I waited anxiously outside the gym, sweat dripping down my face, my heart racing. The coach impassively posted the list on the door before quickly escaping the barrage of impatient students. I immediately scanned the list, beginning at the bottom, as I had grown accustomed to my place in alphabetized lists. Williams was the final name on the list. My heart sank. It was November 3rd, 2010, my fourteenth birthday. This marked the third consecutive year I had been cut from...

Living in a household of doctors, I have heard countless stories of patients with significant handicaps that would likely benefit from advanced applications of technology. For instance, my friend has suffered from cerebral palsy, and struggles with simple, everyday tasks. Recent biomedical engineering projects have worked on mechanical exoskeletons to help people learn motor tasks through robotic gait training. These groundbreaking projects reflect the rewarding experiences attainable through engineering that may one day benefit the disabled. I feel that Duke...

Today, marching bands have modernized their performances by incorporating new technology in the form of synthesizers, microphones and amplifiers. Upon seeing a show enhanced with synchronized lights, I was determined to replicate this effect with my own high school drumline. I hosted fundraisers and solicited several generous sponsors in order to purchase the wireless, programmable LED lights to integrate into our show. Nothing could foreshadow the coming complications. Initially, the light strips and attached circuit boards appeared as professional as...