Fred:
Let me join the chorus of well-wishers for your group's project. In my opinion, it is an excellent one to undertake: the triple-cubesat design seems just about right in terms of volume; and by documenting and open-sourcing your work, you will provide an fine basis for others who might want follow in your footsteps. I think especially of future collaborations between amateurs and university programs, where the amateurs provide the comms expertise, and the university funds a research project, at whose end the comms. are used for amateurs, much like Delfi C3.
I note also the Sat on a PCB concept at http://wiki.amsat.dk/index.php I hope in contrast that your project will seriously consider a linear transponder. I think that the clever social engineering of the VO-52 folks has proven that a linear transponder can successfully be shared around the globe by FM users where necessary and SSB/CW users in places where this is a more sensible use of the device.
73, Bruce VE9QRP