Capstone Kickoff & Showcase

Capstone Showcase

***ATTENTION!!!  NEW PARKING PROCESS FOR SHOWCASE***

The Learning Factory will host two showcases for Spring 2025.  The in-person Capstone Project Showcase is April 29th from 1:00 to 3:30 pm at the Bryce Jordan Center.  The virtual Capstone Project Showcase is Wednesday, April 30 through Friday, May 9.  Award winners will be posted on the virtual showcase website.

The Design Showcases are the official end of the project.  Students display their projects at the in-person Showcase and are judged by a panel of industry experts, comprised of current and past sponsors as well as members of our Industry Advisory Board. Prizes are awarded for the Best Project and the People’s Choice.  The virtual Showcase provides the opportunity for anyone and everyone to see the great work the students have done and gives everyone a chance to cast votes for even more prizes for winning teams.

The event is the culmination of 15 weeks of work, which starts with the Project Kick-Off Meeting the first week of the semester.

Agenda for the Day

  • 9:00am- Industrial Advisory Board Meeting – Location TBD
  • 10:00am- Sponsor Welcome and Coffee – 1855 Club
  • 10:30am – Sponsor Meeting & Debriefing, Review of the Semester, Judge Solicitation – 1855 Club
  • 11:30am-1:30pm – Lunch for Sponsors – 1855 Club
  • 1:00-3:30pm – Showcase – Bryce Jordan Center Arena

Parking at the Bryce Jordan Center (click here for map)

Visitors attending the Showcase must purchase a parking permit from BJC Park Mobile. Unfortunately, The Learning Factory is no longer permitted to ‘buy-out’ the lots.  See details below.

Routes to take to enter parking lots:

  • Park Avenue to University Drive to Dauer Drive
  • Park Avenue to Porter Road into Parking Lot
  • College Avenue to Porter Road into Parking Lot
  • College Avenue to University Drive to Dauer Drive

Visitors (including ADA parking needs) attending the Showcase must purchase a permit via Park Mobile using these instructions and must park in Jordan East.

Sponsors and IAB Members Jamie Behers will send you an email with specific Park Mobile instructions.  Contact Jamie with any questions.

Faculty and staff with on-campus parking permits may park in Orange L East (Founders Lot/Guest Entrance) and Orange L South (Show Entrance) as well as the other lots listed below.  Do not use Park Mobile. Commuter permits are not permitted in these lots.

ADA spaces are available in Orange L East with a properly displayed state issued ADA Plate or Placard.   Park Mobile process must also be followed.  This lot will be monitored and you will receive a ticket if you do not have the proper placard.

Students, faculty, and staff with on-campus permits may park in Jordan East, Stadium West, and Porter North.  Do not use Park Mobile.

  • Jordan East (with Park Mobile permit or faculty, staff, or student on-campus permit)
  • Stadium West (faculty, staff, or student on-campus permit)
  • Porter North (with Park Mobile permit or faculty, staff, or student on-campus permit)

Entering the BJC – Capstone students must enter through the Orange L South/Show Entrance gated lot (University Drive to Dauer Drive).  Guests may also enter through Orange L South.  Anyone entering through the Guest Entrance will be subject to a bag check and metal detector.  You can avoid this if you enter through the Show entrance where the students enter via the Orange L South parking lot (Dauer Drive) and can then take the stairs or elevator to the sponsor meeting and lunch.

Past Showcases

You can view past Virtual Showcases here.

 

Kickoff & Sponsor Meeting

Capstone project sponsors….we hope to see you at the Capstone Project Kickoff and Sponsor Meeting on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at the new Engineering Design and Innovation Building (EDIB) on the University Park (West) campus.  The Kickoff meetings with teams will be in various rooms throughout the building (see below).   The Kickoff is your first team meeting and is vital to the success of the project. Attending the Kickoff is highly encouraged and most importantly, it jumpstarts the projects giving an additional 1-2 weeks of meaningful work for project teams. In an already compressed schedule, we know this will be a great benefit to both the students and sponsors.

The sponsor meeting will be held from 10am to 11am in Room 326 EDIB.  Please avoid scheduling a team meeting from 10am to 11am if you plan to attend the sponsor meeting.   Attending via Zoom is acceptable and zoom information will be emailed to sponsors.

Lunch is not provided.

Estimated Timeline:

  • Wednesday Evening, January 8: Teams will be finalized.
  • Thursday, January 9: Students will begin contacting their sponsors to set up a meeting time based on the availability of both the team and the sponsor.   If sponsors are unable to attend the Kickoff, it is acceptable to conduct virtual meetings at a convenient day and time that works for sponsors and their team(s). Sponsors should receive an email or phone call from one of the students assigned to your project no later than Tuesday, January 14.   If sponsors don’t hear from someone by 2:00 pm on January 14, please contact the Faculty Contact who will be advising the team. This person is listed with the projects (in alpha order) found here: https://apps.lf.psu.edu/projects/project-selector.aspx   As always, you can also contact Paul Mittan at paul.mittan@psu.edu or Jamie Behers at jlf47@psu.edu but initially reaching out to the faculty member is best since they have direct access to the students.
  • Tuesday, January 14 – First day of capstone classes (students meet their teammates for the first time)
  • Thursday, January 16 (Kickoff): The teams will have the opportunity to meet with their sponsor for the first time and begin working on the project.

Kickoff and Sponsor Meeting Agenda

Thursday, January 16

All events will be held at the new Engineering Design and Innovation Building (EDIB) on West Campus/White Course Drive.

  • 8:00 am to 5:00 pm – Kickoff meeting with students and sponsors – various rooms throughout the building (see below).  Rooms are not reserved in advance and are first come first serve.  Due to the capacity, some rooms will be shared and may have more than one meeting going on at the same time.
  • 10:00 to 11:00 am – Sponsor Meeting – Room 326 – Sponsors will be able to attend virtually if they cannot attend in person.  A zoom link will be emailed to sponsors and mentors.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE KICKOFF

  • Between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm sponsors and teams will meet at a time previously determined between the sponsors and the team. The duration of the meeting is at the discretion of the sponsor.
    • It is also acceptable to conduct virtual meetings if sponsors are unable to come to the Kickoff.
  • Sponsors will go to the first floor lobby (near wooden stairs) approximately 15 minutes prior to your scheduled meeting time. Wearing company logo shirts is always helpful as is giving your team your cell phone number.
  • Sponsors and the team will go to one of the available rooms listed below (first come first serve) to conduct your meeting.  NOTE:  Other meetings may be going on at the same time… some of these are shared rooms due to their capacity.
  • Companies who have multiple projects may use more than one table, if necessary.
  • If the same sponsor is meeting with multiple teams at different times, it is the responsibility of the sponsor to coordinate the schedule of meeting times with the various teams.

EDIB Meeting Rooms and Availability (first come first serve): 

Sponsors and students will receive an email of the available rooms.

TRAVEL and ACCOMODATIONS

Campus Map:  http://www.geog.psu.edu/print-campus-maps

Accommodations in the State College Area:  Hotels in State College, PA | StateCollege.com

PARKING:  Hourly parking ($2/hour) is available in West Campus Parking Deck on White Course Drive/West Campus which is attached to EDIB.  Atherton Street to White Course Drive.​

 

Current Projects

Day of Showcase

Past Showcases