3/7/2010 K-State Collegian - Fountain Wars lets …

Fountain Wars lets students apply

engineering principles to design
competition
Lauren Taggart

Published: Friday, May 1, 2009

Updated: Friday, May 1, 2009

Pipes, pumps and formulas for fluid flow circled through

the minds of K-State engineering students as they
prepare to compete in Fountain Wars.

"We are an environmentally-based design team that is

given technical tasks to complete each year," said Ginger
Pugh, sophomore in biological systems engineering and
Fountain Wars team president. "This includes creating
fountains that are aesthetically and environmentally
pleasing."

Under the supervision of department advisers, Fountain

Wars team members compete in a national competition
each year to showcase their design. Pugh said
contestants are required to assemble the machine on site
in a two-hour period and have it function perfectly by
judging time. To compete successfully, design planning
Lisle Alderton
takes place early in the semester before competition.
Brent Ware, senior in biological and
agricultural engineering, cuts some piping to
"We started early this semester in the design process," be used on the new fountain underway in the
Pugh said. "Although we aren't quite finished for the next hydraulics lab in the basement of Seaton
Hall. Students are working on designs for the
competition, we always get it done on time." next Fountain Wars competition in Reno,
Nev.
The K-State Fountain Wars team has been fairly
successful in recent years, with a second place finish in
Providence, R.I., last year. Pugh said she hopes to
continue this success in Reno, Nev., for the June
competition.

College of Engineering faculty members said Fountain

Wars has proven to be an asset to the college and
student potential.
Lisle Alderton
The Fountain Wars team tests its fountain
"This group gives students [an opportunity] to take things outside Seaton to see if the structure can
they learned from class like fluid dynamics, focus on launch a beach ball into a target basket.
engineering aspects, and create something totally
original," said Gary Clark, senior associate dean in the College of Engineering and former
organization adviser. "They experience technical challenges and learn more about electronics at
the same time."

The organization has also provided its members with great experience and resources to aid in
academics, students said.

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3/7/2010 K-State Collegian - Fountain Wars lets …
"Applying engineering principles with designing has helped me approach problems in my classes
with greater confidence," said Rebecca Burns, senior in biological and agricultural engineering. "I
have received internship offers because I am on a team that is successful."

Clark said past designs have included voice-activated valves that react on command, as well as
valves programmed to songs that create a Bellagio effect, as in Las Vegas.

More and more professors and students have started to recognize the program as it gains
notoriety.

"The students involved with Fountain Wars have gained valuable leadership training and learned
to work as a team," Clark said. "They are wonderful representatives for Kansas State University."

As a system of networking for students, Fountain Wars also provides social benefits to its
members.

"Being a member has helped me expand my circle of friends in our department," Burns said.
"Plus, messing with water is fun."

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