Engineering Students Win NASA Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, May 21, 2020
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Stephanie Hill, Director of University Relations & Communications
Office: 918.495.7337, Mobile: 918.720.5548
sthill@oru.edu
 
Tulsa, OK – The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) announced this week that three Oral Roberts University students won the GRC University Student Design Challenge for their division. Students Nolan Monnier, Joshua Braun, and Caleb Brown participated in the Electrified Aircraft Propulsion Challenge, designing a cooling system for an electrified propulsion system. Such a system enables a hybrid aircraft with turbine engines and an electric motor to operate with more efficiency while also being cleaner for the environment.

“We have exceptional students in ORU’s engineering program,” said Dr. Robert Leland, Professor of Engineering and Physics. “NASA envisions using these types of aircraft for regional flights and to reduce pollution at high volume urban airports.”

NASA will hold a virtual event on Thursday, June 18, 2020 to honor the winners and allow them the opportunity to present their winning work to NASA Senior Management and employees, as well as over 100 NASA summer interns. The virtual event begins at 10:00am CDT.

Over the last four years, the GRC has invited teams of undergraduate students to get involved in its research and technology efforts through design challenges. This year they included two aeronautics-themed projects and two space-themed projects, encouraging teams to use out-of-the-box approaches to solve specific problems that will benefit NASA mission needs.

Watch the announcement below: