The College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science held its 37th Annual EMS Expo April 3.

The Expo showcased engineering-type designs from students, Philip Sealy, EMS Expo co-chair, said. It was a chance for students to show the rest of campus what they do in their prospective courses.

“This is such an important event and many people don’t know what we do, or they have false perceptions of what engineers do,” Tammy Salmon-Stephens, EMS Expo co-chair, said. “This is an opportunity for everyone to learn more about what we do.”

The Expo is an annual event at UW-Platteville and it is designed to showcase what engineers do, Sealy said. A committee of dedicated faculty worked all year to put the Expo together and all classes were canceled for EMS students.

“A committee of faculty work hard for a year, Phil and I are the co-chairs, but it’s up to the committee to make sure it happens and improves every year,” Salmon-Stephens said.

Activities for enjoyment were a homemade hovercraft which flew around, the civil engineer’s concrete canoe, a chemistry show full of glowing, burning and explosive chemicals, a high altitude challenge and a wild scientist demo, Sealy said.

Over 60 displays were set up and the designers were around all day to answer questions about their projects, Sealy said. Alumni were present to either judge or return to look at students’ work and were impressed with what was at the Expo.

A networking room was also implemented to allow college students to talk with employers and alumni in a casual setting, Salmon-Stephens said. Students were able to take advantage of the space and talk with alumni and representatives from different companies.

“Actually, a job offer was even made last year,” Salmon-Stephens said.

Open to the campus and community, high school and middle school students from the surrounding area attended the Expo, Sealy said. They had the chance to look at what engineering students do during their college career, and participate in several experiments and challenges.

“This is the best opportunity possible for high school and middle school students to see the equipment and that people, only a few years older than them, are doing neat things at UW-Platteville,” Richard Schultz, EMS dean, said.

Judging took place on the students’ projects by a panel comprised of professors, alumni and people associated with the college, Sealy said. Projects were judged in four categories: Individual, Legacy, Student Organization and Class Project. Three awards were given in each category, along with a Best in Show judged by participants.

Best in Show went to Adam Nelson, who also walked away with first place in Individual. Other winners were Cathy Huttenhoff in Legacy, the Society of Automotive Engineers in Student Organization and Kevin Fritz and Jeff Theusch in Class Project.

Sealy was proud of the turn out for his last Expo. Sealy is turning over his co-chair position, along with Salmon-Stephens, to pursue other activities. Sealy credits the success to the students who put the time in to make the projects and the committee who dedicated a year to putting the Expo together.

“Many people take for granted technology and everything around them,” Salmon-Stephens said. “We want people to have an appreciation for EMS.”