Valparaiso University Students to Showcase Innovative Solutions at Engineering Design Expo

After months of sketches, calculations, prototypes, and breakthroughs, Valparaiso University’s senior engineering students are ready to share what they have discovered. On Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Valparaiso University’s College of Engineering will host the 2025 Engineering Design Expo at the Gellersen Center and the Fites Innovation Center. 

“The expo is a celebration of the creativity, collaboration, and dedication of Valpo engineering students,” said Georges El-Howayek, Ph.D., associate professor of electrical and computer engineering. “It highlights their ability to apply engineering principles to solve real-world problems and address community needs.”

A cornerstone of Valpo’s engineering curriculum, the senior design experience bridges the gap between theory and practice through hands-on learning. Over the course of the academic year, students work in multidisciplinary teams to develop practical solutions to complex, real-world problems. These open-ended projects mirror the types of challenges encountered in industry and help students transition from the classroom to professional engineering practice, transforming into leaders who will engage and engineer the future.

Projects reflect the full engineering design cycle — including research, design, prototyping, testing, and verification — while also honing essential professional skills such as project management, communication, teamwork, and client collaboration. The experience also teaches students how to manage deadlines, budgets, and the uncertainty inherent in real-world problem-solving.

For Blair Bram ’25, a senior engineering student, the experience has been both demanding and eye-opening. 

“The senior design project has been a challenging but eye-opening experience,” Bram said. “Developing the chilled mirror hygrometer involved numerous design iterations and unexpected obstacles, but it reinforced how essential clear communication and mutual respect are within a multidisciplinary team. Working with thermoelectric devices was a unique and rewarding experience; the process of designing, building, and testing the system was incredibly valuable.”

Community members, families, faculty, alumni, and industry partners are encouraged to attend, enjoy lunch, and explore the diverse range of student projects that represent the future of engineering excellence.

The event is free and open to the public and will include a complimentary lunch. For more information, visit: valpo.edu/senior-design.