by Mark D. Weinstein, Executive Director of Public Relations
The most decorated solar splash team, Cedarville University, continued its dominance in the 2019 Collegiate World Championship of Solar Boating during competition held June 11-15 at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Springfield.
Cedarville claimed its fifth consecutive world solar splash championship, narrowly defeating the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez in the closest finish in recent history. The victory was also Cedarville's 12th championship in the 26 years of Collegiate World Championship of Solar Boating competition.
Cedarville finished with 961 points (out of 1,000), while Puerto Rico finished with 959.44 points for second place. Stevens Institute of Technology placed third with 935.69 points, while the University of New Mexico was fourth with 751.2 points, and the University of Rochester placed fifth with 626.72 points. The University of Dayton scored 391.80 points to finish in ninth place.
"What separates the competitors are the little things," said Jeff Morehouse, head of the Solar Splash organization. "Inevitably, focusing on the technical report, workmanship, and visual presentation separates the top contenders for the overall prize."
From the beginning, it appeared the championship would come down to the two top teams--Cedarville and Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico team won the qualifying and sprint on-water events, while Cedarville captured the solar slalom and endurance.
Cedarville mechanical engineering seniors work on their solar panel and battery-powered boat as part of their senior project. Dr. Tim Dewhurst, senior professor of mechanical engineering, and Dr. Gerry Brown, associate professor of electrical engineering, lead the student team. This year’s team members include Tineka Witt from Central Lake, Michigan; Jeremy Sheckler from Phelps, New York; Cameron Smith from Blandon, Pennsylvania; Kaileb O'Neil from Windham, New Hampshire; Dawson Tso from Hillsborough, New Hampshire; and Ethan Maue from Homer Glen, Illinois.
“This project is far more extensive than just boats or solar power; it trains students to work with the state-of-the-art in the industry, as the auto industry is moving toward electric drive,” said Dewhurst. “This competition challenges the students to engineer a boat to go incredibly fast with very little power. If the students can learn to work within these constraints, then they can take on any job and be successful. They will graduate from Cedarville with confidence to do anything in their job fields.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,193 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including its bachelor of science in electrical engineering, bachelor of science in computer engineering, and bachelor of science in civil engineering programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.