MEDIA ADVISORY: MSU unveiling new ‘EcoCAR’
October 6, 2009
Mississippi State’s student automotive design team unveils Wednesday [Oct. 7] its entry for the international EcoCAR competition.
The vehicle debuts at 10 a.m. at the university’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park. It is part of the NeXt Challenge involving plug-in hybrid, range-extending designs for sport utility vehicles.
MSU’s award-winning EcoCAR team will be available for interviews following a presentation in the CAVS lobby. Lori Bruce, the associate dean for research and graduate studies at MSU’s Bagley College of Engineering, will give opening remarks, followed by a brief design orientation by team members.
In addition, the program will offer experiences in the team’s driving simulator–a student-designed device that includes a driver’s seat, steering column and dash panel of a Saturn VUE, the vehicle used in the competition of 17 universities from the United States and Canada. Additionally, video footage and photographs will be available of the MSU team and vehicle.
EcoCAR is the newest three-year collegiate competition sponsored by General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy. MSU–the only Southeastern Conference university in the competition–placed first overall in a previous four-year competition known as ChallengeX.
In 2008, at the completion of the new competition’s first year, MSU ranked third overall; first in the mechanical systems presentation category; and second in outstanding outreach. The team also received a special award for creative promotion.
For more information, contact Susan Lassetter.
Active EcoCAR team members by hometown:
AMORY – Junior mechanical engineering majors Jason Camp and Max Stevens
ATLANTA, Ga. – Garret Naegle, a freshman in software engineering
BILOXI – Cameron Hardin, a junior in marketing, and senior mechanical engineering majors Brandon Templin and Mike Trcalek
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Ric Trent, a freshman in mechanical engineering, and Sarah Anne Adamson, a freshman in English
BRANDON – Junior in mechanical engineering majors Jenna Grantham and John Murphy as well as Kyle Lee, a junior in electrical engineering, Dustin McCallum, a sophomore biological engineering, and Stephen Owens, a senior in communication
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Joshua Hoop, a junior in mechanical engineering
BYRAM – Christopher Butler, a sophomore in computer engineering
CANTON – Graham Wells, a senior in management of construction and land development
CLINTON – Clark Smith, a senior in business information systems, and Ebikibina Izonfuo, a senior in electrical engineering
COLLIERVILLE, Tenn. – Matthew Hoelter, a freshman in computer engineering
COLUMBUS – Jamie Elsmore, a freshman in electrical engineering, and Tad Merchant, a junior in computer science
CORINTH – Nathaniel Nooner, a freshman in industrial technology, and Jon Shumaker, a senior in mechanical engineering
CRYSTAL SPRINGS – Christopher Bagley, a sophomore in aerospace engineering
DECATUR, Ala. – Matthew Robinson, a freshman in mechanical engineering
DIAMONDHEAD – Tom Stockman, a sophomore in mechanical engineering
DIBERVILLE – Zackery Breeland, a sophomore in mechanical engineering
FLORENCE – Ryan Williams, a senior in mechanical engineering and mechanical group leader
FLOWOOD – Brittany White, a sophomore in chemical engineering
FORT WORTH, Texas – Robert Underwood, a sophomore in interior design
FULTON – Alex Davis, a freshman in electrical engineering
GERMANTOWN, Tenn. – Nathan McBride, a sophomore in mechanical engineering
GREENWOOD – Deepanshu Chhabra, a sophomore in aerospace engineering; Karlderek Luckett; a junior in mechanical engineering; and Mark Waldrop, a senior in aerospace engineering
GRENADA – Scott Sisk, a sophomore in biological engineering
GULFPORT – Senior electrical engineering majors Kevin Wellman and John Tims as well as David Mudd, a sophomore in computer engineering, Preston Cauley, a senior in industrial engineering, Toi Spates, a junior biological engineering, Bao Dao, a senior in mechanical engineering, and Josh Troutman, a sophomore in business administration
HAMILTON, Ala. – Ben Taylor, a junior in mechanical engineering
HATTIESRBURG – J.D. Adamson, a senior in business information systems, and Kyle Bullock, a senior in mechanical engineering
HERMANVILLE – Kyle Myers, a senior in mechanical engineering
HERNANDO – William Warner, a sophomore in mechanical engineering
HOUSTON, Texas – Julian McMillan, a sophomore in chemical engineering and emissions group leader
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Josh Hubbard, a mechanical engineering junior
JACKSON – Seniors Emily Mitchell, geoscience, Will Russell, accounting, Charles Pepper, industrial technology, and Shane Burt, mechanical engineering, as well as sophomore communication major Drew Norfleet and team outreach coordinator Elizabeth Butler, a graduate student in business administration
JACKSON, Tenn. – Chris Haynes, a freshman in mechanical engineering
JONESBORO, Ark. – Will Dickerson, a junior in mathematics
KIEV, Ukraine – Valentyn Kosha, a freshman in electrical engineering
LACEYS SPRINGS, Ala. – Evans Hall, a senior in computer engineering
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Michael Sofferin, a senior in mechanical engineering
LONG BEACH – Carlos Verzwyvelt, a junior in mechanical engineering
MACON – Denise Cole, a senior in marketing
MADISON, Ala. – Michael Mirrielees, a senior in marketing, and James Lofton, a sophomore in software engineering
MADISON – Liza Sisson, a senior in business information systems
MANTACHIE – Justin Sheffield, a junior in mechanical engineering
MCCOOL – Matthew Doude, a graduate student in mechanical engineering and team leader
MEADVILLE – Matthew Young, a senior in electrical engineering
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Stephen Wren, a senior in mechanical engineering
MERIDIAN – Seniors Jeramus Boyd, electrical engineering, Bruce Clay, marketing, Farah Cooper, software engineering, and Emily Donald, marketing
MUMBAI, India – Abdul Afoo Parkar, a graduate student in mechanical engineering
NEW ALBANY – Michael Brown, a senior in business information systems
OAKLAND, Calif. – Gradate student Anastasia Wong
OCEAN SPRINGS – Chad Carpenter, a junior in mechanical engineering, John Bradley, a sophomore in electrical engineering, and Matt Bratton, a sophomore in computer science
OLIVE BRANCH – Eric Turner, a sophomore in chemical engineering, and Tyler Wilkinson, a junior in computer science
OKALONA–Justin Hughes, a senior in mechanical engineering
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Tom Goddette, a junior in mechanical engineering
PETAL – Nick Jones, a sophomore in biological engineering
PHILADELPHIA – David McLaurin, a graduate student in aerospace engineering
PICAYUNE – Michael Barr, a graduate student in mechanical engineering and powertrain leader, Don Pollitz, a junior in computer engineering, Ian Ladner, a sophomore in mechanical engineering, and Chris Bossier, a freshman in computer engineering
REDINGTON BEACH, Fla. – Summerly Brown, a sophomore in geoscience
RIDGELAND – Philip Cranford, a senior in mechanical engineering, Matt Williams, a junior in business information systems, and AJ Wilson, a junior in mechanical engineering
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Jaryl Matthews, a freshman in mechanical engineering
SALTILLO – Chase Robinson, a freshman in biochemistry
SAUCIER – Electrical engineering majors Richard Matson, a sophomore, and Anthony Moore, a senior
SEMINARY – Patrick Hernandez, a senior in computer science, and Alan Humphrey, a junior in chemical engineering
SOUTHAVEN – Tommy Frazier, a junior in computer science
SOUTH KOREA – Hyo Jeong Park, a sophomore in communication
STARKVILLE – Graduate students John Robbins, computer engineering, Ajay Bandi, computer science, Jarvaris Platt, forest products, and Zihan Wang, mechanical engineering; seniors Min Kyeong Jeong, computer science, and Casey Cook computer engineering; juniors Michael Asa, mechanical engineering, and Joe Buza, computer science; and sophomores Marco Izquierdo, mechanical engineering, Robert Jamerson, computer engineering, and Tyler Morgan, accounting
STURGIS – Graduate student Terry Haimes
SUWANEE, Ga. – Melanie Shumock, a freshman in aerospace engineering
TABRIZ, Iran – Sasan Nouranian, a graduate student in chemical engineering
TERRY – Malcolm Alford, a senior in mechanical engineering
TUNICA – Orlandis Smith, a senior in mechanical engineering
TUPELO – James Felkins, a senior in electrical engineering and electrical group leader, and Rashard Stevens, a junior in mechanical engineering
VANCLEAVE – Vicdaly Williams, a junior in chemical engineering
VICKSBURG – James Eagles, a junior in chemical engineering
WESSON – Benton Bell, a junior in mechanical engineering
WINONA –Will Harrison, a junior in computer science