At The Polymers Center, one of the most rewarding parts of what we do is supporting the next generation of engineers and innovators. This year, we had the privilege of working alongside an outstanding senior design team whose project, the PCE Grind, earned finalist recognition — a testament to their creativity, determination, and teamwork.

From the earliest brainstorming sessions to the final stages of testing and refinement, this team demonstrated what engineering is all about: persistence, collaboration, and problem-solving. Their goal was ambitious — to design and build a functional prototype capable of grinding plastic chunks and pellets into a fine, sand-like powder. Through countless hours of design work, troubleshooting, fabrication, and testing, they brought that vision to life.

With support and guidance from the Polymers Center team, including President Doug DeSimone and Polymer Science Manager Yiro Shimabukuro, the students were able to gain valuable hands-on experience throughout the development process. Working directly with industry professionals gave the team the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world environment while learning the importance of iteration, precision, and adaptability.

What stood out most throughout this journey was the dedication and work ethic of the students. Engineering projects rarely go exactly as planned, but this team continued pushing forward, overcoming challenges and improving their design every step of the way. Their finalist achievement is well deserved and reflects the level of effort they invested from start to finish.

We are incredibly proud of these engineering seniors and honored to have played a small role in their journey. Seeing students transform ideas into working solutions is inspiring, and we have no doubt that each of them has a bright future ahead.

Congratulations to Alison Hodges, Ben Burgamy, Chris Cervantes, Francisco Barrientos, Jacob Lasecki, and Joshua Traxler on this impressive accomplishment. We look forward to following their future achievements and seeing the impact they will make in the engineering and polymers industries for years to come.