The Bridge - September 2007

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Homecoming 2007: Sept. 28-29, 2007

The Friday festivities include a student pep rally and Zero-Year Reunion for the Class of 2007 at the brand new Goat's Head restaurant, located in Founders Hall. Saturday will be a fun-filled day for all, with an Imagine and Achieve town hall meeting for all alumni, open houses, networking sessions, and alumni gatherings for football, wrestling, and Greek organizations.

The football team takes on Hobart starting at 1 p.m., followed by the annual Freshman/Sophomore Rope Pull competition. Children of alumni will enjoy the family carnival and free movie, "Ratatouille."

The Classes of 2007, 2002, 1997, 1992, and 1987 will all be celebrating their reunions. View full schedule.

Class of 2007, Zero-Year Reunion
Friday September 28
8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
The Goat's Head Restaurant, Founders Hall
The Class of 2007 will gather in the brand new Goat's Head restaurant! A lot can happen in four months, come and catch up with your classmates!

Class of 2002, 5th Reunion
Saturday September 29
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Higgins House, West Courtyard
The class of 2002 will celebrate at a barbecue. Come reconnect with your fellow classmates and hear from WPI staff on changes since you have left campus! More info...

.

Class of 1997, 10th Reunion
Saturday September 29
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Higgins House, East Courtyard
The classes of 1997 will come together for a casual family-friendly reunion barbecue. More info...

Class of 1992, 15th Reunion
Saturday September 29
3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Higgins House Lawn
The classes of 1992 will come together for a reunion barbecue. Come reconnect with your fellow classmates!
More info.... 

Class of 1987, 20th Reunion
Join classmates for a pre-Reunion gathering on Friday, September 28 at The Boynton. Return to Campus on Saturday, September 29, for a barbecue from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in Harrington Auditorium. After the game, attend a cocktail reception at Higgins House from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. More reunion information... Are you in the Class of 1986 or 1988? You are welcome to join our reunion activities. Register on the same page.

President's Message to Alumni

In his annual letter to alumni and friends, President Dennis Berkey reflects on the year that was and the special bonds that make the WPI community a family. Read the letter.

Gift from Alumnus Enables New First-Year Program

Eric Hahn '80, a partner of Inventures Group in Palo Alto, Calif., has given the university $100,000 to help fund the creation of a new approach to WPI's first-year experience, through a series of Great Problems Seminars. Two seminars have been developed for the current academic year.

• Feed the World is built around a sequence of projects that are tied to food. It is collaboration between a chemist (Professor Kristin Wobbe) and a humanist (Professor Rob Traver). Topics range from the chemistry of nutrition to the ethics of price supports and fair trade.
• Power the World focuses on various forms of energy resources and the history of their technologies. This seminar was developed by a mechanical engineer (Professor Brian Savilonis) and a historian (Professor David Spanagel). Course topics connect the physics of energy sources, such as oil and water, to their political and social implications. Learn more: Learn more.

Goat's Head and Outtakes Open on Campus

WPI's newest dining location, The Goat's Head restaurant, opened August 19. It features a pub-style menu (with beer and wine) that is sure to tempt foodies across the university and city communities. The Goat's Head has 175 seats and space for live entertainment, plasma-screen TVs, and a pool table. Outtakes, a new convenience store adjacent to restaurant, offers coffee, milk, candy, groceries, and quick food items. Both are open to the public, and alumni are invited to dine and shop. Hours and information

2007 Football Preview

Coach Ed Zaloom has reason to smile as he enters his ninth season at the helm on Boynton Hill. With a stunning lineup and a refurbished Alumni Field that makes WPI one of the top Division III facilities in the East, it's no secret that Zaloom and his staff are excited about chasing their second winning season in three years. Find out more: Find out more

U.S. News & World Report Spotlights WPI's Global Projects

A recent article in U.S. News & World Report, "Time to Think Globally," highlights WPI's Global Projects Program as a model for students to truly engage in the local environment while studying abroad. The article features a quote from Professor Rob Krueger, and a photo of WPI students at work on a solar power project in Namibia. View the article: View the article

Read President Berkey's statement on the 2008 U.S. News & World Report college rankings:[ President Berkey's statementTopping-off Ceremony Held for Residence Hall Project

To celebrate the final roof beam's installation, a topping-off ceremony for WPI's newest residence hall project was held August 24, at the Boynton Street construction site. A potted tree seedling, an American flag, and the beam-painted white and signed by ceremony attendees-were hoisted to the building's roof. Speakers at the event included Alfredo DiMauro, WPI's new assistant vice president of facilities. The 232-bed, apartment-style residence hall and 189-parking garage are set to open in fall 2008. View webcam: http://www.wpi.edu/About/NewResHall/

Foods and Surfaces Seminar

The Surface Metrology Lab at WPI is holding a food seminar about food sciences on Thursday, October 11in the Higgins House Great Hall. Jose M. Aguilera, professor of Food Engineering at the P. Universidad Catolica de Chile in Santiago will be presenting along with Professor Chris Brown. For further informaiton and registration details, please contact caltin@wpi.edu.

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...

Job listings are posted on an "as received" basis for the convenience of WPI alumni. Job-seekers are responsible for contacting employers and/or recruitment firms to verify particulars and request further information. View job listings...

Career Fair: Sept. 19

1-5:00 p.m., Harrington Auditorium
The 15th annual Career Fair provides an opportunity for students and alumni seeking jobs and employers seeking to hire candidates from the WPI community. Contact the CDC at 508-831-5260 for details.

CDC Staffer Takes on Alumni Role

In conjunction with the Office of Alumni Relations, Connie Horwitz has assumed a new position in WPI's Career Development Center, assisting WPI alumni with personal job searches and assisting alumni employers who are seeking WPI undergraduate and graduate students. She brings 30 years of experience in career development and professional placement experience, including the last four years at WPI as assistant director of employer relations. She has worked extensively with alumni, students, and the employer community, integrating her experience as a professional recruiter in the high technology industry as well as biotechnology sector. Horwitz holds a BS in psychology and an MBA with a focus in strategic planning and marketing, both from Northeastern University. She says, "I have spent much of my professional time working with experienced candidates and alumni at all stages as they encounter career development and job search issues. I am absolutely thrilled to bring it all together in this new role at WPI."

Sept. 14: Hockey Alumni Golf Fund-Raiser

1 p.m., Townsend Ridge Country Club
40 Scales Lane
Townsend, Mass.
The 2007 WPI Hockey Alumni Golf Fund-Raiser will be held September 14 at Townsend Ridge Country Club; shotgun start at 1 p.m. The cost is $100 per player/$400 per foursome, and includes golf, cart, driving range, BBQ dinner, prizes, and tee gifts. Registration deadline is September 1. For more information, contact Mark Macaulay '89 at 508-359-7999 or macaulay@yankeescientific.com.

Sept. 17-21: Gateway Park Official Opening

Events include ribbon cutting ceremony, BEI Symposium on Regenerative Biosciences & Engineering, and Inaugural Distinguished Lecture in Life Sciences and Bioengineering. Call 508-831-5200 for more information. Symposium registration: hSymposium registrationregistration.html

Sept. 19: Panama Alumni Event

8:00 p.m., Salon Presidencial at The Union Club
Paitilla neighborhood
Dexter Bailey, VP for Development and Alumni Relations, will host a dinner for Panama-area alumni and friends at The Union Club. Please join him for this opportunity to connect with other WPI alumni and friends in your neighborhood and learn more about what's happening at WPI today. RSVP to alumni-office@wpi.edu

Sept. 20: Bioengineering Institute Symposium

12:30 - 6 p.m., Campus Center, Odeum

September 22: Bounce for a Cure!

12:00pm- WPI Quad Bounce to a Cure is an up and coming event to help raise awareness for Scleroderma. In honor of Scleroderma, James Roumeliotis '08, a Computer Science major from Lynnfield, MA, will be attempting to break the world record for the most consecutive bounces on a pogo stick!  The current World Record stands at 177,737 bounces.  The Bounce to a Cure event will be featuring more than five local bands throughout the afternoon and evening. If you are interested in more information please visit Bounce to a Cure. This event is open to everyone and will be appropriate for all ages.

Sept. 26: Imagine and Achieve - Fairfax, Va.

5:30 p.m., Country Club of Fairfax
Fairfax, Va.
Town hall event with President Berkey, focusing on the future of the university. A reception with beverages and passed hors d'oeuvres will round out the evening. Details

Oct. 9: Venture Forum: From Concept to Product in Biotech

6 p.m.
Details

Dec. 8: Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops

8 p.m., Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester
The Mass Symphony Orchestra and the WPI Choral Group will be performing at Mechanics Hall along with other choral groups of the Worcester Consortium.  
Ticket information (available after Oct. 1): Ticket information (available after Oct. 1)
For more information, e-mail alumni-office@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5600.

April 27, 2008: WPI Chorus in Concert with Worcester Consortium Choirs

3 p.m., Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester
WPI choral groups will be joining other choirs of the Worcester Consortium for this event. Further details and ticket information will be available in February 2008.

For more information, e-mail alumni-office@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5600.

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Office of Development and Alumni Relations - Worcester Polytechnic Institute

100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609-2280 | Phone: +1-508-831-5600 | Fax: +1-508-831-5791 | alumni-office@wpi.edu