First year graduate student Brianna Benedict will be presenting at the White House today. Originally from Goldsboro, N.C., Benedict is an industrial and systems engineering student. 

Research and Economic development sent two projects to the White House initiative. The White House chose the project from Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems challenged N.C. A&T, and Iowa state students to The Boeing Urban High Rise Rescue VTOL 42040. The sole purpose of the challenge was to design an aircraft system to save people from high rises and emergency situations. 

This challenge was designed in case of an emergency, in which stairways are blocked and there is a need to evacuate, one is able to do so out of the side of a building. 

The solution provides a ramp in which allows people to be saved from places that one typically cannot be rescued from. 

“Create the future, that’s the best part about it,” said Gaivorlor Borbor, senior electrical engineering student, who was Benedict’s team member for the challenge. 

Students were split into teams of two, blue and white; Benedict and Borbor were on the white team. The teams consisted of both N.C. A&T and Iowa students, who met on social media from media outlets such as Skype, in order to complete the project. It “taught [us] to work in teams and interdisciplinary to combine all of our skills,” said Benedict. 

The White House presentation is not a competition, but rather a show and tell initiative. N.C. A&T is one of four universities in attendance. Benedict and Borbor were two of six students who worked on the project. When the presentation to the White House was proposed, Benedict was the only one considered. With majority of her teammates graduating they thought she was the only team member who will be enrolled in Fall 2014.  

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• Meagan Jordan Editon In Chief