Bernt O. Larson Awards
Professor Bernt O. Larson earned a BSCE in 1938, a MSCE in 1949, and was a General Engineering faculty member from 1938 to 1974. He had a distinguished career in the Army, including many engineering projects in the C-B-I theatre, and work in China, for which he received a medal of honor from the Chinese government. Bernt is widely remembered for having developed and put into place the concept of a capstone senior design course for General Engineering students, and for being one of the first faculty members to understand and to cultivate the educational links between the University and private industry. His ideas have been instrumental in helping ease the student transition from academics to industry. Today, because of Bernt’s vision, willingness to try something new, and capability for understanding the needs of students, our project design course serves as a College and national model for senior design experiences. In October 1973, Bernt received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the UIUC Civil Engineering Department, in recognition of his contributions to engineering education and to the profession, and “especially (for) his implementation of outstanding student team project courses.” In honor of his achievements, the Larson Award for GE 494 project design excellence was established by Bernt’s friends when he retired in 1974. In 1980, William Everitt made a generous addition to the award honoring both Bernt, who passed away in 1974, and Margaret Larson Everitt, who resides in Urbana.
Recipients
2008
| First Place: |
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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 Salt Spreader Redesign for Cost Reduction
Flink Company
Professor Scott Burns
Michael T. Shaw
Christopher A. Potsch
Joseph J. Delaney
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| Second Place: |
Project:
Sponsor: Advisor:
Team: |
 Flavor Shelf Life Improvement
FONA International, Inc.
Professor James Carnahan
Derek J. Evans
Richard Grendzinski
Enrique E. Robles |
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2007
| First Place: |
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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 Gaming Card Data Design and Layout Automation
Douglas Press, Inc.
Harry Wildblood
Varsha Agrawal
Elton Chu
Andrew Johnson
Laura L. Sullivan
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|
| Second Place: |
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team: |
 Ingot Pre-heating Feasibility and Design
Spartan Light Metal Products, Inc.
Mark Strauss
Michael J. Brandt
Reva Kamhi
Ben Parli
John Robert Volk |
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2006
| First Place: |
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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Accelerated Weathering Machine Humidification System Redesign for Reduced Water Damage
Atlas Material Testing Technology, LLC
Professor Harrison Kim
Jason R. Chentorycki
Ines Hubler
Aaron R. Kirkpatrick
|
|
| Second Place: |
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team: |
Butterfly Valve Cage Design
Yeary and Associated, Inc.
Professor Henrique Reis
Matthew C. Bardelli
Aaron T. Kielar
Adam D. Zmick |
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2005
| First Place: |
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team: |
Paper Cup Leak Detection
Solo Cup Company
Professor David E. Goldberg
Gary J. Merrigan
Andrew R. Mondi
PatrickC. Sharkey |
|
| Second Place: |
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team: |
Aerosol Cooking Oil Changeover Reduction
ConAgra Foods Retail Products Company
Professor Dusan Stipanovic
Karen E. Czarnecki
Joseph C. Moyer
John N. Spelich
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2004
| First Place: |
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team: |
Thermoforming Air Pressure/Vacuum Analysis
Solo Cup Company
Harry Wildblood
Patrick S. McGough
Nathan L. Sis
Caleb J. Wiza
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|
| Second Place: |
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team: |
Blance Beam Scale Redesign
Pelstar LLC
Professor Henrique Reis
Jonathan R. Dame
Bradley J. Gillette
Michael T. Kearney
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2003
| First
Place: |
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Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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 Flash
Reduction in Crankshaft Forgings
Krupp Gerlach Company
Professor Henrique Reis
Cameron R. Croft
Robin E. McGowen
Obinna C. Orjih |
|
| Second
Place: |
|
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
|
 Butt
Welder Structural Weldment Redesign
Holland Company L.P.
Professor Edward N. Kuznetsov
John M. Davidson
Amy J. Russell
Patricia D. Robbins |
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2002
| First
Place: |
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Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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Design
of an In-Line Industrial Water Gun
Ergo-Tech, Inc.
C. Adam Senalik
Allen G. Demling
Thomas J. McClenahan
Daniel F. Posacki
|
|
| Second
Place: |
|
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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Integration
of PocketZip to Handspring Visor
Iomega Corporation
Professor Ramavarapu S. Sreenivas
Theodore W. Elrick
Sarah L. Quoss
Erin S. Sullivan
|
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2001
| First
Place: |
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Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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Power
Cord Reel
Telefonix, Inc.
Professor Scott A. Burns
August W. Bockrath
Kevin T. Coonan
Matthew R. Walter
|
|
| Second
Place: |
|
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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Redesign
of Folding Chair Hinge
The Folding Bleacher Company
Professor Henrique Reis
Lindsay A. Krussow
Marc. C. Lifshin
Rodrigo L. Valdez, Jr.
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2000
| First
Place: |
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Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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Gearmotor
Noise Testing and Evaluation
Bodine Electric Company
Professor Henrique Reis
Kevin D. Bollman
David M. Hinkle
Leo A. Wrigley
|
|
| Second
Place: |
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Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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Enhancing
Cellular Phone Usability
Motorola Advanced Technology Center
Professor David E. Goldberg
Jung H. Hur
Robert D. Shin
Jason W. Smith
Mark L. Williamson
|
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1999
| First
Place: |
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Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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SciGolf:
Golf Swing Tracking System
SciGolf
Professor James Carnahan
Algis J. Baliunas
David M. Leder
Michael I. Lee
|
|
| Second
Place: |
|
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
|
HMC:
Case Cutter Cost Reduction
HMC Products, Inc.
Professor David Goldberg
Ted R. Dodge
Patrick A. McDermott
Michael J. McNulty
|
|
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1998
| First
Place: |
|
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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Partition
Assembly Process Improvement
InnerPac, Inc.
Professor Yong Se Kim
Dennis Frantsve
James Haran
Jonathan Jewell
|
|
| Second
Place: |
|
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
|
Piston
Pin Weight Reduction
Cummins Engine Co.
Professor Edward Kuznetsov
Romano Floreani
James Fron
Paul Wieshuber
|
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|
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1997
| First
Place: |
|
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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Spurious
Response in Engine Knock Sensors
Eaton Corporation
Professor Henrique Reis
Ian Bruce
Marc Koeppel
Adam Lack
|
|
| Second
Place: |
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Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
|
Hammer
Velocity Meter
Gerb Vibration Control Systems, Inc.
Professor Henrique Reis
James Cribbett
Andrew Morin
Greg Speckhart
|
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1996
| First
Place: |
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Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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Noise
Reduction in a Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner
The Eureka Company
Professor W. Brent Hall
Robert S. Barrett
Kimberly D. Meadors
John R. Umsted
|
|
| Second
Place: |
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Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
|
Hose
Assembly Modification
The Testor Corporation
Professor Wayne J. Davis
Mark C. DePoorter
Jami S. A. Thornton
Christopher K. Wyatt
|
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1995
| First
Place: |
|
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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Design
of a Material Roll Lifter Using Pneumatic
Cylinders
Transparent Container Company
Professor Roland L. Ruhl
Jim C. Kirk
Dave B. Morr
Brian J. Ormaniec
|
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| Second
Place: |
|
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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Automation
of an Instore Shipping System
The Testor Corp.
Professor Wayne J. Davis
Jeffrey J. Cantrill
Jason Z. Moline
Dana L. Wallace
|
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1994
| First
Place: |
|
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
|
Design
of a Two Position Turntable
Genesis Systems Group Ltd.
Professor Mark Spong
Bruce T. Atkins
Andrew Wang
Brad J. Whitmore
|
|
| Second
Place: |
|
Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
|
Modification
of Material Handling for a Paint Kit Line
The Testor Corporation
Professor Wayne J. Davis
William R. Horvath
Jerome W. Jarvis
Jon J. Smejkal
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1993
| Second
Place: |
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Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
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Motorized
Table Height Adjustment Mechanism
Kenlin Enterprises
Professor Henrique L. M. dos Reis
M. R. Gogola
T. L. Lloyd
D. R. Nebl
|
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| Second
Place: |
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Project:
Sponsor:
Advisor:
Team:
|
Air
Intake Pre-Cleaner for a Modular Diesel Engine
Cummins Engine Co., Inc.
Professor Roland L. Ruhl
T. Kelley
M. Souden
D. Todd
|
|
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