The Bridge - February 2008
Campus News
Students Honored for Making a Difference
WPI seniors Jason Frey, Ryan Kendrick, Jodi Lowell, and John Rothermel traveled to Windhoek, Namibia where they helped residents of nearly 4,000 unelectrified settlements develop renewable energy businesses. For their Interactive Qualifying Project, which recently won first place in the President’s IQP Awards, they interviewed dozens of local families about their energy use, resulting in a toolkit for local entrepreneurs to assess possibilities for introducing renewable energy businesses to the area. (Such businesses would generate income, and bring accessible energy services to communities without electricity.)
Advised by Robert Krueger and Fred Looft, this IQP was one of five presented to a panel of judges at the annual contest held on Jan. 30. The other award winners include:
Second Place (Tie): “Noise Data Farming for the City of Boston,” Shannon E. O’Toole, Brandon R. Finzel, Justin Perron, and Jacob E. Russell. (Advisors: Chrysanthe Demetry and Kevin Clements.)
“HIV/AIDS Prevention Education: A Look at the HIV/AIDS Awareness Activities at the Polytechnic of Namibia,” Danielle A. Dionne, Amanda L.
Tichy, Jessica E. Sullivan-Keizer, Derrick DiConti. (Advisors: Robert Krueger and Fred Looft.)
Third Place (tie): “Demand Response Programs in the Greater Boston Area,
Michael A. Irace, James P. Chryssanthaacopoulos, Chukwunomso Agunwamba, Eyuel Abebe, Muzhtaba Tawkeer Islam. (Advisors J.K. Doyle and A.E. Emanuel.)
“Developing a Strategy to Improve Solar Home System Sustainability in Rural Thailand,” Gabriel Baldwin, Benjamin Childs, Carolyn Hunter, Victoria Urrea. (Advisors: Bland Addison and Seth Tuler.)
WPI Announces Commencement Speaker
Jeffrey R. Immelt, chairman and CEO of General Electric Company (GE), will deliver the keynote address at WPI’s 140th Commencement exercises on May 17.
Immelt, 51, was appointed the ninth chairman of GE in September 2001. He joined GE in 1982 and has held a variety of global leadership posts, including roles in GE's plastics, appliance, and medical businesses. He became an officer of GE in 1989, joined the GE Capital Board in 1997, and was named president and chief executive officer in 2000, succeeding Jack Welch.
"Jeffrey Immelt is a distinguished and visionary leader, whose passion for innovation and commitment to global citizenship have had a tremendous impact not only on American business but also on the lives of individuals around the world," said WPI President and CEO Dennis D. Berkey. "I am delighted that our 2008 graduates will be moving into the next stage of their lives with the advantage of his wisdom and experience."
Red Sox Ace Curt Schilling Visits WPI
Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling dropped in for a surprise during GameJam, a 38-hour design marathon for aspiring video game developers held at WPI in January. At Atwater Kent Labs, Schilling chatted with students and received a sneak peak at their games in progress. He also compared notes with students on favorite video games and game platforms, and posed for photos with the GameJam participants.
Learn more about GameJam
Listen to WTAG radio interview
Basketball Teams Triumph at NEWMAC
Men’s Basketball (16-5 Overall, 7-1 NEWMAC)
The WPI men's basketball team kept its bid for sole possession of first place in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) with an 87-74 victory over cross-town rival Clark University at the Kneller Athletic Center on Feb. 6. The Engineers swept the season series against Clark, also winning 94-73 earlier this season. With the win, WPI improved to 16-5 and 7-1 in league play.
Women’s Basketball (12-8 Overall, 7-3 NEWMAC)
Freshman Elle Fontaine (Franklin, Mass.) came off the bench to tally a team-best 16 points to help WPI to a hard-fought 56-46 victory over visiting Wellesley in NEWMAC women's basketball action on Feb. 6. WPI is now 12-8, 7-3 in league play and will return to action on Saturday when they host NEWMAC foe Wheaton at 1 p.m.
Project Perspective: Hong Kong
Follow Shannon Brooks ’09, a WPI biology and biotechnology major from Walpole, Mass., as she completes her IQP at the Hong Kong, China Project Center. Her project team is working with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to address the area’s over-fishing problem, which is causing many of the fish within the ecosystem to become extinct. A large part of the economy of the islands comes from the seafood caught off the coast. Their goal is to develop a list of alternative livelihoods to re-employ a percentage of Hong Kong’s fishermen to help control over-fishing. Read Shannon’s Project Blog.
In Memoriam: Ladislav H. “Laddie" Berka”
Laddie Berka, professor emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry, died Feb. 7, 2008. He joined the WPI faculty in 1965 and retired from teaching in 1998. Read full obituary.
Read The Bridge Online
A plain text version of each issue of The Bridge is again being posted online at The Bridge.
You’ll also find a complete archive of past issues. Please allow a few days after the mailing of The Bridge for that month’s content to be posted to the site.
Alumni Association News
WPI Partnership Opportunities Breakfast
A special program on the myriad opportunities for organizations to partner with WPI will be held on March 19, 7:30-10 a.m. in the Campus Center Mid-Century Room. Explore how WPI can enhance your organization's efforts in recruiting, diversity, employee education, and research and development. A full breakfast and networking time are included. Alumni are welcome to bring colleagues from their engineering R&D, human resources, and training departments. To register, email tadams@wpi.edu. Include the name, title and email address for each attendee. Participants may also stay to attend WPI’s Graduate Research Achievement Day poster symposium beginning at 10:30 a.m. (See events listing, below.)
Call for Biotechnology and Bioengineering Employers
WPI’s Career Development Center seeks alumni representation for our 3rd Annual Biotechnology & Bioengineering Career Fair to be held March 25, noon-4 p.m., in the Campus Center Odeum. If your growing company could benefit from recruiting graduating students (BS through PhD) and/or summer interns, we welcome you, or the appropriate contact person, to explore attending by contacting cdc@wpi.edu or 508-831-5260. Online registration is available.
Alumni Association Awards
Don’t forget to nominate a deserving classmate for this year’s Alumni Association Awards. The awards honor individuals who have demonstrated exceptional professional achievement and extraordinary personal commitment and service to WPI. View award descriptions and nomination forms.
Careers Services and Lifelong Learning
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. The Career Planner web-based system features a range of opportunities, from highly experienced through entry-level, summer internship, and volunteer positions. The system is active year-round, with no charge for registration or job postings. To register for an account as a candidate, please complete the Alumni Registration Form (PDF) <http://wpi.imodules.com/redirect.aspx?linkID=578&eid=44741> and return it to the CDC by mail, by fax (508-831-5827), or by email to cdc@wpi.edu <mailto:cdc@wpi.edu> . If you are interested posting positions as an Alumni Employer, please visit CDC web site.
More information about specific Alumni Services can be found on CDC web site.
Career Connection
Grabbing the Trend: Demand for WPI Alumni Remains Strong
Despite talk of recession, more than 160 companies came to WPI to recruit at our February Career Fair. As WPI alumni, you bring recognized talent to the marketplace. With baby boomers starting to retire, there is a dearth of qualified talent trained to take their place. The CDC can even assist you long-distance, through telephone appointments and online search tools available only to WPI graduates. Alumni have been catching on to our new outreach programming, and we are enjoying being part of their success! Contact us at 508-831-5260 or cdcalumni@wpi.edu for personalized help with your job search.
Connie Horowitz, Assistant Director, CDC
Corporate and Professional Education
Corporate and Professional Education offers many convenient, online graduate programs to help you get an advanced degree to increase your knowledge and broaden your opportunities.
- MBA Program Rated #1 Part Time MBA in the Northeast by Business Week.
- MS in Information Technology Align information technology with business goals
- MS in Marketing and Technological Innovation Develop and market new products and services in the technological world
- MS in Operations Design and Leadership Explore a broad range of operational topics such as risk management, lean process design, modeling and optimization, and global logistics
-
System Dynamics Learn strategic planning through understanding how to predict unintended consequences
For more information please contact us at cpe@wpi.edu, 508-831-5517 or Corporate and Professional Education site.
Upcoming Events
Feb. 27: Venture Forum “Networking at Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives”
5:30-7:30 p.m.
60 Prescott Street, Worcester, MA
March 4: Chicago Club Event at Goose Island Brew Pub
6 p.m. Join fellow alumni at a reception at the Goose Island Brew Pub. RSVP by Jan. 28 to alumni-office@wpi.edu or 508-831-5600.
March 6: Denver Alumni Club Event at the Wynkoop Brewing Company
6 p.m. Join fellow alumni at a reception at the Wynkoop Brewing Company. RSVP to the Office of Alumni Relations at 508-831-5600 or alumni-office@wpi.edu by Jan. 28.
March 11: Venture Forum “Traditional Manufacturing is High Tech Today”
6:30 - 9 p.m., .Campus Center, Odeum. Cost: $15 members, $25 non-members
Pre-register online.
March 12: Tech Old Timers
“Single Stream Recycling—State of the Art,” Shaunna Schiller, Casella Waste Services
March 19: GRAD 2008
1-4:30 p.m., Campus Center, Odeum.
Poster-style symposium featuring research of WPI master's and PhD students. Register online.
April 2: Tech Old Timers
“Recruiting a #1 Team,” WPI Basketball Coach Chris Barley
April 15: Projects Presentation Day
Seniors will make presentations at various locations in the academic departments. Alumni are welcome and are encouraged to invite colleagues and prospective student to take part in this annual exhibition of the remarkable outcomes of WPI students' project work.
April 27: 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.
Bookmarks
Alumni website
Alumni Updates - Your source for alumni information and events!
Class Notes - Post online or email to Transformations alumni-editor@wpi.edu
Transformations: WPI's Alumni Magazine
Your questions and comments are always welcome at the bridge@wpi.edu.
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: March 13, 2008 11:48:08