Nineth Annual Freshman Engineering: Sustainability in the New Millennium Conference
April 4, 2009

Congratulations to this year's 2009 Freshman Conference Winners!

The 2009 Sustainability in the New Millennium Conference is now over and the winners for best paper have been chosen. Thank you to everyone who participated in the Conference and a special congratulations to all those whose papers were selected for recognition.

Listed below are the best papers from each of the sessions. From these papers the best papers for the conference are listed to the right. In addition, this year the local chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) also gave an award for the best Civil Engineering paper.

Best Posters

In addition to the written papers, each student group is also required to prepare a oral presentation and a 24 inch by 36 inch poster presentation. List below are the top poster presentations for this year's conference.

Emma Harbert and Matthew Marsh		Sydney Gibson and Efe Oghoghome
Lauren Sakerka and Zachary Rinker		Jacob Lightner and Steven Sachs
Adam Gaydas and Brian McGlynn		Matthew Schechtman and Daniel Brown
Lucianne Keenan and Erik Dirkmaat		Grayson Caleffie and Alan Haman
Cassandra Gallaschun and Deneen Gaynor		Daniel Browe and Amanda Porter
Amanda Johanns and Michael Pesce		Samuel Scalzo and Brian Bieber
Samantha Culley and Lesli Kunkle		Anthony Machi and Matt Kaminski
Justin Moore and Nick Gill		TBA

Conference Chairs

The School of Engineering would like to recognize and thank the conference chairs for their participation in this event. Each of these individuals took time out of their busy work schedule to come to campus and work with the students. Their input is essential to the success of the conference and is one of the key components that makes the Freshman Conference one of the most innovative educational experiences in the country. The dates next to the names refer to year and degrees obtained from Pitt.

Each year we present an award to a Chair for their continued service to the freshman conference. This year the award went to Richard Velan.

Don Schock Arthur Schock Engineers/CJL Engineering	James Kurasch - ME 2006 Curtiss Wright
David Raver - CE 1969 Mosites Corporation	Mark Jeffrey - ChE 2000 US Steel
Greg Wunderley - CoE 2006 PKMJ Technical Services	Karen Bursic - IE 1984, 1987, 1990 University of Pittsburgh
Robert Lorence - IE 1999, MBA 2005 Pittsburgh Glass Works, Inc	Andrew Deao - CE 2004, 2008 Gannett Fleming, Inc.; ASCE Pgh Section Younger Members Forum
Jennifer Nolan-Kremm - MSCE 2005 STV, Inc.; ASCE Pgh Section Younger Members Forum	Richard Velan - EE 1971 Applied Control Systems
Bob Brooks - MSEE 2007 Medrad, Inc.	Andrew Butor - ME 2006 Hatch Engineers
Robert Boback - ChE 2005 Nova Chemicals	Jeremy Fusaro - MSEE 2007 Medrad, Inc.
Julius Ecker PKMJ Technical Services	Pete Miller - CoE 1999, MSEE 2001 University of Pittsburgh
Ann Voltz - IE 2007 UPS	Nate Smith - CE 2005 Siemens
Joel Townsend - IE 2007 FedEx Ground	Natasa Vidic - IE 2008 University of Pittsburgh
Nicholas Andes - ME 2008 US Steel	Thomas Wester - CE 1971, 1975 Dominion Resources, retired
Michael Chrin - EE 2008 Converteam, Inc.	Brian Depaul Converteam, Inc.
Luis Bon O'Donnell Consulting Engineers, Inc.	Christy Hydrean - ME2007 MEDRAD, Inc.
Greg Rumbaugh - CE 2006 Raudenbusch Engineering	Kristin Smith Equitable Gas
Dan Budny University of Pittsburgh	Jeremy Tartt - CE'05 MSCE '08 Massaro Construction

Conference Co-Chairs

The School of Engineering would also like to recognize and thank the conference co-chairs for their participation in this event; their efforts were essential to the success of the conference. Special recognition also goes to Gerald Di Noia for his leadership in organizing the weekly meeting and overseeing the operation of the Co-Chairs.

Gerald Di Noia	Matt Korytowski
Jeffrey Bailey	Alex Penn
Michelle Hartner	Brittany Ryan
Ray Kovacs	Benjamin Dickinson
Andy Kulow	Adam Junstrom
Leigh Anne Shubert	David Gau
Carly Deibler	Andrew Bilitski
Caitlin Magley	Erica Grasinger

Writing Center and Bevier Engineering Library

The Swanson School of Engineering would also like to recognize and thank the Bevier Engineering Library and English Department faculty who direct and staff the English/Freshmen Engineering Writing Program (E/FWEP). Working together with the Freshman Engineering Program faculty, the E/FWEP and the Engineering Library have been instrumental in developing the Conference Paper research and writing process. The University of Pittsburgh Writing Center also provides students with ongoing writing guidance and support.

*Writing Center*	*Bevier Engineering Library Staff*
Beth Bateman Newborg, Director	Judith Ann Brink, Director
Keely Bowers	Michael Ford
Janine Carlock	Andrea A. Losos
Barbara Edelman	Diana L. Waters
Carol Kameen
Julianne McAdoo
Diane Kerr
Marianne Trale
Bill Kirchner
Lawrence Wray
Nancy Koerbel

Swanson School of Engineeering Computer Services

Finally, The Swanson School of Engineering would like to recognize and thank the Engineering Computer Services for their support in providing technical assistance during and before the conference.

Brian Vidic,
Director

Frank Kremm

Overall Conference Winners

Follow the links to view the overall winning papers.

1st Place:

Electrohydrodynamic MES-Pumping And Its Implications Regarding Electronic Precision

by Nick Vukmer and Kevin Tabbutt

2nd Place:

Quantum Dots: Using Nanotechnology to Restore Vision

by Ioana Iolova and Catherine Nalesnik

3rd Place:

Electromagnetic Propulsion Systems: Multipurpose Platforms of The Future

by Jonathan Dumm and Kevin Murray

Membrane Bioreactors: Filtering A Brighter Future

by Zach Rinker and Lauren Sakerka

The Shortcomings of Internal Combustion Engines and An Alternative Sustainable Solution

by Sara Bolha and Alex Bancone

ASCE Best Paper:

Advances in Water Purification For Sub-Saharan Africa

by Christopher Lakin and Donald Mock

Nineth Annual Freshman Engineering: Sustainability in the New Millennium Conference April 4, 2009