Release Date:  7/28/2006

Contact(s):   Nicole Larson, Engineering Technology associate professor, (360) 650-3428 nicole.larson@wwu.edu

BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University engineering students won best presentation at the Human Powered Submarine Contest in Escondido, Calif. this month.

Driving the only two-person propeller driven submarine, the team had the fourth fastest time of all submarines in the contest. The team also placed second in overall engineering.

The students designed and built the vessel over a six-month period as part of Western’s Submarine Team Club. This was their first year competing in the contest.

“We led the competition from the Northwest – there were four Northwest schools competing – while still learning the ropes of sub racing,” said David Gertler, one of the submarine operators.

Gertler and Randy Holt, seniors in WWU’s Industrial Technology program, pedaled the submarine while wearing scuba gear.

“I compiled over three pages of revisions for our submarine and countless other details which will be applied to our effort next year in Maryland,” Gertler said. “We want to grow as a team and use this success to cultivate a more extensive program.”

For more information about the Submarine Team Club, contact the team adviser, Nicole Larson, Engineering Technology Department associate professor, at (360) 650-3428 or nicole.larson@wwu.edu.

Full results of the contest are posted at www.sections.asme.org/sandiego/hps2006/hps2006results.htm.

Photo Links

http://www.wwu.edu/ucomm/exchange/Sub%20Gertler.jpg

http://www.wwu.edu/ucomm/exchange/sub%20front%20Gertler.jpg

http://www.wwu.edu/ucomm/exchange/sub%20Randy%20Holt_Dave%20Gertler.jpg

http://www.wwu.edu/ucomm/exchange/SUb.jpg

Additional Links

http://www.sections.asme.org/sandiego/hps2006/hps2006results.htm