October 28, 2015
OCT. 28 – Trine’s Innovation One (i1), an incubator for creativity, invention and design that improves education through experiential learning and fosters economic development by supporting new and existing business, recently shipped its first product, thanks to a partnership with a New York company.
Nick Santino, a 1965 grad of Tri-State, now Trine, and owner of Swimming Reaction Lights, LLC, based in Newark, N.Y., first approached i1 last year seeking assistance with the design and engineering of a new product to better serve the needs of the competitive swimming industry, especially the deaf or hard of hearing swimmer.
The lights are used as a starting device to signal swimmers during competition, enabling
them to focus on a light mounted beneath their stand instead of straining to listen
for a buzzer. Trine student Nathaniel Scroggins, an i1 intern, refined the original
prototype and re-engineered the lights to improve the aesthetics and functionality
of the product while lowering production costs.
As a result of the new partnership, Swimming Reaction Lights, LLC, moved its production from Newark, N.Y., to Trine’s main campus and Scroggins, a Hanover senior majoring in design engineering technology, has assumed responsibility for operating the startup business.
“Scroggins and other students are involved in all aspects of production, including engineering, manufacturing, packaging and shipping. We’re proud to partner with SRL to offer this type of support and we’ve already begun designing a new prototype adapting the original design for use by other sports,” said Jason Blume, executive director of i1.
“This is yet another example of the success of i1 and in keeping with our original desire to provide real world experiences for our students while growing the local economy,” he added.
Mitch Daniels, former governor of the state of Indiana and former president of Purdue University, shared advice with graduates he said were entering a world he described as “the most promising and most uncertain and treacherous” as Trine University held Commencement ceremonies on May 2.
Michaela Doiron hopes to one day design prosthetics for children or veterans, and the Trine University biomedical engineering major has made two big strides toward that dream.
Trine University’s annual Trine Day, a celebration of the university as well as an opportunity to support its mission, set records for number of donors and funds raised, bringing in more than $160,000 for scholarships, academic and athletic needs, and student organizations.