“The PTO designed by UIndy will help farmers make more money, give them more time with their family, and will collectively help Africa grow.” - Will Austin, Institute for Affordable Transportation Executive Director
“This project was amazing to be a part of,” said Booker, who served as the assistant project manager. “It opened my eyes to problems in faraway places. Being able to create something that actually benefits other people just makes me feel good about myself and my team.” The PTO project was one of a dozen DesignSpine projects last year, the curriculum which forms the backbone of learning at the School of Engineering. Each student, sophomore through senior, is assigned to a group and tasked with a specific project, overseen by a faculty advisor. Other projects last year designed an improved cover crop crimper for Hoosier farmers and the Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District, a rivet press safety system for prominent manufacturer C.H. Ellis, and a rear-facing vehicle mount for officers’ body cameras for 17 police departments including UIndy Police. There are 15 teams of students working on 15 new projects this year. “ DesignSpine projects like this one give our students a real advantage when they graduate and are looking for a job,” said Dr. Ken Reid, Associate Dean and Director of Engineering. They get three real-world problems to work on as an undergraduate and have three real-world solutions they can talk about with a potential employer. They must communicate with each other, across disciplines and with non- engineers—a necessary skill in today’s high-tech world.” The PTO project confirmed to Abrahamsen that mechanical engineering is the right career path for him to pursue. “Absolutely, I really enjoyed it,” said
Abrahamsen. “I prefer working with numbers and math and physics. It showed me that side of engineering.” The reason Blazek chose the University of Indianapolis was the “Education for Service” motto, including how it is put into practice with the DesignSpine curriculum and projects like the PTO. “I want to make a difference,” said Blazek. “I want to be able to make a product that I can see visible results from.” By the time you read this, the PTO should be on the ground in Cameroon, easing the workload for local farmers. And with BUVs helping families and villages in more than 37 countries, the impact of a group of Greyhound engineering students is just beginning.
BUVs in action in Africa.
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MAGAZINE // WINTER 2024
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