NSBE President Leads Edison Lab Restoration
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Malone meets with NSBE members at the school’s 160-acre orchard where water reservoir is located.
On a cold January afternoon, Malone Hemsley carefully slides down the steep, snow-covered slope on the west side of the lower soccer field. Malone is heading to the Edison Power House where he is leading the installation of new turbines to improve the power output of the antique hydroelectric system.
In 2019, Malone was elected president of MSA’s chapter of NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers), and the group’s primary project this school year is to improve the power output in the Edison Lab. Malone and his classmates are working closely with MSA’s Technology Coordinator, Mr. Tim Bradley, to install custom-made turbines in the powerhouse.
Previously, the original turbines were reconstructed by Applied Engineering students. These antique turbines were restored and produced power; however, the watts generated were not sufficient to provide power to modern equipment in the Edison Lab.
While it was a difficult decision not to use the original turbines, Malone and his classmates made the choice to source modern equipment that would be compatible with much of the current system in order to improve power output enough to generate electricity for a future hydroponics lab.
Over the next few months, Malone will work closely with Mr. Bradley and his classmates to finish the installation of the new system.
