Mitchell Middle School named champion in Fluid Power Challenge at MSOE

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Mitchell Middle School students were the champions at the Fluid Power Challenge at MSOE. Photo by Paul W. Roberts.

MILWAUKEE, WI (12/21/2011)(readMedia)-- Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) and the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) held a Fluid Power Challenge on Dec. 9 at MSOE. Fifteen teams of eighth-grade students competed to solve a fluid power challenge by designing and constructing a mechanism that used fluid power technology.

Mitchell Middle School (Racine, Wis.) was named the Overall Champion and the Portfolio Champion at the competition. The team was coached by Keith Kohlmann.

Two teams from Steffan Middle School (Mequon, Wis.) won other awards at the competition. Team A was named Design Champion, and Team E was named Team Work Champion and Team Challenge Champion. Matt Heuser was the coach for both teams.

Congratulations to all of the students who participated from the following schools: La Causa Charter School, Milwaukee; Mitchell Middle School, Racine, Wis.; Starbuck Middle School, Racine, Wis.; Steffen Middle School, Mequon, Wis.; and Texas Bufkin Christian Academy, Milwaukee, Wis.

At a workshop in November, the students were given the assignment of designing and constructing a fluid power mechanism to perform a defined task. The mechanisms were required to use fluid power (hydraulics and pneumatics) to pick up weighted objects, and then place them on a platform for various point totals.

After working for four weeks, the teams came together again to compete against each other in a two-minute competition. Engineers from area companies served as judges, who graded the teams and presented awards in five categories-Overall Champion, Design Champion, Teamwork Champion, Portfolio Champion and Team Challenge Champion.

The program is designed to introduce students, and their teachers, to the world of engineering and careers in fluid power. Through the Fluid Power Challenges, the NFPA hopes to encourage students to select more mathematics and science courses in their high school curricula to keep their options open for technology-based post-secondary studies.

MSOE School of Engineering and its Fluid Power InstituteTM would like to congratulate all of the students and teachers who were involved in the competition. To learn more about the NFPA Fluid Power Challenge, call (414) 778-3347.

NFPA provides a forum for the fluid power industry's channel partners-manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, customers and educators. Its 330+ U.S. and multinational members work cooperatively in advancing hydraulic and pneumatic technology through the association's many programs and initiatives.

MSOE is an independent, non-profit university with about 2,500 students. MSOE offers 18 bachelor's degrees and 10 master's degrees in the engineering, engineering technology, building and infrastructure engineering, health-related engineering, computer, business and nursing fields. The university has a national academic reputation; longstanding ties to business and industry; dedicated professors with real-world experience; extremely high placement rates; and the highest starting salaries of any Wisconsin university according to PayScale Inc. MSOE graduates are well-rounded, technologically experienced and highly productive professionals and leaders.