Ingenuity, Communication Skills on Display at CETA Design Expo

"We know your technical skills are there," Alnajjar said. "Focus on your communication skills. Focus on presenting your project. Tell the judges what you did. Even if it didn't work, that's fine. Tell them why."

That focus on communication is baked into the format of the day. Held in the spring and fall, the CETA Design Expo showcases students' top projects developed throughout the year. First-year and second-year students present their projects in the fall, and seniors present their Capstone design projects either in the spring or fall.

In addition to presenting their designs and prototypes, participants are expected to pitch them. It's the same kind of pitch they'd make in a real-life workplace - only this time, they're pitching to a team of judges composed of faculty, industry experts, and peers.

At the spring expo, ten projects were singled out for exemplary work, with 25 students honored.

Paul Lavoie, chief manufacturing officer for the state of Connecticut, toured the expo to view the students' projects. He also encouraged the participants to make their careers in Connecticut after graduation.

"One of our key initiatives is to create a sticky relationship between industry and our colleges," said Lavoie. "If you learn in Connecticut, we want you to earn in Connecticut. If you dream it here, you can make it here." The expo was also a showcase for other CETA projects, such as the student-built Formula-style race car that made a good showing in a competition at the Michigan International Speedway last year.