The Bridge - October 2007

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Alumni Association News

Homecoming 2007 a Stellar Success

Homecoming Weekend brought perfect fall weather and an abundance of spirit to the WPI campus. In preparation for next year, the Office of Alumni Relations invites you to share your feedback.

On Friday night, five outstanding alumni were inducted into the WPI Hall of Fame: Robert Donle '75 (Track and Field), Christopher S. Dunn '96 (Basketball), Danielle (Luongo) Fries '94 (Field Hockey), Thomas L. Maloney '61 (Football) and Gregory R. Tucker '92 (Soccer). View full citations

The WPI football team, which began the season with the No. 1 ranking in the New England Division III Football Poll, had its four-game winning streak broken at the Homecoming game, with Hobart conquering, 45-35. Missed the game? Watch D3Cast: hD3Cast.

The dedication of a renovated Alumni Field at halftime was a highlight of Homecoming Weekend, along with the naming of the track after legendary coach Merl Norcross. The facility improvements were made possible by the generosity of several WPI alumni and their spouses, including Janet and George Abdow '53, Mary Anne and James Carr '74, Barbara and Peter Horstmann '55, Nancy and Barrie Peterson '67, Ruth and Don Taylor '49, and Sandra and David Van Covern '53 . Read more: Read more...

Plan Now for Reunion 2008: June 5-8

*Calling Class of 1963: Our 45th Reunion is just a few months away. A planning meeting is scheduled for Nov. 7 at 6 p.m., to be held on campus. If you are interested in assisting with organizing our Reunion, please email the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni-office@wpi.edu.

*Heads up, 1978: We are starting to plan for our Reunion in June 2008.We hope to make our 30th Reunion the best and we need your help. If you would like to assist in planning our reunion, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni-office@wpi.edu

*Class of 2002: Keep the Energy Up! Members of Class of 2002 who gathered at Homecoming had a great time celebrating their 5th year reunion! There is interest in organizing additional events throughout the year to continue the connection of classmates. If you are interested in helping to organize future events for the class, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni-office@wpi.edu or 508-831-5600.

Haunted Higgins House

The Worcester Chapter of the Alumni Association invites you to participate in the third annual Haunted Higgins House on Saturday, Oct. 27, sponsored by the Student Alumni Society (SAS) of WPI. The "campus castle" will be decorated for children's trick-or-treating and haunted-house tours from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tours for adults begin at 7. A family social will coincide with the children's tours. We encourage everyone to come in costume. Donations welcome. Note: Parking will be available in the lower lot adjacent to Higgins House. SAS Homepage: hSAS Homepages.

A Path to Call Their Own

From alpaca farmer to inventor to ordained minister, WPI alumni have taken their education into the world and put their skills to use in many different ways. The latest issue of Transformations focuses on the entrepreneurial spirit at WPI, including faculty innovation, alumni entrepreneurs, and others who have followed an unconventional career path. You'll also find stories on WPI's newest global project center, the retirement of Fr. Peter Scanlon, and a look back at Reunion 2007. Read Transformations online

WPI Bookstore Item of the Month

The Office of Alumni Relations, in conjunction with the WPI Bookstore, is proud to announce its new Item of the Month program. Each month the bookstore will offer an item that alumni can purchase at a 20% discount! See this month's offer: this month's offer.

You spoke. We listened. Stay connected.

Visit Alumni Connect -- the new online community for alumni.

Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni-office@wpi.edu if you have misplaced your constituent ID.

Campus News

WPI formally launches its new degree program in Robotics Engineering on the morning of Oct. 16 with a half-day symposium, Engineering the Revolution. The new major was designed to prepare a new breed of engineers to meet the increasing demand for robots and robotics systems in areas such as defense and security, elder care, automation of household tasks, customized manufacturing, and interactive entertainment. Industry experts will address the opportunities and challenges of this new and growing field. Schedule and registration: Schedule and registration

"Tech News" is now "The Towers"

WPI's student newspaper has a new editor and a new name. "The former name alluded to the fact that we were producing a technical newspaper, spotlighting only the technical aspects of our institution. It failed to incorporate both the lives of the student body and the broader goals which the institution aims to achieve," writes Towers editor Andrew Teixeira '10. "The Towers is a well-rounded name that represents the tenets of the WPI attitude: Theory and Practice." Email your thoughts to towers@wpi.edu

President Berkey Speaks Out on Higher Ed Issues

Worcester Business Journal interview:"Educating the Tech Economy"

Editorial on Paper in Lieu of Taxes: "PILOT threaterns rich menu of contributions from colleges" (Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Campus, Communities, Memorialize Members of the WPI Family

A memorial mass for Lt. Ryan Patrick Jones was held in Alden Memorial in September. Jones graduated in 2005 and served in Iraq until he was killed by a car bomb on May 2, 2007. In addition, the Wachusett Old Car Club donated admission proceeds from its annual Car Show in August to the 1st Lt. Ryan Jones Scholarship Fund.

The third annual Gregory E. Reeves Memorial Scholarship Run was held in Townsend, Mass., in October, to benefit the Gregory E. Reeves Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund was created to honor the WPI student who was killed in a car accident while jogging with the WPI crew team members on Aug. 30, 2004. The fund endows two scholarships for students graduating from Reeves's school, North Middlesex High School. One is earmarked for a student intending to enroll in WPI.

Alumnus Returns to WPI as Head Wrestling Coach

Lance Baden '99 returned to Boynton Hill last month as the head wrestling coach. A 2006 Hall of Fame member, he served as assistant coach from 2000 to 2006, under the tutelage of legendary coaches Phil Grebinar and Sean Nelligan. Baden replaces Nelligan, who takes over the role of lead assistant after guiding the team the last two seasons. Read more: Read more....

Careers Services

The WPI Career Development Center provides a comprehensive full service environment for students and alumni seeking jobs and employers seeking to hire candidates from the WPI community. This includes posting resumes and jobs as well as searching for jobs, searching for candidates to hire, creating interview schedules, and more. CDC alumni services

Jan. 9: Alumni Career Seminar
Call for Program Ideas...

The Worcester Chapter of the Alumni Association and GOLD invite you to participate with the Career Development Center in a series of interactive career discussions. We want to hear from you: What are some hot topics affecting your career? Are you looking for advice on upward mobility, negotiating salaries, or how to land your dream job? Please contact: Connie Horwitz in the Career Development Center at chorwitz@wpi.edu with your program suggestions. Registration materials forthcoming.

Upcoming University and Alumni Events

Oct. 18: Venture Forum Networking Event & Tour of Bose Corp.
5:30-7:30 p.m., Bose Park Place Facility, The Mountain Road, Framingham, Mass.
No charge for admission, light refreshments provided. Call 508-831-5075 or register online.

Oct. 23-Dec. 20: Exhibit
The Cutting Edge: Modern Metallography and the Ancient Secrets of Swordmaking
Gordon Library, 3rd Floor Gallery, free of charge

October 25: Exhibit Reception
5:00-7:00 pm
Professor Jeffrey Forgeng, Curator of Higgins Armory will speak at 5:30 pm
Sponsored by: Higgins Armory, Metal Processing Institute, George C. Gordon Library. For more information,
email archives@wpi.edu

Nov. 2: London Reception
6:30-8 p.m.
Alberta and Henry Strage '54 and Cathy and Dennis Berkey invite you to a special gathering of WPI alumni, parents, and friends. President Berkey will report on WPI today and lead a conversation about the important role WPI's international alumni, parents and friends play in the life of the University. Email alumni-office@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5600.

Nov. 5: Alumni Event in Paris
6:30-8 p.m.
WPI is pleased to host this special reception for alumni, parents and friends who line in or may be visiting the Paris area. President Berkey will provide a status report on WPI today. Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 508-831-5600 or alumni-office@wpi.edu for more information.

Nov. 7: GOLD Committee Meeting
6 p.m., Campus Center, Taylor Room
GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) meetings are open to anyone who is in a GOLD class - 1997-2007!

Nov. 13: Venture Forum 2007 Business Plan Contest
Doors open 5:30 p.m., meeting 6:30, Campus Center, Odeum
Cost: $15 members, $25 non-members. Contest details: Course details
Meeting registration: Meeting registration

Dec. 8: Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops
8 p.m., Mechanics Hall, 321 Main Street, Worcester
Mass Symphony Orchestra and the WPI Choral Group, with other choral groups of the Worcester Consortium.
Ticket information TBA

March 19, 2008: GRAD 2008
1 p.m. - 4:30, Campus Center, Odeum.
Poster-style symposium featuring research of WPI master's and PhD students. Online registration for graduate students begins Feb. 1. info.

April 27, 2008: WPI Chorus in Concert with Worcester Consortium Choirs
3 p.m., Mechanics Hall, 321 Main Street, Worcester
WPI choral groups plus other Worcester Consortium choirs. Ticket information TBA.