PHOENIX, Arizona — Combining classroom concepts with a passion for electronics, University of Mount Union senior Glauco Filho Fontgalland ’25 took home first place in the Student Hardware Competition as part of the annual Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Electromagnetic Compatibility Society Symposium from August 5-9.

The challenge of the Student Hardware Competition was for competitors to construct an antenna that could locate three low-power radio transmitters operating on different frequencies in under an hour. Fontgalland was the only solo undergraduate competitor battling against teams of students at the graduate level. He took home the top spot with his antenna, finding all three transmitters in 44 minutes.

As a result of his win, Fontgalland earned $2,000 and was invited to speak at the NASA Glenn Research Center to discuss his antenna design and the impact it could have.

“My biggest takeaway from the conference was the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research and emerging technologies in the field of electromagnetic compatibility and signal integrity,” Fontgalland said. “Another was the value of networking with professionals, researchers, and fellow students. The interactions I had were invaluable, providing insights into the current challenges and trends in the field, and opening up potential collaborations for future projects.” 

Fontgalland credits Mount Union’s School of Engineering for the knowledge and techniques he gained in electromagnetic theory, signal processing, and antenna design as part of his coursework that made an immediate impact on his award-winning project.

“One thing everyone should know about electrical engineering at UMU is the strong emphasis on practical, hands-on learning. Our program goes beyond just theoretical knowledge, offering extensive lab work, design projects, and opportunities to participate in competitions like the IEEE EMC+SIPI, IEEE IMS, IEEE AMTA Symposium and many others,” Fontgalland said.

As far as what is next for Fontgalland upon graduation, he aims to continue his education at the master’s and potentially doctoral levels by specializing in radio frequency and millimeter wave applications in telecommunications. He hopes to continue building upon the partnership with NASA Glenn and other organizations where his work can make a difference. 

Learn more about Mount Union’s electrical engineering program and others by visiting mountunion.edu/engineering.