Vaughn Hosts Technology Conference

April 10, 2012

It seemed appropriate that Vaughn College's fourth annual Technology Day Conference should precede by two days the College's annual spring career fair. What better way for the College's engineering and technology students to get a leg up on career possibilities than by demonstrating their expertise to a gathering of industry advisers?

"The advisers know what the emerging technologies are," Dr. Hossein Rahemi, chair of the engineering and technology department, said. "It gives our students an edge when it comes to getting employed in the industry."

Students from Vaughn, LaGuardia Community College and the New York City College of Techology gathered on Tuesday (April 10) to discuss emerging technologies and share their technological innovations with industry advisers from Sikorsky Aircraft, RCM Technologies, Rockwell Collins, NASA and more. Panelists judged the presentations, and while Vaughn's Brian Linhares and Marlon Medford were named the winners, there were clearly no losers.

Highlights included a careers discussion from NASA Education Programs Specialist Dr. Frank Scalzo, who offered tips on securing internships and jobs with the space agency. Scalzo made sure to point out that NASA is looking to a next generation of employees. "More than 65 percent of our workforce is at retirement age," he said. "We will be looking to you." 

The four-hour session continued with a a presentation by Robotics Club members Linhares and Michael Wroblewski, who next week will represent the College at the annual Vex Robotics World College Championship in Anaheim, Calif. The pair explained the three robots Vaughn will use in the most competive robotics event in the world.

"When making these robots, simplicity in design is appreciated," Wroblewski said.

Student Paper Presentations

• First place: Brian Linhares and Marlon Medford: "Mechatronics in Aerial Surveillance and Reconnaissance"
• Second place: Jonathan Sypeck: "Spacing Design Between Two Neighboring Circular Discontinuities: A Finite Analysis Based Upon PATRAN / NASTRAN
• Third place: Wilson Ngui: "Truss Bridge Finite Element Analysis

VAUGHN COLLEGE'S FOURTH ANNUAL TECHNOLOGY DAY: Recent graduate Sri Kiran Kodali presents his paper "Passenger Service System Implementation Using Wireless Communication" at Tuesday's technology event. Below, winners Brian Linhares (center) and Marlon Medford are congratulated by Dr. Hossein Rahemi, chair of the engineering and technology department.