Solar Car: A Project with a Bright Future
05/22/2008
ECE (Electrical and Computer Engineering) Professor Michael Otis initiated the SUNy Hawk Solar Car Team, composed of several SUNY New Paltz engineering students. According to Mike, “Competing against other universities in a solar car race will give SUNY New Paltz great visibility. In addition, it will generate a large number of valuable Senior Design Projects. Furthermore, the solar car will become an icon to advocate for the clever use of renewable energy sources.”
On May 2, 2008, Vincent Cozzolino, President and CEO of TSEC (The Solar Energy Consortium) arranged for Congressman Maurice Hinchey to attend a presentation by solar car team members. The three engineering students in charge of the presentation were Robert Dickman, Brian Morris and Timothy Parker. When Robert stated that one of the team’s objectives is for “New York State to become the capital of solar energy,” Maurice Hinchey replied that “I absolutely support this idea”.
From left to right, presenters Robert Dickman, Brian Morris and Timothy Parker
Photo by Judy DePuy
A Meeting’s Anecdote: Congressman Maurice Hinchey entered the REH (Resnick Engineering Hall) through the basement, only to find Cherryl Elliott, cleaner of the REH. When he asked for directions to the conference room, Cherryl, who had not yet recognized him, replied “C’mon, follow me”, as she entered the elevator. When the elevator door opened at the first floor, Cherryl could not believe her eyes: she found herself in the middle of a crowd that was effusively greeting the Congressman. A few seconds later, Cherryl was able to recover from her shock, finally recognize Mr. Hinchey, and tell him the story. After that, everybody had a good laugh.
Laughing at Cherryl’s story are, from left to right, Congressman Maurice Hinchey, Cherryl Elliott, ECE Professor Michael Otis and Dr. Julio González, SSE Associate Dean
Photo by Judy DePuy
After the presentation was over, Judy DePuy, secretary of the ECE Department, took a picture of everybody present at this important meeting. The sign in the picture reads: “Fight for your future. Join SUNy Hawk Solar Car Team. All majors needed. Newpaltz.SolarCar@gmail.com”. Besides writing an e-mail to the above address, you can find useful information at www.newpaltz.edu/solarcar .
From left to right, regardless of back or front, Kerron Manwaring (engineering student), Timothy Parker (engineering student) Christopher St. John (engineering student), Robert Dickman (engineering student), Brian Morris (engineering student), Congressman Maurice Hinchey, Bill Cox (IBM), Vincent Cozzolino (TSEC President and CEO), Breandon St. John (engineering student), John Werner (engineering student), Michael Otis (ECE Department Professor), Christopher Baisch (engineering student), Joshua Trow (engineering student), Dr. John Harrington (TSEC Vice-president of Research and Development), Dr. Daniel Jelski (Dean of the School of the SSE – School of Science and Engineering), Caitlin Shuster (TSEC), Dr. Julio González (SSE Associate Dean), Tom LaBarr (ECE Department Instructional Support Assistant) and Lee Cabe (TSEC)
Photo by Judy DePuy
