ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A team of engineering students from SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Marcy has won first place in a competition to invent technology designed to help people with disabilities perform their jobs.

The New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID) held its annual assistive technology symposium Wednesday at the Empire State Plaza.

SUNY Poly school won the $15,000 top prize for a machine that helps workers with disabilities to remove plastic six-pack yokes from beer cans shipped to a packaging plant.

In all, $30,000 in prize money will be split among students, their colleges and the rehabilitation organizations they're partnered with for the event.

Other colleges participating were Alfred University, Cooper Union, CUNY City College, New York Institute of Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester, University at Albany and Union College.

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