LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. — Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus announced the winners of its spring Undergraduate Exhibition, which drew 120 student participants and marked the campus’ largest exhibition in recent years.
Undergraduate research awards
First place: Joseph Kirsch, for his research on “Mechanical and Thermodynamic Properties of 3D-Printed Structural Shapes,” under the guidance of faculty mentor Gerald Angle.
Kirsch studied the impact of different temperature conditions on the modulus of elasticity of 3D-printed ABS shapes. ABS refers to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a plastic material used to 3D print objects. The project built on work completed last semester focused on the impact of shape, infill density and plastic type on the modulus of elasticity of 3D-printed structural shapes.
For this project, Kirsch tested tubular, I-beam, joist and solid-square shapes using a three-point bend test apparatus. The project recorded the stiffness of samples at different spacings of anvil supports and under different temperature conditions. The samples were chilled to an average of 5 degrees Celsius, heated between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius, or tested at room temperature.
Kirsch plotted stiffness as a function of support spacing, calculated the elastic modulus of the material from a linear fit of data, and compared the results to data from literature. The project also used Newton’s Law of Cooling to describe how samples adjusted to room-temperature conditions after being removed from heated or chilled environments.
Kirsch concluded that, for structural engineering members, span length is inversely proportional to stiffness, and that temperature generally has an effect on the stiffness of 3D-printed structural shapes. The project also noted that material fatigue under cyclic loading and expansion or contraction of structural members may be useful considerations for future work.
Second place: John Guynn and Josh Friend, for their research on “Snow Pilot,” under the guidance of faculty mentor Rasoul Milasi.
Guynn and Friend developed “Snow Pilot,” a semi-autonomous snowplow designed to improve safety, reduce physical strain and provide consistent snow removal for residential driveways. The project uses a tracked drivetrain for mobility and traction, with snow-terrain mechanics and rolling resistance models used to size the motors, estimate torque and determine operating speed.
Third place: Brenden Blue and Jamie Walters, for their research on “Frost Sense,” under the guidance of faculty mentor Rasoul Milasi.
Blue and Walters developed “Frost Sense,” a smart brine pretreatment system for residential ice prevention. The project is designed to prevent ice formation before it occurs, reduce slips and falls, bring commercial salt truck capabilities to residential applications, and reduce manual labor for homeowners.
The system is designed to automatically mix and spray brine based on a schedule or weather forecast while maintaining a brine concentration of 23%, plus or minus 2%, calcium chloride. It monitors key parameters including salinity, temperature, tank level, pressure and flow rate, and provides real-time user feedback through a display.
The project uses an Arduino Mega 2560 controller, with sensors for conductivity, temperature, tank level, pressure and flow rate. Outputs include an auger motor to dispense calcium chloride pellets, a water inlet solenoid valve, mixer motor, pump and sprinkler valves.
Blue and Walters designed the system with corrosion resistance, accuracy, reliability, water management, ease of use and weather awareness in mind. Key achievements include consistent and accurate brine concentration control, full sensor integration, automated operation based on schedule and conditions, reliable performance in low-temperature environments, and real-time monitoring and user feedback.
Class project awards
First place: Morgan Fegley and Georgia Foutz, for their work on “Accessibility at Penn State Fayette,” under the guidance of faculty mentor Ginett Pineda.
Fegley and Foutz examined accessibility at Penn State Fayette, with a focus on how campus infrastructure affects students with disabilities or temporary mobility challenges. Their project considered the challenges posed by the large hill students use to reach the Community Center and whether campus resources are accessible on a daily basis.
The project used student body surveys, field experiments and observations to assess accessibility around campus. Fegley and Foutz explored the functionality of campus resources currently in place, including accessible doors, accessible parking spots, and stairs and ramps around campus.
Their project also proposed hands-on solutions, including student volunteer programs and a student body-led accessible sidewalk project.
Second place: Jacob Chambers, Joel Chambers and Logan Hoffer, for their work on “Evapo,” under the guidance of faculty mentor Rasoul Milasi.
Chambers, Chambers and Hoffer examined the DPH224L01 motor, a core motor commonly used in residential clothes dryers, to better understand the engineering trade-offs involved in household appliance design. Their project focused on bridging the gap between idealized classroom machines and real-world appliance engineering.
The motor is designed to rotate a 10-pound drum while also circulating heated air through an integrated blower. The project examined how the motor operates on standard 120-volt residential power and uses a centrifugal switch to manage startup and running conditions. During startup, both the start and run windings are energized. As the rotor accelerates, the switch opens at about 75% synchronous speed, disconnecting the start winding to prevent burnout.
The project also explored practical design considerations, including thermal management, mechanical strength and repairability. The motor includes an internal automatic-reset thermal protector to handle high temperatures, while its dual-shaft design supports belt loads on one end and blower fan mounting on the other.
Chambers, Chambers and Hoffer also identified common failure mechanisms, including bearing wear, centrifugal switch malfunction, overheating due to restricted airflow, shorted or degraded stator windings, and blower fan seizure.
Third place: Emily Moore, for her presentation on “Internship at Mayolo and Associates LLC,” under the guidance of faculty mentor Bill Gardner.
Moore presented on her accounting internship with Mayolo & Associates LLC, an accounting firm in Uniontown. During the internship, which ran from Jan. 12 to May 1, Moore completed more than 300 hours of work in a professional business setting.
Her responsibilities included reconciling accounts in QuickBooks Online, entering data into tax software, filing and printing tax returns, completing business payrolls and shadowing job operations. Through the experience, Moore gained hands-on experience with financial tasks, workplace communication and accounting practices.
Moore said the internship helped her grow professionally and personally, gain confidence in a workplace setting and confirm her interest in accounting. She also identified communication, problem-solving, accuracy, confidentiality, attention to detail and QuickBooks Online as skills developed through the experience.