Project Lead The Way state-wide Engineering Design Competition

Haldeman-Homme, Inc. helps Project Lead The Way award high school students in a state-wide Engineering Design Competition

The Haldeman Homme, Inc. and St. Cloud State University Engineering Design Competition rewards outstanding student projects and highlights the importance of engineering design and problem solving in STEM education.

Two students from Mankato, Ben Schwartz and Dani Gleason, took first place honors for their design of an automated process for laying out the lines on an athletic field saving time and money for grounds crews. The team will split a $2,000 prize. Second place went to a team of four from Chisago Lakes High School, Emma Schlidgen, Jack Dong, Mitch Scanlan, and Derek Frank. They will split a $1,000 prize for their design of a tool to remove weed fragments that line lake shorelines. If left unchecked those weed fragments can negatively affect the biochemistry of the lake. Competition sponsors will cover the fee for extensive new products assessment research by the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center (a division of the Small Business Development Centers of America) for both projects. Both teams were also presented with awards and commendation letters at a ceremony at TCF Bank Stadium October 13, 2016.

The competition is open to high school students grades 9-12 in Minnesota. This is the second year of the competition sponsored by Haldeman Homme, St. Cloud State University Project Lead The Way, the Environmental and Technological Studies Department of St. Cloud State University, and the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center. Student teams follow the steps of Engineering Design Process and document their work on a free tool developed by educators from Project Lead The Way called the “Innovation Portal.” Through the portal students and mentors can collaborate and receive feedback and, once completed, students can enter their project.
Project Lead The Way is a non-profit organization providing transformative learning experiences for K-12 students and teachers across the U.S. through STEM education. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math and is a curriculum many schools across the country are following. It helps students learn problem-solving strategies, critical and creative thinking, and how to communicate and collaborate to shape the innovators, creators, and designers of the future. Haldeman-Homme partners with PLTW to showcase the necessary technology available for STEM Education including 3D printers and laser engravers. The Technical Products Division focuses on bringing the latest technologies into the classroom while providing full service solutions to exceed our customers’ expectations.