Yeti Crab Members
Matthew Thomas
Matthew Thomas is a senior Engineering student striving to bring the Yeti Crabs’ vision to reality. Originally from Manassas, Virginia, Matt has been fascinated with robotics and engineering since he competed on his high school robotics team. His interdisciplinary engineering education at JMU has equipped him to tackle any challenge with his teamwork expertise, adaptability, and grasp on engineering science. This skillset has enabled Matt to effectively undertake a variety of projects; ranging from designing a balance rehabilitation device, to the creation of a short-term delivery business using agile management. With this arsenal of skills, the Yeti Crabs have a recipe for bringing the Smart Bottle to successful heights.
Andrea Econa
Andrea Econa is a sophomore Nursing major with a minor in Chronic Illness at James Madison University. She was born in Peru and grew up in Woodbridge, Virginia after immigrating to the United States. Throughout years of keeping in touch with her extended family abroad and learning about their experiences in the medical field, she has developed an interest in the conditions of healthcare systems in underdeveloped countries. She has always been passionate about community service and has a strong desire to help those in need. Andrea hopes to study abroad in Costa Rica or Spain with the JMU Nursing program to obtain global experience in the field of healthcare, and aspires to work as a nurse practitioner in the future.
Cole Adenauer
Cole Adenauer is a sophomore Biology major with a Pre-Dental track from Richmond, Virginia. What drives Cole is a passion for helping others and expanding his knowledge in any way possible. He is a certified Dental Assistant in the state of Virginia. Cole spent a year as an intern at a local dental office near Richmond, volunteered with the Mission in Mercy project, and for two years has given help to children without proper dental care.
Molly Kane
Molly Kane is a sophomore Biology major and a member of the Pre-Medicine program at JMU. She is from the small town of Damascus, Maryland, just between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Molly’s interests outside of academics include Best Buddies and ceramic art. Molly has worked on infectious disease based research projects outside of the university and has been able to apply that knowledge to help innovate solutions for the opioid crisis. She feels that this class has helped confirm her desire to pursue a career in the medical field and hopes to use the knowledge gained from the class to further her education in biology and medicine.
Recent Posts
Yeti Crab Blog Post #2
The Yeti Crab team met several times throughout the semester outside of class to find a way to help the opioid crisis and begin forming their prototype. At the beginning of their medical innovations class, thinking about creativity and wandering outside of their...
Yeti Crab Blog Post #1
Prior to the start of the Medical Innovations class, the extent of the opioid epidemic was not yet clear to the Yeti Crabs. They collectively believed that the epidemic mostly affected people addicted to street drugs, such as heroin, and none of them were aware of the magnitude of the crisis. As the team became more knowledgeable, it became evident that the opioid epidemic affected not only regular street drug users, but people of all ages that became addicted to painkillers.