Hi, my name is Tyra Helper, and I am a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering with an Engineering Design minor. My college is Sid Richardson (THE BEST COLLEGE) and there I am involved in several committees and community initiatives. The Sport Commitee, my favorite one, is where I truly shine as a multi-sport I.M. athlete. Outside of Sid, I am a Co-Fundraising Senators for NSBE and a TA for the 1:00pm section of EDES 120.

My senior year of high school I was the robotics team captain, which means I made many things. However, my favorite thing I’ve made so far is a ‘telescoping-elevator’. This mechanism combined a prefabricated elevator and telescoping tube kit to work simultaneously, with the goal of lifting an object off the ground and placing it on shelf. I am very proud of it, because I introduced the idea and saw it to completion. Additionally, the fabricated parts were not created for the use we decided, but we somehow made it work.

In the future, I would like to make a stepstool that works for myself and my shorter family members. I would like for it to be able to change height, to ensure it multi-purpose, and for the distance between steps to be easily changed, so that a diverse range of heights (5’2” and below) can comfortably use the stepstool.

In EDES 210, I hope to learn how to bend the machines in the OEDK to my will. I have a decent background in fabrication but still found myself guessing and ‘making do’ in EDES 120 and 200, as far as the machines. In this class I hope to be able to manipulate, fix, and utilize the machines to work in may favor and create the product I whole-heartedly desire.