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Engineering Students Help Cemetery Visitors
(Posted: December 17, 2008) (Printable Version)
Students in a freshman engineering class at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith have applied their classroom skills in an unusual way — they built a park bench.
The students designed, purchased materials and built a park bench that now provides a place for visitors to pause and rest at Oak Cemetery.
Dr. Michael Reynolds of Van Buren, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, said the students completed the bench as part of a service learning project for their Introduction to Engineering class.
“They were challenged to use their engineering knowledge to help the community,” Reynolds said. “After a lot of research, the students found a need at Oak Cemetery. They talked with Mike Alsup, the director of Fort Smith Parks and Recreation, and discovered that a bench would be a great addition to the cemetery, since there were few places to sit.”
Participating students were Synthia McLeroy of Elkins, Jesse Davis of Hackett, Morgan Welch of Springdale and Jace Landthrip of Van Buren. Welding student Sam Jones of Greenwood also helped by welding the frame.
“The students learned that their engineering skills would make it possible for them to do more than just work for a company,” Reynolds said, “that they can be used to make a positive impact in the community.”
Reynolds said the project took six weeks to complete, with students spending more than 30 hours on design and construction of the bench. Alsup accepted the bench on behalf of the city on Dec. 17.
| Article by: Sondra LaMar, Director of Public Relations | |
| Photo(s) by: Kat Wilson, Photographer, Marketing and Communications Office |
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