TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — When Gabriella Vindiola started her senior project, she didn’t just want to create something. She wanted to leave her mark on Tucson.
“There were a lot of big business projects that were really exciting and had a lot of interesting things. For me, it was important to do something that would benefit my community,” said Gabriella Vindiola, a student at the College of Engineering. from the University of Arizona.
Vindiola used everything she learned at the University of Arizona College of Engineering to create a device to help feed elephants at Reid Park Zoo.
“The elephant habitat is kind of a pinto bean. Right now zookeepers are walking along the edges and throwing elephant pellets over the fence. It’s pretty limited to have far that they can throw. This device is placed right in the center and it rotates 360 degrees. It’s able to reach parts of the habitat that zookeepers can’t,” Vindiola said.
Vindiola’s invention is one of dozens showcased by students on Monday.
“It’s the Craig M. Berge Technical Design Day. This is where our seniors present their flagship projects. They spent the whole year working on a project. Today they show it,” said Larry Head, director of the University of Arizona College of Engineering.
For the past two years, Design Day has been taking place virtually.
“You didn’t understand what you’re seeing here today. You didn’t see all this interaction, people talking, students answering questions,” Head said.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in a huge room with a lot of people. I walked around earlier and there are so many interesting projects,” said Nizhonabah Davis, a student at the College of Engineering of the of Arizona.
A few outstanding inventions will be rewarded with cash scholarships, but everything students will leave with the knowledge necessary to launch a successful career.
“Being able to practice leadership skills, learn to work in a team and manage a team are skills that I hope to incorporate later in the industry,” Vindiola said.
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