With models, displays and polished presentations at the ready, 45 teams of 海角吃瓜网 students showed off their high-tech industry-sponsored projects at the University鈥檚 seventh annual Capstone Design Showcase on Wednesday, April 23.
The event was the largest in the University鈥檚 history.
鈥淐apstone at 海角吃瓜网 is something truly special,鈥� said Dr. Matt Bohm, director of industry engagement and capstone projects. 鈥淣owhere else do students get this level of immersive, industry-driven experience that directly prepares them for their careers.鈥�
Among the projects presented, a team of electrical, environmental and mechanical engineering students showcased an innovative hydropower-based solution for recovering lost energy. Their method captures energy that escapes when treated water is pumped from a wastewater facility to the Se7en Wetlands area in Lakeland, Florida.
鈥淭he experience has been eye-opening,鈥� said environmental engineering major Mara Wallace. 鈥淲ith my major, I do a lot of work with water testing and water quality, so seeing the mechanical and electrical aspects and being able to have that collaboration was great. I think we did pretty darn well.鈥�
Lakeland Electric sponsored the exploratory project and two others.
鈥淚t has been absolutely fantastic. We saw this as an iterative process, stepping through the development of a recoverable hydropower system over the course of three or four teams and three or four project years,鈥� said Mike Dammer, manager of emerging technology at Lakeland Electric. 鈥淭his team stepped forward and has given me an almost ready-to-bid project 鈥� something well beyond expectations.鈥�
Dammer said the sponsorship experience was so positive that the utility is sure to participate again.
鈥淭his was a good opportunity for us to try something new, at reasonable cost to the city, and the benefits are incredible,鈥� he said.
Across the Barnett Applied Research Center鈥檚 atrium, a computer science team demonstrated its arrest warrant recognition project, sponsored by the Polk County Sheriff鈥檚 Office. It helps deputies quickly determine whether a person has an open warrant by using a wearable camera to compare an image of a person鈥檚 face with a database of photos of people with warrants.
If a match is found, the deputy receives that person鈥檚 warrant image and information, and must visually confirm a match by comparing it to the person in front of them.
鈥淭his is a tool to extend their recognition and is not meant to initiate an arrest on the spot,鈥� said computer science major Ryan McDonald. 鈥淭his has been a fun project. We have all the deliverables, so we think the sponsor will be happy.鈥�
Every student is required to complete a capstone project before they graduate, affording this year鈥檚 showcase a wide variety of sponsors and disciplines.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 interesting about 海角吃瓜网 is that connection we make between academia and industry,鈥� said Dr. Brad Thiessen, provost and vice president of academic affairs. 鈥淲e bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience, and I鈥檓 pleased to see the work of students who are not just preparing for the future, they鈥檙e actively shaping it.鈥�
2025 Capstone Showcase Winners
- Executive Choice Winner: Patrol vehicle alert system, sponsored by Polk County Sheriff鈥檚 Office. Team members: Kenneth Mondragon, Jake Meetre, Kayle Pe帽a Agront, Natalie Robles, Jasmine Rodriguez, William Stevens and Lang Towl. Majors: Computer engineering and computer science.
- Executive Choice Honorable Mention: TITAN AI Insights 鈥� Extracting key data from PDFs, sponsored by Everglades Financial Company, LLC. Team members: Nicolas Galdona, Matthew Gregorat, Emilio Hernandez, Karen Robles and Nathanael Sargent. Major: Computer science.
- 3+ Discipline Team Winner: Surface modification, configuration, and preparation 鈥� 2, sponsored by FSI – NASA Kennedy. Team members: William Gensel, Alexander Go, Ethan Hanish, Catherine Holt, Cameron Palmer, Tyler Przybylinski, Alexander Ratliff, Ivelisse Rodriguez and Michael Wakefield. Majors: Computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.
- 3+ Discipline Team Honorable Mention: 2D materials high throughput characterization, sponsored by the National Security Innovation Network and U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (NSIN DEVCOM ARL). Team members: Lucas Amaral, Akilah Dixon, Sean Emery, Bryan Hernandez, Matthew Mathesius, Willard Scammey and Calvin Wright. Majors: Computer engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.
- 1-2 Discipline Team Winner: Large language model generative pre-trained transformer, sponsored by Polk County Sheriff鈥檚 Office. Team members: Acka Armah, Luke Blatz, David Bradbury, Colby Edell, Nathaniel Lethbridge and Tanner Wilson. Major: Computer science.
- 1-2 Discipline Team Honorable Mention: Portable sensor for muscle quality, sponsored by Lakeland Regional Health. Team members: Charles Conklin, Micah Hall, Brandon Harkhu, Jeremy Kulisek, Madison Ricker and Ameerah Seepersaud. Majors: Computer engineering and mechanical engineering.
Contact:
Lydia Guzm谩n
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
