Students recognized for engineering designs

A system designed by an MSU student to evaluate ammonia's impact on fish is the first-place winner in a state competition.

The project by Laura D. Heusel of Madison is one of three that garnered top awards for four senior MSU biological engineering majors. They were entered in a recent design challenge sponsored annually by the Mississippi Section, American Society of Agricultural Engineers.

Heusel developed a system that provides an accurate evaluation of the effect of ammonia on fish growth. Her system is being used this summer by MSU laboratories and researchers in the Delta to test for ammonia toxicity in channel catfish.

Suzanne Hutchinson of Leland took second-place honors for her design of a pressure rotating wheelchair seat that utilizes circulating air.

Jennifer Long of Saltillo and Summer Martin of Brandon received the third-place award for their joint project, a trail-ready utility vehicle for the physically challenged.

Heusel, Long, and Martin graduated from MSU May 9. Hutchinson is completing work on her bachelor of science degree.