On February 21, three Kettering Fairmont High School Career Tech students won first place in the Ohio Real World Design Challenge.  The Challenge is a state and nationwide contest aimed at finding a solution to a “real world” engineering problem
.
The students, Justin Ryan, Nathan Duff, Damian Hughes, and Matthew Young, participate in the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Engineering program at Fairmont High School and competed in the Real World Design Challenge as their senior capstone project.  This year’s challenge was to use aeroelastic tailoring to design the exterior geometry and interior structure of an airliner wing in a manner that maximizes both fuel efficiency and aerodynamic efficiency.  The students used the engineering process taught to them by David Lord, the instructor in the PLTW Engineering program to find a solution. The first step was to research the aerodynamics of flying and then consult with Jeff Donbar, a research engineer from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Bryan Pelley of cornerstone research.  Then, using the software provided by the challenge, the students tested various wing designs and found a solution to the problem.  Mr. Donbar was impressed with the students and their tenacity in solving the “real-world” problem.  As first place winners, the students will travel to Washington D.C. on an all expenses paid trip to compete with winners from all over the United States.  In this stage of the competition, the students will receive an additional challenge that builds on the state challenge.

Students are hopeful that winning the design challenge will enhance their college resumes and perhaps bring them additional college scholarship opportunities.  In the fall, Justin Ryan plans to attend Sinclair Community College and continue at a four year university, Matthew Young is planning on attending Purdue, and Nathan Duff is going to Muskingum College.  All will complete their Bachelor’s degrees in Engineering.
 
The Real World Design Challenge enhances STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education in Ohio and gives students a chance to apply what they have learned in class.  This same teaching philosophy is the mission of Project Lead the Way Engineering.  For additional information on Project Lead the Way and the Ohio Real World Design Challenge visit www.pltw.org and www.realworlddesignchallenge.org.