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Baldwin High School in Kansas Wins Real World Design Challenge (RWDC) National Aviation Design Competition Using Mentor Graphic

^{Published on 2010-05-07 06:10:42 - Market Wire}
 

WILSONVILLE, OR--(Marketwire - May 7, 2010) - [ Mentor Graphics Corporation ] (NASDAQ: [ MENT ]) today announced that its [ FloEFD ]™ computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software product was used by all state finalists in the annual Real World Design Challenge (RWDC), a national aviation design competition that was held in Washington D.C. on March 26-29. The 2010 RWDC National Champion is the team from Baldwin High School in Kansas, receiving their first place award on March 29 at The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

High school students from across the country are given the opportunity to work on a real world engineering challenge in a collaborative, team-based environment, applying lessons learned in the classroom to the technical challenges faced in today's workplace. The theme of this year's competition was "Green Aeronautical," and the challenge was to improve the design of a business jet wing and tail to withstand specific physical conditions, while considering balance lift and weight -- and thrust and drag -- with zero pitching moments. A public and private partnership, the RWDC provides tools and resources to the schools to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. The Mechanical Analysis Division (MAD) of Mentor Graphics donated its leading FloEFD [ computational fluid dynamics ] software to all participating schools.

The Baldwin High School "Kansas Tornadoes" national champions, led by their teacher and coach Pam Davis, and mentor Sandy Barnes, is comprised of students Mason Johnson (Sr.); Brandon Baltzell (Jr.); Carson Barnes (Jr.); Shelby Gregory (So.); Carrie Deitz (Fr.); Mac Halpin (Fr.) and Austin Kraus (Fr.). The second place team, from Iolani School in Hawaii, won last year's RWDC event; the third place winners are from Hutchinson High School, Minnesota.

"I am very proud of them!" stated Pam Davis, who coached the Baldwin High School team. "Our students have learned what is involved in a real life engineering project and how a team is more than just the sum of its members."

The aeronautical challenge requires the teams to apply the software (donated by NASA, Cessna, PTC and Mentor) and develop a paper on their findings, then make a presentation to a panel of expert judges. The judges then select the finalists and winning teams.

"We take great pride in knowing that our FloEFD computational fluid dynamics software was used in this national competition and served the teams well," stated Erich Buergel, general manager of Mentor Graphics Mechanical Analysis Division. "These young students demonstrated the ease-of-use and high-performance benefits of FloEFD for aerodynamic analysis, solving the design challenge with accuracy and confidence."

About Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: [ MENT ]) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of about $800 million and employs approximately 4,425 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: [ http://www.mentor.com/ ].

(Mentor Graphics is a registered trademark and FloEFD is a trademark of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners).