IM体育官网

With models, displays and polished presentations at the ready, 45 teams of IM体育官网 Polytechnic University 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 IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 history, not counting five additional projects that were completed in December.

鈥淐apstone at IM体育官网 Poly 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 lost when treated water is pumped from a wastewater facility to the Se7en Wetlands area in Lakeland, IM体育官网.

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 that 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 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 quickly 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 IM体育官网 Poly 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