Sternheimer Awards

Senior design teams whose projects demonstrate outstanding innovation and entrepreneurship have been selected to receive Mark A. Sternheimer Capstone Design Awards.

These prestigious awards were established in 2012 by Mark A. Sternheimer, a benefactor and a board member of the VCU College of Engineering Foundation. The award recognizes Capstone Design projects that have strong commercialization potential. It is a longstanding component of the college's entrepreneurial culture.

Capstone Design is a two-semester course that represents the culmination of an engineering student’s undergraduate education. It concludes with the Capstone Design Expo. Sternheimer Award winners will showcase their projects to local engineering industry professionals before the Expo.

2025-26 Sternheimer Award Winners

Project Number Project Title
BME 26-104 Osseointegration of a Prosthetic Leg for Pediatric Patients
BME 26-109 Neonatal Balloon Dilator for Treatment of Anorectal Malformation (ARM)
CS 26-332 Emotion-Aware Speech Analysis for Mental Health Support Using Whisper and Wearable Devices
ECE 26-403 Automated Control System for Gas Cabinets
MNE 26-511 Exoskeleton
MNE 26-516 The Heimdall: Modular Smart Cane Attachment
MULT 26-603 Simulating a Breathing Lung Phantom for Radiation Therapy Verification
MULT 26-604 Development of Remotely Operated Manufacturing System using Brain and Muscle Activity