NEWS
CITY, STATE – Students from the Gallogly College of Engineering brought illuminating engineering to the Chickasha Festival of Light this year. Four students in OU’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering led a comprehensive redesign of the festival’s beloved Christmas tree, a focal point of the display.
“We are thrilled that the City of Chickasha had the vision to partner with the OU Gallogly College of Engineering and give our students the opportunity to apply their technical skills for social good and community development,” said Senior Associate Dean Randa Shehab. “This special collaboration gives OU engineering students a chance to leave their mark on a strong Oklahoma tradition and know that they played a role in bringing joy and excitement to thousands of Oklahomans and visitors for many years to come.”
The students, under the guidance of engineering faculty, redesigned the festival’s Christmas tree, integrating state-of-the-art smart RGB LED lighting and an improved power distribution system. The LED lights can display an array of colors and patterns and are controlled through software developed by the students. The new power distribution system enhances the tree’s safety and reliability, improving its resilience against winter elements and ensuring consistent performance.
“By leveraging dynamic system theory and machine learning, our students created a system that adjusts instantaneously, offering a truly immersive and responsive experience that ensures swift processing and improved system reliability. This collaboration exemplifies the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering’s dedication to experiential learning and community engagement,” said Reza Saeed Kandezy, assistant professor and faculty lead for the project. “Our students are applying their technical expertise in a real-world context, developing innovative solutions that have tangible benefits for the community. It is a prime example of how we prepare our students to lead and innovate in their future careers.”
The Chickasaw Festival of Light is free to attend and is open now through New Year’s Eve. More information is available at chickashafestivaloflight.org.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
Mary Margaret Holt, dean of the University of Oklahoma Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, has been honored with the Paseo Arts Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her leadership and contributions to Oklahoma’s arts community.
With winter weather already bringing low temperatures to the state, the Oklahoma Poison Center is urging residents to take extra precautions to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning as they begin heating their homes for the winter season. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly when inhaled in large quantities, and it poses a heightened risk as people rely on heating devices for warmth during cold weather.
Thanks to support from the Chickasaw Nation, the University of Oklahoma College of Law has announced the continuation and expansion of the Chickasaw Nation – Henry Family Lecture Series. Under the new name, the event will continue to showcase thought-provoking discourse surrounding the rule of law.
