Search and Rescue Drone and Ground Vehicle project
• Formula SAE Electric Racer project
• Wireless Sensor Nodes project
• Team Hokulele Rocketry project
• Resident Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (RAUV): Team Navikai project
• CubeSat Development – Aerospace project
• CanSat 2020 – Delta Wing Glider project

Assistant Dean Song Choi, who reviewed all applications for funding, said, “These projects will highlight the state-of-the-art development in society’s drive towards autonomy as well as the maintenance of engineering know-how and values embedded in the adherence to rules, regulations, and limits governing our professions to produce the most competent and confident engineer!”

Additional student activities were awarded funds to promote development of skills such as collaboration, innovation, and networking.  These activities are organized by student clubs including: ECUH (Engineering Council of UH), ASCE (Aerican Society of Civil Engineers), XE (Chi Epsilon – CE Honor Society), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), HKN (Eta Kappa Nu – EE Honor Society), ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), PTS (Pi Tau Sigma – ME Honor Society), ITE (Institute of Transportation Engineers), ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) , SWE (Society of Women Engineers), SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers), and AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society).

Because the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many students’ ability to complete their projects and conduct activities, students have been granted an extension to continue using their awarded funds through the next academic year.