SOUTHFIELD – A team of students from Melvindale High School took first place – and $18,000 college scholarships – in The Engineering Society of Detroit’s Engineering SMArT Michigan competition, held Wednesday at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield.
Engineering SMArT Michigan – the name is an acronym for Science, Mathematics, Architecture and Technology — challenges students to design an energy-efficient single-family home. The designs presented Wednesday by students from Detroit, Southfield, Oak Park and Melvindale featured the latest in solar and wind generation technologies, and advanced heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems.
Melvindale’s “Goon Crew” won first place, which included an $18,000, four-year scholarship offer from Lawrence Tech for every team member, as well as Amazon gift cards.
Taking second place was the “Guardians of Energy” team from Oak Park High School. Third place went to “Team Intelligence” from the Southfield Regional Academic Center. Members of these teams received Target gift cards.
Eleven teams from Melvindale High School, Oak Park High School, SRAC, and Cody Detroit Institute of Technology competed in the event.
The teams’ designs were judged Wednesday morning by volunteer ESD engineers, architects and scientists. Three finalists were selected to make presentations to a panel of architectural and energy experts – Michael F. Cooper, president and managing principal at the Southfield office of architects Harley Ellis Devereaux; Malik R. Goodwin, president and managing member, Goodwin Management Group LLC; Sue Littles, lead architectural designer and computer aided design administrator, DTE Energy; David A. Lomas, principal engineer and associate at the engineering and environmental services firm NTH Consultants, Ltd.; and Robert P. Washer, managing general partner, BW Consulting Services LLC.
Engineering SMArT Michigan is funded by the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. The event’s sponsors are the auto supplier Denso, Lawrence Tech, the 3D printing technology provider Voxeljet, and the engineering firm WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff.
