Mount Vernon Optic-Herald

James Samuel “Sam” Slaten, III graduated from Colorado State University on May 14, 2010 with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. He is the son of Steve and Bonnie Slaten of Colorado Springs, Colo., and the grandson of Charles and Joyce Slaten of Mount Vernon. His senior design engineering project was to convert a John Deere diesel tractor engine to run on vegetable oil and test the performance of the converted engine.  His project won first place among senior mechanical engineering projects.