Chemical engineering students win engineering competition The design of a process to produce a diesel-type fuel from algae as a fuel supply source for the Mars biosphere was judged to be the most innovative design in a competition held at the School of Engineering and Mines. The competition, held in honor of Andrew Freeman, School of Engineering and Mines alumnus and former general manager of Minnkota Power, requires individuals or teams of engineering students to present their senior design project to a panel of local engineers. The first place cash award of $1,800 was presented to a team of chemical engineering students who designed a process to produce biodiesel for the Mars space biosphere. The second place team of mechanical engineering students earned $1,400 for its work on drag reduction for large motorized vehicles. The team designed a retractable apparatus that could function like a “tail,” a tapered end that would reduce the wake formed behind the vehicle and thereby decreasing drag and improving gas mileage. Winning third place and a cash award of $800 was a team of electrical engineering students which designed a workstation that would support research in the area of non-invasive ultrasound therapy scanning by means of liquefaction. The process could be used to treat liver tumors. Andrew "Andy" Freeman was noted for his creativity and visionary leadership of the electric utility industry. An endowment was established in 1996 by Minnkota Power and others to honor Freeman. The interest earned by the endowment funds the annual design project awards, which are given in Freeman's name to individuals or teams of UND students participating in outstanding senior design projects that exhibit open-ended, innovative design work.