STEAM Fellows

Bruce Bilyeu
Bruce Bilyeu is in his first year of obtaining his Master of Science Degree in Computer Science at Ohio University and specializing in networking and systems. Originally from Barnesville, Ohio, he graduated cum laude from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics. During his Undergraduate work, Bruce served as an Engineering Ambassador, became a Member of Upsilon Pi Epsilon the Ohio University Computer Science Honor Society, and also received the Outstanding Senior Award in Computer Science. Read More...
Tessa Cooper
Tessa Cooper has been hard at work since joining the VITAL Lab team in early 2007. As an undergraduate, Cooper honed her game-building skills with the development of an educational Second Life module, the Nutrition Game. At last year’s Student Research and Creative Activity Fair, Tessa shared her game with middle school and high school students who were alarmed by the amount of empty calories they consume in one day. A graduate of Ohio University’s Russ College of Engineering and Technology with a Bachelor of Science in computer sciences, Tessa has been working with Belpre students as a STEAM graduate fellow since summer 2007. "She is good at developing lesson plans and interacting with kids in classrooms,” VITAL Lab Director Dr. Lui said. Read More...
Mitchell Leitch
Mitchell grew up in Mentor, Ohio, which is a suburb 20 minutes east of Cleveland. This is his first year of graduate school in computer science at Ohio University as well as his first year in the STEAM fellowship. He received his undergraduate degree in computer science through the Russ College of Engineering at Ohio University. He served as the Association for Computing Machinery Vice President and later as the President. Mitchell was Robe Leadership Scholar during the 2005-2006 school year.
Chad Mourning
Chad is from Middleport, Ohio and is a first year graduate student in computer science at Ohio University. He received a B.S. in Computer Science as an undergraduate, also from Ohio University. During his undergraduate career, he spent two years throwing hammer and shot put on the Ohio University track and field team. His other interests include video games, comic books, professional wrestling and quiz shows.
Scott Nykl
Scott is a new computer science graduate fellow at Ohio University looking forward to working on such an exciting project. He graduated from Amherst High School in Amherst, Wisconsin and attended college at the University of Wisconsin -- Platteville as a Software Engineer. His interests lie in computer networks, graphics, and simulations. In his free time, he enjoys lifting weights and spending time with friends. Read More...
Eric Petri
Eric Petri is a first year Master's student in Computer Science. He graduated from Bellbrook High School in 2002 and from Ohio University with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a minor in Business Administration in spring of 2006. As an undergraduate, Eric worked as a website developer for Breckenridge Financial Supplies in West Carrollton, Ohio and as a network technician for Ohio University's Computer Services Center. Eric was invited to join and was elected the president of the international computing and information honor society Upsilon Pi Epsilon at Ohio University during spring 2006. He is honored and excited to be a part of the STEAM Fellowship opportunity. He looks forward to furthering his education while reaching out to and teaching Appalachia adolescent students. Eric's research interests in Computer Science include Artificial Intelligence and Bioinformatics. Read More...
Josh Schendel
Josh Schendel is a first-year graduate fellow from Elroy, Wisconsin. Josh received his B.S. in Software Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville in May of 2006. At Platteville, Josh was an active member in such organizations as the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), the Association of Industry Technology Professionals (AITP), and the Assocation for Computing Machinery (ACM). Josh's high academic standing earned him entry into several honor societies, including Alpha Lambda Delta, Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Eta Sigma. Josh balanced his classroom work and participation in professional organizations with part-time work. As a sophomore, Josh occupied a position as Network Consultant and later Database Developer for ResNet, the campus's primary computer support organization. He later worked as a Software Technician at Esterline, Avista Inc. where he performed real-time testing of the C-17 aircraft. In his last semester at Platteville, Josh accepted a part-time position as a Quality Assurance Intern at Widen Enterprises, where he wrote automated tests exercising a collection of client-specific web applications. Josh participated in an 8-month full-time cooperative work experience as a Decision Support Intern for Stora Enso North America, which he used to fund a semester abroad in Nagasaki, Japan through the Japan Studies in Nagasaki (JASIN) program. Read More...
Mark Smearcheck
Mark Smearcheck is a first year Master's student in Electrical Engineering. He graduated from Hoover High School in North Canton, Ohio, and received his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering accompanied by a minor in Mathematics from Ohio University in Spring of 2006. During his undergraduate education, he co-oped as a Network Engineer at PCC Airfoils LLC. in Minerva, Ohio. He has also held a research assistant position at the Ohio University Avionics Engineering Center since 2004 where his research focused on synthetic vision and terrain referenced navigation systems along with network communication and graphical interfaces. In addition to his education, he is involved in IEEE, Eta Kappa Nu, and Tau Beta Pi. His research interests have an avionics focus, combining both image processing and terrain referenced navigation. Read More...

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0538588. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.