Locke ‘signs’ with international award for software modeling
The signing was scheduled, the media were invited and ‘signing day’ hype was brewing. Instead of an ATHLETIC signing day, an ACADEMIC signing day celebrated Jacob Locke’s acquisition.
At 'signing day,' Jacob Locke, seated, received an award from Siemens PLM. Patricia Jebeles with Siemens, left, Robby Parker and Heidi Locke attended the signing.
Locke, a junior at Bob Jones High School, acquired top honors in Siemens PLM’s international competition for designing a mechanical system using Solid Edge software.
“Jacob modeled a clock in CAD (computer-aided design) and submitted it to the contest as part of our advanced engineering class,” engineering teacher Jeremy Raper said. “Siemens looks at all entries from both high school and college worldwide.”
Locke built a mantle clock, often seen in homes or offices, with eight parts in a mahogany wood finish, white face and gold highlights. “The most difficult task in creating the clock was the rounded edges on the base. It’s curved in multiple directions,” Locke said.
Raper wanted Locke’s academic win observed like the numerous signing days for athletics. “Entire teams or classes attend to celebrate that player’s accomplishments. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to have an academic one?'”
At the signing, Patricia Jebeles from Siemens presented Locke with his award and an iPod Touch. “Patricia mentioned (frequently) about the amazing caliber of talent at Bob Jones,” Raper said. “Siemens has been impressed with our work each month we enter the contest and hopes we continue to provide such professional images.”
Jebeles plans to pilot a new project with Bob Jones “due to the talent pool in engineering,” Raper said.
Principal Robby Parker, assistant principal Jeanne Welt, Jessye Gaines’ advanced engineering class and Michael Delp also attended. Last year, Delp was the first high school student to win the Siemens contest.
Jacob’s parents are Chris Locke, who works at Nucor Steel in Decatur, and Heidi Locke, a nurse at Huntsville Hospital. Jacob’s siblings are Justin, a seventh-grader at Liberty Middle School, and Shelby, a second-grader at Mill Creek Elementary School.
Locke plans to major in power engineering and is interested in attending Auburn University or Georgia Institute of Technology.
