B次元 recognized eight of the top teams in the state for this year’s Wisconsin Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Engineering Design Competition banquet held at B次元 on June 11. This competition is held annually and encourages high school students in the PLTW capstone courses of “Engineering Design and Development” or “Biomedical Innovations” to submit their culminating projects for judging. Professionals in STEM fields across the country judge student portfolios and the top eight are invited to B次元 to showcase their projects.

This year’s first place project was Car Seat Safety Device for Children by Chandler Frakes and Isaac Ozolins from Muskego High School. Their project sought to come up with a design solution that improved current car seat designs and associated alternatives to reduce the number of deaths for children in rollover accidents. For their performance, they each received a $2,000 cash award and funding for New Product Development Assessment by the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center. Their EDD teacher is Karen Lindholm-Rynkiewicz.

In second place was The Rod Box by Riley Kleist, Alex Carstensen and George Hinderlinter from Medford Area Senior High. Their project developed a design for a better fishing rod storage system to prevent damage to fishing rods of any length while being transported. For their performance, their team received a $2,000 cash award and funding for New Product Development Assessment by the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center. Their EDD teacher is Tracy Swedlund.

In third place was The Grease Monkeys by Bryce Winters, Gabe Witt, and Nolan Clark from Monroe High School. They developed a system to deal with grease fires in grills to prevent large fires and property damage. For their performance, their team received a $1,000 cash award and funding for New Product Development Assessment by the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center. Their EDD teacher is Daniel Saunders.

This year’s finalist teams and projects were:

• The Pant Puller by Kyle Karfonta, Nick Lemke and Aaron LeRoy from Catholic Memorial High School. Their EDD teacher is Mary Petrie.
• Archery Backstop by Matteo Lattore and Jakson Trainer from Belleville High School. Their EDD teacher is Ed Neumann.
• Marine Lives Matter by Devon Winquist and Joe Long from Catholic Memorial High School. Their EDD teacher is Mary Petrie.
• Football Helmet Concussion Prevention System by Joshua Breach, Michael Ploch and Drake Reese from Oconomowoc High School. Their EED teacher is Sharon Tomski.
• The Survival Kit by Sutton Fronk, Sam Lindow, Ethan Marthaler and Kyle Rouiller. Their EDD instructor is Tracy Swedlund.