Jana Green

Seniors Chloe Wells and Abigayle Welch work on a project in Jeff Collier’s senior engineering class.

Imagine a world where towering skyscrapers touch the clouds, sleek bridges span vast rivers, and cutting-edge technology sparks innovation. It’s the world of engineering, where dreams turn into reality through the power of design and problem-solving. 

According to advanced engineering teacher Jeff Collier, his senior engineering class has done all kinds of different projects in that class so far this semester. 

“Our senior engineering class has completed three projects so far and is beginning a fourth,” Collier said. “They completed a self-righting spill-proof candle holder, a mousetrap-powered vehicle, and a propeller-powered vehicle using electric motors. Currently, they are designing an automated machine that will sort marbles of different materials.”  

Collier’s Aerospace class is also working on different projects that have to do with things like flying objects and trajectories. 

“Our Aerospace class just completed a project where they each designed and built a balsa wood glider,” Collier said. “They are about to begin learning to fly and navigate using a flight simulator program.” 

Collier said his Principles of Engineering classes are working with circuitry and will soon be working on designing a prototype of eco-friendly insulation. They recently finished building compound machines. 

According to Collier, the whole reason that he teaches engineering is to make sure that his students have the problem-solving skills necessary for the real world. 

“The classes give students that might be considering engineering as a career a chance to see what engineers learn and do,” Collier said. “It helps prepare those students to be more successful in the future. Former students that completed our program and went on to engineering majors in college have told me these courses helped them in those classes as well. Even if students choose a different path than engineering, the problem-solving skills they learn will benefit them in whatever career field they choose.” 

According to Collier, he loves seeing his students succeed after struggling with problems they are facing on an assignment. 

“Often times the ideas they come up with do not work out like they planned and they have to work through a series of modifications or maybe even scrap their original idea and take a different approach,” he said. “The excitement they exhibit when they figure out a working solution is worth the frustrations they experience while working through it. My students develop a no-quit attitude that will benefit them long after they leave LCM.”