SPC Alum Becomes Engineering Guru

When Greg Lewis graduated from St Petersburg College in the early 1990’s, he had no idea he would return to become a beloved faculty member in that same Engineering department. Of course, that’s how it goes sometimes. Even when you think you know exactly what you want out of life early on, your path can still take some surprising turns.

Greg comes from a family of hands-on task lovers, builders and otherwise. So it was always somewhat a given that he would follow the same path and work in a field that meant creating something. But he also loved education, and knew even in high school that he had a passion to be an educator.

Professional Experience

Before and during his undergraduate education, Greg worked for and then ran an interior design firm. He routinely traveled the country almost year round completing build outs for commercial spaces, such as Victoria’s Secret stores. He was responsible for many of the architectural responsibilities in building out stores, especially utilizing his drafting talents.

Teaching

As happens to many a traveling man, it was meeting the future Mrs. Lewis that inspired Greg to draw his traveling to a close and settle down in warm, sunny Florida. He finally had the opportunity to indulge in his long-held desire to become a teacher. He taught Computer Aided Design at Gibbs High School for a year, then at Dixie Hollins High School for another year.

Bringing It Home

In 1997, Greg began his first teaching course at St Petersburg College. He was at home right away. In the 20 years he has been teaching here, countless students have sought his experience, wisdom and guidance in their quest for personal success. Students continue to come back, stop in, and say hello to a favorite instructor, and he is always happy  to be reminded of the impact he’s had on the lives of so many. Currently, Greg teaches Inventor, Revit, SolidWorks, and Rapid Prototyping. This semester will bring it all the way home with his daughter as a Solidworks student! We are grateful for his expertise and his presence, and we can’t wait for the next cohort to get to know him.

Rapid Prototyping

Rapid Prototyping, or 3D printing as it is more commonly called, has barely begun to tap its full potential. SPC Mechanical Engineering student Azher Hamid demonstrated  one avenue for this developing technology in his research, “3D Printing Multi-Rotors/Drones.”

Azher is finishing the final course for his A.A. this summer, and while he would like to continue studying aerospace engineering, he doesn’t think the field is broad enough to support his particular long term career goals.

Project Sentinel

Azher has been working in the engineering field since before his freshman year in East Lake High School’s Engineering magnet program. While there, he became a member of the competitive FIRST robotics team, winning numerous team competitions throughout his high school experience. It was clear right away that engineering fascinated him. While studying engineering technology here at SPC, he became curious about the potential of 3D printing in robotics and the closely-related field of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Multi-Rotors/Drones). This curiosity led to Project Sentinel, which aimed to examine the potential for printing and assembling drones on demand.

Phase 1

The first step was to find the methods and solutions for successfully printing a lightweight frame.  Phase 1 yielded a successful quadcopter that was flyable and light enough for flight, but had several structural flaws at the joint of the armature that could not withstand rough landings. Azher had to re-engineer the rotor design.

Phase 2

The next step was to apply the lessons learned and improve the outcome. Azhers new design employed an epoxy coated rod in a hollow tube connected to the housing that held the propeller and motor. This engineering change improved the strength significantly; static tests showed the new design could support 40 lbs of steel.

Conclusion

Azhers findings reinforce the practicality of 3D printing drones as well as many other on demand resources. The potential the technology carries for applications in 21st century engineering, manufacturing, and building seems limited only by the creativity of the engineer. Learn more about the Engineering and Manufacturing program at St. Petersburg College.

The “It” Factor

Perhaps it was his his parents; his older sister is studying economics at Cambridge. Certainly there is substantial reason to believe his advanced ability is genetic or the result of incredible parenting. Perhaps it was the early influence of the Boy Scouts: he started as a Tiger Cub and became an Eagle Scout by age 16.  Either way, Ryder Fitzpatrick is a rising young star who has chosen to pursue his passions in the robotics field.

Robotics

When his Cub Scout troop took a trip to the Engineering Expo at the University of South Florida, Ryder was 12.  Immediately, he was drawn to the hands-on challenge of robotics. He joined, and spent the next six years developing his skills, competing and winning. “Team Duct Tape” has consistently competed in state championships for nine years running. They have also traveled throughout the country,  competing against hundreds of other teams. Throughout, Ryder has been a leader to the rest of the team, even hosting the club in his parents’ garage for a time when they had no other space.

Ryder wasn’t a typical 12 year old, and he isn’t a typical 18 year old, either. This fall he’ll graduate from high school and simultaneously earn not one but two college degrees: an Associate of Science in Engineering Technology, with a specialty in Digital Design & Modeling, and an Associate of Art in General Studies. He will continue on to complete an undergrad robotics program either at Worcester Polytechnic Institute or Carnegie Mellon University.

Application

So what does the future hold for this bright young man? While the sky is the limit for a rising star like him, Ryder has a down here on Earth life dream in mind. He intends to replace fast food employees with robotic  devices within his life time. Because how many burger flippers actually enjoy flipping the burgers? If a robot can do it instead, those hands would be free to fulfill their own life dream.

He also wants to be involved in building something; not just developing something, but actually building it. Whatever Ryder does, he knows he doesn’t want to be tied behind a desk for hours a day. He wants to get out in to the world and use machines, and especially robots to improve the human experience within it.

As part of an ongoing series, this week we are “Getting to Know” Engineering, Manufacturing, and Building Arts Program Director Lara Sharp.

Sharp joined St Petersburg College in 2015. She came to us from Polk State College, a fellow member of the Florida College System.

Sharp completed her undergraduate work at University of Buffalo, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. She went on to complete her first graduate degree, an MBA, from the University of Massachusetts. Eventually she also earned a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of South Florida.

While engineering was clearly her first passion, Sharp was always called to education. Immediately after college, she earned her stripes as an engineer for a major corporation, continuing to work on her formal education. Once she felt she had gained the hands-on experience to be well prepared in the classroom, she began looking for the right fit.

Just one week before the start of a new school year, a local high school chemistry teacher fell off a horse! He was unable to teach for the year, and she was asked to step in. She knew immediately that she had found her home in education. It was easy to transition from doing what she had always enjoyed into teaching –  passing her love of learning on to new generations of young scientists.

After spending 17 years in the classroom, Sharp decided to make the move to higher education, accepting a position at Polk State College. While she still enjoys teaching, she had so much more to offer. She took over the Engineering, Manufacturing, and Building Arts program here at SPC after the retirement of her predecessor in 2015.

Making the move to the administrative side of education was not without its challenges, but she has swiftly risen to the occasion. She stays grounded in part by staying connected to students through teaching, keeping at least one course commitment on her own schedule each semester.

Of course, Sharp knows how to have fun too. She makes sure to unwind in her off time, and here is just a sample of how she has fun. Godzilla attacks! No Peep is safe!

If you have any questions or if you need any assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Lara Sharp, (727)398-8256 or sharp.lara@spcollege.edu

St. Petersburg College’s Engineering, Manufacturing, and Building Arts department is pleased to announce an exciting STEM summer camp opportunity for students ages 13-19: drone camp.

Students attending SPC’s 2017 Titan Drone Summer Camp will:

• Engage in 3D printing process using additive manufacturing techniques
• Understand the electronics and precision needed for building drones
• Learn entrepreneurial skills used by successful business owners
• Tour an advanced manufacturing facility

Hands-on learning

“…when we give students the inspiration not just that math and science are inherently interesting, and technology and engineering are inherently interesting, but there’s actual problems to solve, it turns out that young people, they rise to the challenge. And that’s what’s so exciting about it.” – former President Barack Obama

Opportunities for affordable, quality summer STEM programs for teens are few and far between. SPC understands the importance of encouraging students in this rapidly advancing field. That is why we are committed to providing hands-on learning opportunities for students. To that end, we have planned another fun summer learning program.

Students will work directly with faculty and Engineering Department student assistants to build, fly, and repair a drone! They will get to keep the drone after the program and will have learned how to operate and if necessary repair it themselves.

Students will also go on a field trip to an advanced manufacturing facility to see for themselves real world applications of science, technology, engineering and math.

Drone camp details

• The camp will run June 26 – 30, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Please be sure to bring lunch daily. It is not provided, and campus venues are not likely to be available.
• Cost: $200 per student (SPC employees receive 10% discount)
• Also includes: T-Shirt, curriculum, and field trip to advanced manufacturing facility!

For more information please contact Program Director Lara Sharp at (727) 398-8256 or Sharp.lara@spcollege.edu

Space is limited, so don’t delay and register today!