Capstone showcase unites students

It was an atmosphere of teamwork rather than competition among engineering students at the annual Capstone showcase last week, where projects they had worked on over the course of the school year were displayed for teachers, prospective students and even potential employers to see.
Sixty-nine projects created by teams of students from the four departments of the faculty of engineering and computer science were displayed in the EV building this year, but it was clear that the year-long effort created camaraderie among the various participants.
Justin Maksoud, an electrical and computer engineering student, shrugged off the mention of competition. “We’ve been stressed together, I think we help each other a lot,” he said. “Team play is very important in engineering.”
This sentiment was reiterated by Harley Cooper, one of eight software engineering students who created search engine software which determines the opinionated nature of blogs. “It’s nice to be able to see everyone working together and interacting,” he said. “It’s nice to have this sort of collaborative environment.”

According to Cléa Desjardins, communications advisor for the faculty, the Capstone project offers the students the opportunity to work with both their peers and a faculty advisor.
“These year-long projects allow students to manage a project from beginning to end, learning how to deal with unexpected outcomes along the way,” she said. “The Capstone projects provide excellent training for working in the industry, because they mirror the type of experiences graduates will face when they begin their careers.”
If viewer response is any indicator, these students may well be on their way to engineering success. “Response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Desjardins said. “People tend to be very impressed by the calibre and advanced nature of these projects.”
The annual Capstone showcase is organized by the faculty of engineering and computer science, and all participating students are in their final year of studies towards a bachelor’s degree in engineering.

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