The Bridge - December 2004
Contents
- WELCOME: 'Tis the Gift Giving Season
- NEWS:
- A. CAREERS: Alumni Association Launches Career/Employment Program
B. JOB POSTING: Project Manager at TolTest (Baghdad Office) - SAVE THE DATE: Upcoming Alumni Events
- CAMPUS EVENTS:
- A. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWS: 2005-2007 Schedule of Events
B. CLASS WEB SITE OF THE MONTH: Class of 1951 - SPORTS: Men's Basketball Hoops It Up
- DID YOU KNOW: The Worst Winter Ice Storm in Worcester History
- BOOKMARKS
1. WELCOME: 'Tis the Gift Giving Season
The annual gifts made by WPI's alumni, parents, and friends have a significant impact on university programs--and can help with your taxes, too. Your contributions to the Annual Fund provide support to WPI for financial aid, student life, the library, academic programs, global studies, and other ongoing operational needs. As you are aware, gifts made before midnight, Dec. 31, 2004, qualify as a tax deduction on your 2004 return.
As some of you may know, Beth Howland, director of Alumni Relations at WPI for the past three years, has accepted a position with Amherst College as associate director of major gifts. Her commitment to and support of the Alumni Association has been unwavering. The leadership that she brought to the Alumni Office and the support she gave to me and the Association Cabinet was truly outstanding in every respect. We wish her the very best for the future and thank her for all that she did on our behalf. She will be missed.
May the holiday season bring you and your family peace and joy, and the new year happiness and good health.
Fred Costello '59
President, WPI Alumni Association
2. NEWS
Donald Zwiep Named ASME Honorary Member
Last month the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) awarded an honorary membership to Donald Zwiep, professor and head, emeritus, of WPI's Mechanical Engineering Department. It is the highest award ASME gives to an individual and recognizes distinguished service that contributes significantly to the goals of the engineering profession. Read more about Zwiep and the award...
Yiming Rong Named ASME Fellow
Mechanical engineering professor Yiming Rong has been elected a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The fellow grade recognizes significant engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering profession. Read the full press release...
WPI's Financial Math Grad Program Recognized
The International Association of Financial Engineers (IAFE) has recognized WPI's M.S. degree program in financial mathematics as meeting IAFE standards and admitted it as an association member program. WPI's linkup with the IAFE gives exposure and recognition to the university and expands employment opportunities for program graduates.
New Interactive Media and Game Development Degree
WPI is introducing a B.S. degree in interactive media and game development (IMGD) for the 2005-06 academic year. The four-year undergraduate program blends the artistic and technical aspects of game creation and allows students to concentrate in either area. It is the first major of its kind in the United States. Read the full press release...
Read a related story in the summer 2004 issue of "Transformations"...
First Place in President's IQP Awards Goes to Namibia Project
A student project entitled "Energy Efficiency Guidelines for Low-Cost Housing" garnered first place in the 2004 President's IQP Awards. The upcoming winter 2004 issue of "Transformations" features an article on this project, completed at WPI's Namibia Project Center.
See a list of this year's President's IQP award-winners...
Three Students Win SME Awards
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) presented the 2004 Outstanding Student Awards to three WPI manufacturing engineering students at a November dinner given and attended by SME members from the local and WPI student chapters. This year's winners are Michael Caputo '05, Ryan St. Gelais '06, and Steven Tufo '05.
17th Annual WPI Math Meet
Last month 83 teams from the New England area competed in the Annual WPI Invitational Math Meet for high school students. Lexington (Mass.) High School won the team title for the ninth consecutive year. More than $100,000 in team and individual scholarships to WPI were awarded at the meet. See the list of winners...
3A. CAREERS: Alumni Association Launches Career/Employment Program
The WPI Alumni Association introduces a program to assist alumni in the search for new employment or with making a career change. Volunteers are available to provide counseling and mentoring on a private, one-to-one basis. For more information, e-mail alumni-office@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5600.
3B. JOB POSTING: Project Manager at TolTest (Baghdad Office)
TolTest's Federal Services Division is seeking a project manager in its Baghdad office. A four-year degree in a related field, a minimum of seven years in project management, good English and writing skills, and fluency in reading and speaking Arabic are required. Inquire at Erin.Kovacs@toltest.com.
Send open position listings to The Bridge at thebridge@wpi.edu.
Deadline: the first week of the month, for posting in that month's issue.
4. SAVE THE DATE: Upcoming Alumni Events
Dec. 15: Deadline to purchase tickets for the Feb. 11, 2005, 8 p.m. performance of "Miss Saigon" at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Hartford, Conn. A limited number of mezzanine seats are available for $46 each. Purchase tickets online...
Dec. 20: Deadline to purchase tickets for the March 5, 2005, 2 p.m. performance of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at the Providence Performing Arts Center. A limited number of orchestra seats are available for $52 each. Purchase tickets online...
Jan. 11: Reception for the Northern California Alumni Association, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at The Sofitel San Francisco Bay, 223 Twin Dolphin Drive, Redwood City. Meet President Dennis Berkey and current students at the Silicon Valley Project Center. Cost is $15 per person. For more information, e-mail alumni-office@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5600.
Jan. 15: Winter Social for GOLD classes (1995-2004) and their guests, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Boston Billiards, 454 Grove St., Worcester. $10 per person, which includes appetizers and private pool tables. Get more information and register online...
Jan. 19: Tech Old Timers presents a talk by Robert Pazzella, safety liaison from Worcester Public Schools, on school safety measures. Coffee hour begins at 9:45 a.m. at the Campus Center Odeum, followed by the talk at 10:30 a.m. Lunch is available afterwards. For more information, e-mail alumni-office@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5600.
5. CAMPUS EVENTS
Dec. 15: Bert Hornback, nationally touring actor and scholar, portrays Charles Dickens and reads from "A Christmas Carol" in the Great Hall of Higgins House at 7 p.m. A reception and book signing follow. The event is sponsored by WPI's Humanities & Arts Department and Student Activities Office.
Through Dec. 17, "Signs of Life: A Collaboration by Donna Hamil Talman" at the Gordon Library. Hamil Talman's art reflects her fascination with the ancient past and our connection to it. She has been selected for two Massachusetts Cultural Council grants, a Creative Arts Fellowship, and residences at the Vermont Studio Center and the Hungarian Multicultural Center. Admission is free. For more information, call 508-831-5410.
Jan. 13-March 11: WPI Community Photography Exhibition at the Gordon Library, 3rd floor gallery. Admission is free to the exhibition of photography by WPI faculty, staff, and students. For more information, e-mail archives@wpi.edu.
View the complete calendar of campus events...
6A. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWS: Join Up, Get Active
There are many ways to become an involved alumnus/alumna, including membership in groups such as GOLD and the WPI Jazz Alumni Collective (see below), the Glee Club Alumni Association, and Tech Old Timers. To find out more about these groups and others, visit the alumni Web site.
Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) is back--and better than ever! Composed of alumni from the classes of 1995-2004, the GOLD Committee is hard at work planning new events and activities for young alumni. Check out the GOLD Web site for details about upcoming events, including a Winter Social in January.
The WPI Jazz Collective is a new alumni group that supports and promotes the university's jazz studies and performance ensembles. The group's Web page will soon be up on the alumni Web site. To become a member, send an e-mail with your name, year of graduation, address, telephone number, instrument, and area(s) of interest to tonyerwin@comcast.net.
6B. CLASS WEB SITE OF THE MONTH: Class of 1951
This month, The Bridge recognizes the Class of 1951's Web site. It presents a nice blend of reflections and photographs from the past, including the May 1951 Junior Prom, along with current information. Congratulations, Class of 1951!
Each month, the Bridge will recognize an outstanding class Web site, one that is a great resource for classmates, offers interesting and informative features or links, and displays creativity in design and layout. To vote for your favorite site, or nominate your own class site, e-mail thebridge@wpi.edu. View class Web sites...
7. SPORTS: Men's Basketball Hoops It Up
The men's basketball team opened its 2004-05 season by winning the Worcester County Classic for the second consecutive year. The team defeated Nichols 94-63 the first night of play, then battled it out against Worcester State the following night, prevailing in an 89-85 win. The team currently has a 6-0 record.
View the entire fall athletics schedule...
8. DID YOU KNOW: The Worst Winter Ice Storm in Worcester History
In 1921, the worst ice storm in New England history hit Worcester; it lasted from Nov. 26 to 29. Outdoor wires were coated with ice up to three inches thick. The Worcester Parks and Recreation Department estimated that about 8,000 trees were completely destroyed and an additional 5,000 to 7,000 would die from severe damage.
9. Bookmarks
- Class Notes - Share news with classmates
- Alumni Job Opportunities
- Career Development Center
- Alumni Web Site - Your source for alumni information and events!
- Alumni Events
- Transformations: WPI's Alumni Magazine
- Athletics: Weekly Roundup
- Athletics: Schedule
- Campus Events
We'd love to hear your suggestions or comments. Please send them to us at thebridge@wpi.edu.
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: May 25, 2006, 13:59 EDT