Work through challenges while learning and building
 

A team of Northern Illinois University (NIU) Engineering students, part of the Rockford Valley College (RVC), designed an efficient fluid-powered vehicle to enter in the NFPA Education and Technology Foundation Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge competition. Students designed hydraulic circuits, ordered components, and adapted the system to their machine resulting in an extremely efficient vehicle.

 

This challenge served as part of a senior student’s capstone projects. Capstone projects help students gain the skills needed to solve real-world problems and positively impact their community.

 

Capstone project 

A capstone project is "a culminating academic and intellectual experience for students, typically during their final year of high school or middle school, or at the end of the academic program or learning-pathway experience" (www.capstoneproject.org). More and more students are pursuing a capstone project to gain an intellectual experience for their future careers. Students select a topic, research the subject, create a final product demonstrating their learning acquisition or conclusions, and present their findings to a panel of teachers, experts  and community members who collectively evaluate its quality.

 

The purpose of a capstone project is to encourage students to think critically about their future careers and to gain hands-on experience that will prepare them for the workforce. In the U.S. fluid power industry, there is a growing demand for skilled workers who can apply their knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems. A capstone project is an excellent way for students to demonstrate their ability to conduct research, solve problems, and communicate effectively – all essential skills for success in the fluid power industry.

 

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the fluid power industry, we encourage you to consider completing a capstone project as part of your educational journey.