Fitzpatrick honored

    ORONO — University of Maine Civil Engineering student Amanda Fitzpatrick of Houlton has received the Directors Award for her for her exceptional dedication and critical work on projects with the Advanced Engineering Wood Composites (AEWC) Center.
    She is employed by Maine Secure Composites (MSC), the UMaine research center's partner in this project. Maine Secure Composites, based at the Target Technology Incubator in Orono, focuses on the development of maritime container construction using composite materials for homeland security, international shipping and the U.S. military.
    UMaine research and development produces test containers equipped with security systems for further testing by MSC, UMaine and the Department of Homeland Security.  Security systems are embedded into the sides of shipping container walls to monitor tampering.  The shipping container security detects disturbances starting with a 3-inch hole.  
    “It starts with an idea,” says Fitzpatrick.  “We make a sample, test it and then move to larger samples.” UMaine engineers aim to develop these containers for mass production. The project is “interesting and exciting trying to develop something that no one else has” says Fitzpatrick.
    Fitzpatrick, who will graduate in May, says this opportunity has allowed her to develop a stronger sense of professional priorities while working and studying as a UMaine student.
    A UMaine Today magazine article about shipping containers is online at http://www.umainetoday.umaine.edu/issues/v8i1/tamper.html