Clarkson University Student Maureen Hoen of Hamburg, N.Y., Earns Spot in National Chem-E Car Competition

2014 May 19

Maureen Hoen of Hamburg, N.Y., a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering at Clarkson University, recently joined Clarkson's Chem-E Car team at the 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Northeast Student Regional Conference. Clarkson was one of 13 teams that competed in the car competition.

Prior to competition, the team presented a poster describing the different aspects of the car and demonstrated that they were aware of the safety hazards associated with the car. Passing this safety inspection allowed the team to proceed to the car competition.

An hour before competition, the team was given a specific distance the car had to travel as well as a weight that had to be carried. This year, those specifications were to travel 25 meters while carrying a load of 250 grams.

Each team was allowed two runs, each with a time limit of two minutes, to calibrate their car and attempt to stop at the designated line.

Clarkson landed 2.15 meters from the designated line on their second run, placing them fourth and earning them a spot at the national competition on November 16 in Atlanta, Ga. In addition to qualifying for the national, Clarkson placed third in the Chem-E Jeopardy contest.

Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, N.Y., Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world's pressing issues. Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and health sciences, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise.