Students accept a framed award on stage as audience members applaud.

Inspiring engineering excellence: NNSS sponsors UNLV Design Awards

Students accept a framed award on stage as audience members applaud.

The Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS) was the proud grand prize sponsor of the Dec. 16 University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering Fall Senior Design Awards, celebrating students’ innovative solutions to major challenges with a global perspective.

Collaborating in teams, students select, plan, design and protype a real-world solution spanning one of several fields: civil and environmental engineering and construction, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, entertainment engineering and design projects, or mechanical engineering. Solutions are then evaluated by a panel of industry leaders, including NNSS Senior Principal Engineer Michael Misch. A total of 160 students across 43 teams participated in the fall 2024 semester’s competition.

Three students, their mentor and a NNSS employee stand with framed awards with the the Las Vegas Strip in the background.

The grand prize was awarded to the Circular Microwave Oven – Gen II team, who developed a circular microwave design inspired by chemical vapor distribution chamber technology to achieve uniform heat distribution. The event emphasized the direct pipeline between engineering curriculum at UNLV and career opportunities with leading STEM organizations like the NNSS.

“We couldn’t do any of our work without engineering support,” said NNSS Enhanced Capabilities for Subcritical Experiments Programs Vice President Dr. Dave Funk, who introduced the NNSS to attendees and presented the grand prize. “We have been strong partners of the engineering department and will continue to be strong partners.”

NNSS employees sit at an award dinner table.
A presentation slide shows event sponsors' logos, including the Nevada National Security Sites.