Meet the team members of this year's Human Powered Vehicle Project.
As a Senior in Mechanical Engineering, Dayton Lee has grown up in an active lifestyle, participating in numerous organized sports and activities which also included skateboarding and cycling. The HPV project piqued his interest due to its combination of physical and mental applications. He assisted in the 2016-2017 HPV Project and was also a Project Manager for his ME 491 project. With his prior experience on HPV and project management, he was selected as the Project Manager.
Travis Shimizu, the System Integrator, is a UHM senior working towards attaining his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has obtained an associate's degree in AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and CAD Technology) from Honolulu Community College as well as associate’s degree in ASNS degree (Associate in Science in Natural Sciences). He is well versed with 3+ year of experience using 2D/3D modeling software such as Revit, Autocad, 3Ds Max, Google Sketchup, and MicroStation. He also has prior Architecture and HVAC design experience from internships at Bowers and Kubota and USACE.
Raina Duenas has her Associates in Science in Natural Science Degree and is currently a senior in Mechanical Engineering. She has always had an interest for mechanical systems and learning. After discovering ASME’s HPVC, she became interested in learning what powers cycles and the factors affecting the power generation. Her enthusiasm to explore the power generation within HPVs led her to join the Drivetrain subsystem, while her organizational skills allowed her to become the Financial Manager.
Fun Fact: "I like Cheetos Puffs."
Immediately after graduating from high school in Texas, William (Bill) Segall joined the United States Navy where he served on active duty for 20 years as a machinist and served aboard 3 nuclear submarines. After retirement, he was hired by Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, working as a machinist and earned an associates in Applied Science/Applied Trades. In 2011, he began working as a combat systems test engineering technician while attending UHM. In 2014 he earned his ASNS degree. He has experience with precision machining on lathes and welding skills. He decided to work on the HPV because building something mechanical from scratch is something that appealed to him. He also works as the team Account Manager.
Fun fact: Bill’s hobbies include working on cars and motorcycles.
James Cuenca, Frame Lead, is an UHM senior pursuing his bachelor's degree in Mechanical engineering. He chose this project because he always has an interest on bicycles and how they are assembled. He wants to learn more about the manufacturing and fabricating in the shop.
Fun fact: James can play multiple instruments; Bass, Guitar, and drum. He started playing at a young age of 13 years old.
Andrew Obiano, Drivetrain Lead, is finishing up his pursuit for his first Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. While the whole array of design projects available were new to him, he selected the Human Powered Vehicle, as his father and brother were avid bikers that have provided a constant exposure to cycling both on and off-road throughout his life.
Fun fact: Andrew has taken private piano lessons for 13 years growing up and the hardest song he has ever played was Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 in C-sharp minor, by Franz Liszt.
Rommel Limjap, Fairing Lead, is a senior engineering student pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He chose Human Powered Vehicle as his senior project because it requires copious amounts of first-hand manufacturing work. He is very keen in learning how to use different tools and machines to fabricate parts and assemblies.
Fun fact: Rommel has been singing in a choir ever since the third grade and played the lead role in a musical when he was in fourth grade.
Nicholas Sumera obtained his ASNS degree (Associate in Science in Natural Sciences) in Engineering at Kapiolani Community College. He has intern experience at Hawaiʻi Gas using MicroStation and assessment Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs). He is interested in gear systems and handling of vehicles, and was selected to participate on the Drivetrain subsystem.
Fun fact: "I like turtles."
Liem Nguyen is currently a senior pursuing a second bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Growing up, he would often help his father work on his boat at the Keehi Boat Harbor. This gave him hands on skills and experience at a young age and influenced his decision to major in science and engineering in college. While in college, Liem's passion for science and engineering grew deeper when he developed and proposed a simulated NASA missions to Mars and built competition robots for NASA. Liem is currently working in a physics research lab here at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he gets to apply his engineering and manufacturing knowledge in the fabrication of scientific instruments. Through this project and his work on the Fairing subsystem, he hopes to gain further experience in renewable energy, autonomous vehicles, and composite materials.
Fun Fact: Liem has never seen snow.
Ashley Kahl is a senior in Mechanical Engineering currently in her fifth year of studies. Her interest in the Human Powered Vehicle project stems from her newfound want for a healthier lifestyle. She has a passion for wanting to make exercise a more enjoyable process for all and feels that, with this project, that will be possible. Being on this project and working directly with the Frame subsystem of the vehicle gives her the opportunity to experience the process of design and development. This is just one stepping stone in her ultimate goal of one day designing and manufacturing top of the line roller coasters for big name companies.
Fun fact: She is a published children's book author and is currently working on a novel.
