UW-Stout student, Ryan Enzler, took home the gold in this year’s “Thermoforming Division of a Society of Plastics Engineers” national competition, which is totally a real thing. Aside from his win, five other UW-Stout students placed in the contest, bolstering University’s already well-awarded industrial design program.

Enzler’s creation, the Heal Guard, was created to solve a common medical problem where bed-ridden patients develop infections around their ankles and feet from inactivity. No doubt, an exciting problem to tackle.

Enzler used a design stemming from over 1,000 years ago … By this, I mean Enzler literally went back to the medieval era and constructed his device based on his understanding of how plate armor protected the body in combat. He wanted to create a guard that would eliminate the rubbing that commonly causes infection. And create he did. His hard work (not to mention his experience in thermoforming and plastics engineering) really got him far – creating a Heal Guard for bed-ridden patients.

Enzler puts it simply, “One of the reasons I did this project is I like helping people.” What a guy!

The senior, who’s majoring in industrial design, received a cash prize of $1,500, the satisfaction of national recognition, and a trophy, of course. Although the Heal Guard is still considered a prototype, Enzler hopes to complete the creation and continue his professional pursuits after he graduates in May.