Indiana Tech Magazine - Summer 2016

MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS | SUMMER 2016

20

the C OMMENCEMENT issue ISS. NO.1

VOL. 13

the C OMMENCEMENT issue 20

16

ISS. NO.1

VOL. 13

the C OMMENCEMENT issue 20

VOL. 13

16

ISS. NO.1

16

SUMMER 2016

Features 14

18

24

As he prepares for his final academic year at Tech, Dr. Arthur Snyder addresses the university’s ascent during his tenure and his decision to retire.

Read about 2016’s grand celebration, commencement day—a culmination of all things good about the Indiana Tech experience.

Three outstanding capstone projects illustrate that Tech’s latest engineering graduates are primed to make a difference as they move beyond the campus.

A Q&A WITH PRESIDENT SNYDER

2

Summer 2016

THE BEST DAY OF THE YEAR

PREPARING FOR THE REAL WORLD

Inside Tech 04 Letter from the President With 85 years under our belt, the future looks bright for this forwardthinking university.

Across the University

06 Our Numbers Campaign By the Numbers

28 More Hardware for Athletics!

The men’s outdoor track and field team won its third national title in four years to highlight a phenomenal spring for Warrior athletes.

Path of a Warrior

Our new marketing campaign explores some of the key numbers that explain the Indiana Tech experience.

30 Alumni News

08 Around the Regions

32 Tech Prepared Him Well

The latest news from around Indiana Tech—north, south, east and west.

09 Tech Happenings

A Tech education not only prepared Ryan Krueckeberg well for a career in business, but also for leadership roles in community engagement.

New leadership takes over in the Center for Creative Collaboration (C3).

33 Tech in Your Town

Learn what’s new with your fellow Warriors and how to stay connected.

Dave Aschliman, dean of Indiana Tech’s College of Engineering and School of Computer Sciences.

Indiana Tech’s Institutional Advancement office has a team of dedicated individuals who regularly visit with our alumni all across the country. See where they’ve been.

12 Faculty Update

34 Mysteries Solved

New hires, faculty accomplishments, scholarship and more.

Our “Remember this?” feature is becoming a fan-favorite, thanks in part to the mystery-solving prowess of our alumni.

10 A Few Words With…

13 Tech’s Top Picks

10

18

Faculty and staff members share their favorite ballpark destinations.

FRONT COVER Indiana Tech President Dr. Arthur Snyder addresses a sea of eager faces as students, family and friends prepare for the awarding of diplomas on Commencement Day 2016, Saturday, May 14.

INSIDE FRONT COVER

24

Indiana Tech faculty wait for graduates to make their arrival to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum floor at the beginning of Commencement Day 2016 ceremonies.

Indiana Tech Magazine

3

LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT It feels, admittedly, a bit strange to pen an introductory letter to an issue of a magazine in which one is also a feature. Yet it does offer me the opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to the many alumni, students, faculty and staff who have reached out with kind words and well wishes upon hearing the news of my upcoming retirement in 2017. The story of these last 13 years, and the one ahead, is really your story.

Page 28 is where you find our spring athletic roundup, highlighted by the continued strength and success of our track and field program. The Warrior men took home their third outdoor national title in the last four years, and their second this year, following their indoor title in March. The women’s team took second in a close finish, and featured the national meet’s Most Valuable Performer in junior Brianna Woods.

Personally, my favorite story every single year is commencement. On page 18 you’ll find our annual review of the best day of our year. Students, their families and those receiving top academic honors are all highlighted here.

As we look ahead to the fall, be sure to make plans to join us for events like our 27th annual TWIST golf outing benefiting student scholarships, on Sept. 18, and Homecoming 2016, Sept.29-Oct. 2. More details can be found at IndianaTech.edu/Homecoming. It’s a great time to come back to Indiana Tech. I look forward to seeing you all there!

Commencement 2016 featured speaker Jerry Mathers, renowned not only for his work as “the Beaver” on television’s “Leave it to Beaver,” but for his charitable work on behalf of diabetes research and other health causes. Jerry shared personal stories and recollections with alums and friends of Tech during a special pre-commencement dinner the Friday before the big day, and then a motivational and uplifting address with our graduates during Saturday’s commencement ceremony.

For many of our students – and our alums! – one of the most memorable aspects of their time at Indiana Tech is their work on senior projects. Page 24 offers a look at several compelling projects completed this year by students in the College of Engineering. Meanwhile, on page 10 you can get to know Dave Aschliman, Dean of the College of Engineering, through this issue’s “A Few Words With…” feature.

4

Summer 2016

Sincerely,

Arthur E. Snyder, Ed.D. President

Volume 13, Issue 1.

Arthur E. Snyder, Ed.D. President Brian Engelhart Vice President of University Relations Institutional Advancement Mary Slafkosky Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dave Stevens Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement Tracina Smith Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations Arienne Juliano, MBA ’15 Director of Alumni Relations Lisa Biers, MBA ’15 Annual Fund Director Rose Replogle Office Manager and Gift Processor Neal Quandt, MBA ’16 Advancement Services Manager

Marketing Julie Farison Creative Director Matt Bair Director of Marketing and Communication Lucinda Neff Graphic Designer Sarah Suraci Graphic Designer Joel Kuhn, BS ’12 Web Developer

The magazine is published three times a year for alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of Indiana Tech by the university’s Marketing Department and Office of Institutional Advancement. © 2016 Indiana Institute of Technology Indiana Tech online: IndianaTech.edu Please send comments, news and feature story ideas to: Indiana Tech attn: Marketing 1600 E. Washington Blvd.

Fort Wayne, IN 46803 260.422.5561 or 800.937.2448, ext. 2250 email: Marketing@IndianaTech.edu The editors reserve the right to edit articles for length and clarity.

Articles may be reproduced with permission and proper attribution.

Indiana Tech provides learners a professional education; prepares them for active participation, career advancement and leadership in the global 21st century society; and motivates them toward a life of significance and worth.

Indiana Tech Magazine

5

ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES UNDERGRADUATE

1

Personal advisor dedicated to your success

2

Ways to learn, online or in-person

5

Week classes

8

Decades of putting students first

10

Minutes to complete an application

By the Numbers

24

Numbers Campaign

Hour access to online coursework

For most colleges and universities, the work to find and attract students is ever ongoing. The most important work in this area is done by the faculty who provide a compelling and effective education to students, and by the admission teams who connect prospective students to all that Indiana Tech has to offer. Supporting this work is the effort to get the word out about Indiana Tech in the many communities we serve.

Starting this summer and continuing through the year, Tech’s communications and marketing department will feature a look at some of the key numbers related to the student experience here, whether one is a traditional undergraduate or a student in our College of Professional Studies. The numbers will appear on TV, be heard on radio and be seen online in social media and on the Tech website. To view the television spots, visit: youtube.com/user/IndianaTechFW.

6

Summer 2016

24

Hour access to our online career center

Just a few of those you’ll see include:

100

Percent, career-focused degrees

TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE

0

Tuition increases with our USave guarantee

0

Giant lecture halls on campus

0

Classes taught by assistants

0

Extra fees for textbooks

15

Million dollars in scholarship aid last year

17

To one, student-faculty ratio

65

Career-focused degree programs

134

Endowed scholarships available

Indiana Tech Magazine

7

ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY

Indiana Tech Law School dean Charles Cercone prepares to throw out the first pitch at the Fort Wayne TinCaps Midwest League baseball game on June 13.

Dr. Snyder and his wife, Camille, pose with attendees of a June 16 adult education symposium in Louisville.

Around the Regions CHICAGO Indiana Tech and the 100 Club of Chicago have joined forces to offer two yearly scholarships, beginning in the 2016-17 school year.

The 100 Club of Chicago provides for the families of first responders who have lost their lives in the line of duty. This membership-based organization offers several forms of financial assistance, access to resources and moral support. All sworn federal, state, county and local first responders stationed in Cook and Lake Counties are included.

INDIANAPOLIS

Prospanica, formerly known as the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, is an organization with more than 30,000 members nationwide dedicated to the advancement of Hispanic professionals in education. Ricardo Santiago, an associate admissions representative at Tech’s Louisville campus, is on the board of the Louisville chapter.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY

The Indianapolis campus hosted a two-day job fair on June 14-15 at the iconic Pyramids complex. Nearly 50 employers participated in the first-time event, which was free and open not only to Indiana Tech students and alumni, but the general public. Admissions representative and event coordinator Jackson Huff called the event a success and looks forward to seeing it grow further in 2017.

LOUISVILLE President Dr. Arthur Snyder was the keynote speaker for an adult education symposium hosted in Louisville on June 16 by the Louisville

8

chapter of Prospanica. Dr. Snyder’s presentation addressed the evolution of higher education, how technology has helped it progress, how employers are helping guide the creation of new curriculums and what lies ahead.

Summer 2016

Tech’s Northern Kentucky campus in Fort Wright, Kentucky, is partnering with The Welcome House of Covington, Kentucky, to sponsor the Women’s Leadership Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m., at 809 Wright’s Summit Parkway, Suite 310, Fort Wright, Kentucky.

Admissions representative Lynn Hummel and academic coordinator Lisa Moeller will be on hand to present “How to be Successful in College” and “Financial Aid.” LAW SCHOOL Dean Charles Cercone was clocked at 94 mph when he threw out the first pitch at the Fort

Wayne TinCaps Midwest League baseball game at Parkview Field on June 13. Okay, that’s only partially true. Cercone was on hand to throw out the first pitch as part of the Allen County Bar Association’s Meet and Greet Night with the TinCaps. Dean Cercone indicated that the TinCaps were interested in his stuff until they found out his age, which fortunately saved Indiana Tech from a huge bidding war for his services.

“It is an honor to represent Indiana Tech Law School at Allen County Bar Association events, and this was a great opportunity to get to know area practitioners and law students—not to mention show off my arm,” Cercone said. andré douglas pond cummings, associate dean for admissions and student affairs at Indiana Tech Law School, was named Indiana Tech Law School’s 2016 Professor of the Year.

“Our students are so fortunate to have professor cummings as a member of our faculty,” said dean Cercone. “In addition to being a gifted teacher, professor cummings is a champion for our students and goes above and beyond when it comes to their well-being.” cummings was instrumental in helping the law school achieve provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association in March. He has been with the law school since its opening in 2013.

Tech Happenings FOR THE LATEST INDIANA TECH NEWS VISIT: IndianaTech.edu/news LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/IndianaTech

New leadership takes over in the C3 Crystal Vann Wallstrom has been chosen as the new director of Indiana Tech’s Center for Creative Collaboration (C3), while Steve Franks has been hired as the center’s assistant director.

Indiana Tech’s Center for Creative Collaboration was created in August 2014 to help entrepreneurs, inventors and innovators form successful companies by linking them with the right team of experts for each project. Those experts include mentors from around the community and experienced faculty from Indiana Tech’s schools of business, engineering and law. Mark Richter, who has been the C3’s director since its inception, is retiring in August.

Vann Wallstrom comes to Indiana Tech from the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership where she was immersed in business development initiatives.

Franks most recently founded SFIS, LLC, where he was an entrepreneur coach and consultant.

“Crystal and Steve share a love and understanding of the entrepreneurial culture. They are great relationshipbuilders and they are going to do great things for this segment of our university,” said vice president for academic affairs Dr. John Shannon.

Athletic field facelift is on schedule The resurfacing of the Warrior Athletic Field with synthetic turf is on schedule, and will be game-ready early in August before fall sports begin their preseason camps. The $1 million project was approved by the board of trustees in February and started in May. The new field will not only benefit the athletic department, but the university as a whole, including the physical education department, intramurals and club sports.

WE TWEET TOO: @IndianaTech

Dr. Joyner’s Explorer Post cleans up at robotics competition Explorer Post 2829, sponsored by Indiana Tech and advised by physics professor Dr. Rex Joyner, earned several awards at the National Robotics Challenge in Marion, Ohio.

Post 2829 won four gold awards, four silver, three bronze and was one of just 12 teams to receive a nomination for the top award, the Honda Innovation Award.

In Non-Tactile Maze (running a maze without touching the walls), Post 2829 swept gold, silver and bronze in the High School Division. In the Mini-Sumo competition, in which a 3-kg robot tries to push another out of a ring, Post 2829 swept gold in all three divisions (Middle School, High School, and PostSecondary). Indiana Tech student Josiah Hapner won silver in Mini-Sumo at the Post-Secondary level.

Tech to offer eSports scholarships in ’17 Indiana Tech is taking its electronic sports program to a new level in 2017 as it will begin offering students scholarships to compete in League of Legends and Hearthstone. Twentyfive to 35 scholarships will be made available.

In ramping up its eSports program, Indiana Tech hopes to become a top-tier Division I power in the Collegiate Star League, with an opportunity to compete against programs from Indiana, Princeton, Duke and California.

The school is creating a new eSports gaming arena on the second floor of Andorfer Commons. Tech currently fields two club teams in the CSL that compete in Division II and Division III.

JOIN US ON LINKEDIN: Indiana Institute of Technology FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM TOO: @indianatech

New master’s degree gaining in popularity with Indian students Forty-seven new students started work on their graduate degrees this summer, with 35 of them embarking on Indiana Tech’s new Master of Science in Information Systems degree. More than 50 more are expected to join the new program this fall, many of them international students from India.

Tech’s new master’s program focuses on the technical areas of information systems that are critical to business and industry.

These areas include data communications, data analytics, systems analysis and design, application programming, security and business continuity. Emerging information technologies are also integrated into course work. The design of this 30-credit-hour program features face-to-face eight-week courses, providing for graduation within three traditional semesters (18 months).

Indiana Tech Magazine

9

ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY

A few words with...

david Aschliman DEAN OF INDIANA TECH’S COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Indiana Tech: How did your affiliation with Indiana Tech come to be?

Aschliman: I was a full-time engineer at Raytheon.

One of my buddies was teaching here as an adjunct and said, “Hey, they’re looking for more adjuncts to teach in engineering,” and I thought I would like to give that a try. I ended up teaching one course per semester for seven years. I loved the environment and loved helping the students, and I found it very rewarding. In 2002, Steve Dusseau called me and said a department head position was available with teaching responsibilities and administrative duties.

I was burnt out at Raytheon and said, “Steve, I think the timing is right to make this change.”

10

Summer 2016

“MY GOAL IS TO CREATE REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE STUDENTS...”

Indiana Tech: Have you ever had second thoughts?

Aschliman: No, I haven’t. I have missed my buddies from the industry; that was probably the toughest thing because I worked with many great engineers for many years and then suddenly I didn’t get to see them all that often. But the reward is the students coming up to me two, five, 10 years later saying, “You might not remember me, but my name is so and so and you really inspired me to do this.” That is really rewarding that I had an impact on that student.

Indiana Tech: How did you approach the transition from industry to education?

Indiana Tech: Do you feel you have been successful in implementing that philosophy within the College of Engineering?

Aschliman: Yes, I do. We have a strong and talented team that understands how important relationship-based education is to this university. Our professors embrace the concept of connecting with and helping our students grow professionally. When interviewing potential teachers, we tell them that committing to 18 office hours per week is not just a recommendation, it’s a reality.

Indiana Tech: Are you just amazed every year at the senior projects the College of Engineering students submit?

Aschliman: I am very proud of my two engineering degrees from Purdue, but I did not like being a student. I liked studying, but I did not like the way I was evaluated, I didn’t like the way the professors emphasized their research and I didn’t like that graduate students were teaching for them. I felt like I was a number. I had decided that I loved engineering as a profession, but if I was going to be a teacher, I was going to teach differently—I was going to try to be more engaging and more fair with students. So when I came here, I came with the intentions of teaching not like I had been taught.

Aschliman: We have outstanding graduates every year; I always look at what they accomplish and I wonder if I could have accomplished that at 22 and 23 years old. This year, out of 16 mechanical engineering graduates, I honestly believe that every one of those graduates can be an excellent engineer. The mission of the College of Engineering is to inspire our students to find new and better ways to address the challenges of the 21st century. As a department, we are succeeding.

Indiana Tech: How has that approach manifested itself since you have been at Indiana Tech?

Aschliman: I am married with two grown children. Outside of a very rewarding family life, I have gone to every Indianapolis 500 since 1976. I love the technology. I love Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I could go to the museum four times a year and never get bored.

My other big hobby is photography.

My wife and I met in a photography class in 1979, and we still love cameras and photography.

Aschliman: My goal is to create reasonable expectations for the students, to be willing to help them learn the material, to be willing to give them an appropriate amount of work, to be available outside the classroom and to get to know them and how they learn so I can help them understand some difficult topics.

Indiana Tech: Aside from engineering, what excites you?

Indiana Tech Magazine

11

ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY

“ENERGETIC” ROBINSON HIRED TO LEAD TECH’S TEACHER PREPARATION INITIATIVE

“THERE IS A MOMENTUM WITHIN INDIANA TECH’S SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND I AM EXCITED TO BECOME A PART OF IT.”

Fort Wayne native Dr. June Robinson was chosen in May as Indiana Tech’s new director for teacher preparation. She fills the void that was created when Dr. Joshua Francis became dean of Tech’s College of General Studies in January.

“When you go to student teaching, you should walk in with normal nervousness, but you should feel like ‘I can do this,’” she said. “We don’t want any of our teachers to be in the classroom and think, ‘I have never encountered this before.’”

“There is a momentum within Indiana Tech’s School of Education and I am excited to become a part of it,” Dr. Robinson said. “I am looking forward to helping this program grow.”

“One of the things that really stood out about Dr. Robinson was her depth of knowledge in working with state and national accreditation, which are next steps for the School of Education,” said Dr. Francis.

“She brings an energy to our program that will help us achieve our accreditation goals and continue to produce great educators.”

Dr. Robinson comes to Indiana Tech with 25 years of wide-ranging educational experience, which has equipped her with strengths in professional development, instructional leadership, curriculum development, and teacher and program evaluation.

“I was a district administrator for five years so I bring an understanding of what is happening in the schools —what students are going through, what principals are going through, what teachers are going through,” she said. “Being able to describe to our teacher candidates what is going on in the schools is going to help them be better prepared.”

In addition, Dr. Robinson specializes in special education—experience she feels will be extremely valuable in her role at Indiana Tech.

“Because special education has moved so much into the general education realm, all teachers need to have some familiarity with special education,” Dr. Robinson said.

“I think it is important to share with our students, ‘You are going to have kids in your class that need special attention and you will be responsible for their progress.’”

To Dr. Robinson, program success means that the School of Education is preparing teachers to teach everyone in the classroom.

12

Summer 2016

In addition to hiring Dr. Robinson, Dr. Francis has made three other significant hires in the College of General Studies this year: • Katie Parrish, assistant professor of special education, will oversee Tech’s new degree program in special education. Parrish holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and a K-12 Intervention Specialist license from Notre Dame College. She has a master’s in educational leadership with an administration and supervision concentration from Bowling Green State University.

• Linda Valley, assistant professor of English, will lead the College of General Studies’ developmental composition initiative. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Indiana University and a master’s in Rhetoric and Composition from Ball State University.

• Joseph Warning, assistant professor of exercise science, will head up Tech’s new degree program in exercise science. Warning is pursuing a Ph.D. in exercise physiology at Michigan State University. He has a master’s in exercise physiology and a bachelor’s in kinesiology and exercise science, both from Illinois State University.

Tech’s Top Picks

Faculty Update Dr. Yulia Tolstikov-Mast, lead faculty and assistant professor of Indiana Tech’s Ph.D. in Global Leadership program, published on followership in Russia in the Journal of Leadership Education —not the Russian Journal of Education, as previously and inaccurately reported.

Dr. Maximo Ortega, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering, presented the paper “Engaging Students Through Technology, Initial Efforts to Flip a Course” at the Industrial and Systems Engineering Research Conference 2016.

Dr. Crystal Karn, assistant professor of marketing and management, presented “The Art of Storytelling and Creativity in the Classroom” at the Teaching Professor Conference in Washington D.C., on June 4.

Dr. Jeff Zimmerman, dean of the College of Business, and Dr. Karn presented at the UBTECH conference in Las Vegas on June 7. The title of their presentation was “Collaborative Learning in Collaborative Spaces: Lessons Learned From Planning to Implementation.”

We asked faculty and staff to share which baseball park is their favorite to visit.

My favorite baseball stadium was Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati because of the wonderful memories of attending Reds baseball games with my dad. We cheered on Johnny Bench, Ken Griffey and the rest of the Big Red Machine while eating mounds of peanuts. Sweet memories of those daddy-daughter dates!

Assistant professor of accounting and finance Lisa Brown

Fenway! Nothing beats a Fenway Frank.

Director of alumni relations Arienne Juliano

Dr. Susan McGrade, professor of English, co-wrote “An Exploration Into the Impacts of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) on Student Persistence” for the American Society for Engineering Education’s 123rd Annual Conference & Exposition, June 2629, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dr. June Robinson, director for teacher preparation, presented at the Council for Exceptional Children’s International Conference in April on a panel discussing Choice Scholarships (vouchers) and Services for Students with Disabilities.

andré douglas pond cummings, associate dean for admissions and student affairs at Indiana Tech Law School, was named as the law school’s 2016 Professor of the Year. cummings was also appointed by a mayoral commission as co-chair of Cities United Fort Wayne and was selected for the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Fort Wayne.

Wrigley Field is the place to go for atmosphere. There is a mystical aura that can only be at the Green Monster and Fenway Park. As a kid, we made trips to Wrigley and would sit with the “Bleacher Bums” in the outfield and have a blast. The price was right, we might get a baseball (usually not a Cubs home run) and it was fun to listen to the “colorful” comments of the inebriated around us.

part besides the game would be the foot-long Dodger Dogs. The smell would capture your senses the moment you walked into the stadium. It was impossible to eat just one.

Director of the Center for Criminal Justice Dominic Lombardo

My favorite was old Tiger Stadium in Detroit where my dad took me to games as a kid to watch Al Kaline, Jim Bunning and the classic Tigers of the late 50s and early 60s (but the damn Yankees always won the pennant).

Law school associate dean for accreditation John Nussbaumer

My favorite stadium would have to be our own TinCaps’ stadium (Parkview Field). I like the feel of it and that it is for the whole family.

The stadium itself has a very nice layout that I would think would be just as good as some major league ballparks. There are activities and special nights for the whole family during the season.

Academic Resource Center specialist Linda Mahoney

Golf coach Kelly Mettert

I worked as a police officer in Los Angeles for many years so my favorite ballpark is Dodger Stadium. The weather was always beautiful, and the best

Indiana Tech Magazine

13

Qa &

ON MAY 16, 2016, Indiana Tech President Dr. Arthur Snyder announced that he would retire in June 2017, at the conclusion of the 2016-17 academic year. Dr. Snyder began his service as president in July 2003, and, in the years since, has led Indiana Tech to significant growth in enrollments, academic programs and campus development, all while placing the university on strong financial footing.

During Dr. Snyder’s time at Tech, enrollment of traditional undergraduates in Fort Wayne has grown from 626 in 2003 to 1,443 in 2015, and the adult student population in the College of Professional Studies increased from

14

Summer 2016

With President Snyder 2,608 to more than 8,400 today.

More than two dozen new degree programs at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels have been added, along with the Ph.D. in Global Leadership program and Indiana Tech Law School. Of the 18 buildings on the main Indiana Tech campus, 12 have been added or renovated during Dr. Snyder’s tenure, while the university’s endowment has grown from $18 million in 2003 to nearly $103 million today.

As he enters his last year as president, Dr. Snyder sat down with Indiana Tech Magazine for a look back, as well as a look forward to what he sees for Indiana Tech and higher education in the years ahead.

Indiana Tech Magazine

15

We have a great community here at Indiana Tech, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

President Snyder’s Tenure TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE 626

2003

1,443

2015

ADULT CPS STUDENTS 2,608

2003 2015

8,400

24+

New degree programs

12

Today

$18

$103

million

million

16

Summer 2016

The answer is pretty simple but multi-faceted.

First, 14 years is a long tenure for a university president. Second, my wife Camille and I have other things we would like to do in the years ahead. Third, as they say, timing is everything—and I’d rather leave two years early than stay two minutes too long! Indiana Tech is in a good place right now, so the time just seems right.

Monday-morning quarterbacking is a ready companion to those with regrets. I don’t have any. We have a great community here at Indiana Tech, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

What will you focus your efforts on in your last year at Tech?

18

UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENT GROWTH 2003

Looking back, is there anything you might have done differently?

The answer, as always, goes back to students, and working with them so they can achieve success in their careers and in life. In particular, retention, the development of new programs and new delivery systems for those programs will be at the top of my list this year.

BUILDINGS ADDED OR RENOVATED

0

What made this the right time for you to retire?

Are there particular accomplishments that stand out the most for you?

I think the scope and balance of what we have done to grow the university stands out the most. I hope people see beyond the many new buildings on our main campus. We have more than tripled the number of degree programs. We have more than tripled the number of students. We’ve more than tripled the number of employees. We’ve expanded the number of locations that serve our College of Professional Studies students and we’ve grown online. And, we have more than quadrupled our endowment. I attribute this to our entire team—they’ve performed at a very high level for an extended period of time.

Not just Indiana Tech, but higher education in general is evolving rapidly. Where do you see Indiana Tech going in the next five, 10, 15 years?

Tech will do better than most small private institutions. Why? Because we are agile, we have relevant programs of study and we will continue to be able to change to meet the needs of learners of all ages.

I believe our programs will continue to expand but at a slower rate. On the other hand, I think our delivery systems—all the ways we provide an effective education to our students—will expand and become even more sophisticated.

What are the most important challenges and opportunities facing the university in the years ahead?

Student retention and graduation rates, as well as a greater focus on what the marketplace, which includes both students and employers, is demanding.

Maintaining the cost of college at an affordable level for students is also vital. Right now, Indiana Tech is very competitive in these areas, so maintaining and building upon that will be an important challenge and opportunity.

How can alumni help as the university welcomes its next president?

Be open minded and give until it hurts! Time, talent and treasure. This will really help students and the next president be successful here.

Being a college president is a 24-hour-a-day job. You and Camille have dedicated each day to working with our students, faculty, staff and alumni to make Indiana Tech a great place.

What’s next for you and your family?

More time with our family, especially our grandchildren. I hope to do some teaching, writing and speaking. And, of course, we will continue to be strong supporters of Indiana Tech and will look to help it continue forward progress however we can.

A lot has taken place since you started as president. Any favorite personal memories?

Commencement, without a doubt.

It’s the best day of the year for all involved! Seeing our students as all their hard work culminates in receiving their college degrees and meeting their families and seeing their pride in accomplishment—these things are unforgettable.

Any words of wisdom for the next president?

Be visible to all of Indiana Tech’s constituencies and take the time to get to know our students, alums, faculty and staff. Know that you will have to make some tough and unpopular decisions in Tech’s best interests—don’t avoid them! Our community here has created something special. With dedication and hard work you’ll be able to carry this forward with them.

What will you miss the most?

No question, our students. They’re the reason everyone here at Indiana Tech does the work they do.

Indiana Tech Magazine

17

18

Summer 2016

Commencement

2016

the best day of the year

A

llen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne was filled on May 14, 2016—filled with the sounds of celebration, with the families and friends of Indiana Tech graduates and with the members of the 2016 graduating class. This year, 1,166 earned their diplomas, and 768 took part in the commencement ceremony, walking across the Coliseum stage to receive their degrees to the cheers of the assembled crowd.

Included in this year’s group were the 19 members of Indiana Tech Law School’s first-ever graduating class. The law school’s charter class joined those earning doctoral degrees from the Ph.D. in Global Leadership program, as well as those earning master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees in engineering, computer sciences, business, criminal justice, psychology, education and more.

Jerry Mathers, best known as “the Beaver” from “Leave it to Beaver” and a longtime activist

for diabetes treatment and research, provided an inspirational commencement address. In recounting his wide-ranging experiences in work, life and philanthropy, he reminded graduates to always believe in their own potential, no matter the opportunity or circumstance.

Business professor Sherrill Hamman was recognized with a special honor during the commencement ceremony: Faculty of the Year award winner. Each year, a committee of students from the traditional undergraduate and College of Professional Studies programs choose the Faculty of the Year winner from among a slate of nominees offered by students. Award winners exemplify excellence in teaching through in-depth knowledge of their discipline; providing opportunities for growth and learning to students; building strong relationships with students and colleagues; holding high expectations for students; and helping them achieve their fullest potential, among other qualities.

Indiana Tech Magazine

19

[ [ Outstanding Graduates for 2016

Each year, Indiana Tech recognizes Outstanding Graduates of the Year from each college, as well as its College of Professional Studies.

Thirty-one students earned the honor for the 2015-16 academic year, including: Scott Anderson, North Prairie, Wisconsin Outstanding Electrical Engineering Student Christopher Bell, Indianapolis, Indiana Outstanding College of Professional Studies Undergraduate Student –Indianapolis Molly Bolt, Grand Blanc, Michigan Outstanding Computer Science Student Chad Brooks, Celina, Ohio Outstanding Business Administration/Sports Management Concentration Student Mark Carpenter, Dayton, Ohio Outstanding Business Administration/Management Concentration Student Amanda Dicks, New Middletown, Ohio Outstanding College of Engineering Student | Outstanding Biomedical Engineering Student

20

Summer 2016

Kassidy Eberhart, Mishawaka, Indiana Outstanding College of Business Student | Outstanding Fashion Marketing & Management Student Abigail Glaysher, Cary, Illinois Outstanding Recreation Management Student Christine Hamilton, Mount Airy, Maryland Outstanding College of Professional Studies Undergraduate Student –Online Aubrianna Hazen, Gurnee, Illinois Outstanding Business Administration/Human Resources Concentration Student Miranda Hill, Waterloo, Indiana Outstanding School of Computer Sciences Student Ashley Hunnings, Elkhart, Indiana Outstanding College of Professional Studies Undergraduate Student – Northwest Region Sasha Kabarday, Toledo, Ohio Outstanding Energy Engineering Student Zachary Katter, Fort Wayne, Indiana Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Student Jamie Kilps, New Berlin, Wisconsin Outstanding Accounting Student Deborah Morykon, Fort Wayne, Indiana Outstanding College of Professional Studies Graduate Student –Fort Wayne Erika Kirsten Mulato, Fort Wayne, Indiana Outstanding Psychology Student Ryan Mulligan, Rochester, Indiana Outstanding College of Professional Studies Graduate Student –Northwest Region

Ana Hernandez Ordonez, Naucalpan, Edo de Mexico Outstanding Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Student Sarah Perkins, Fort Wayne, Indiana Outstanding College of Professional Studies Undergraduate Student –Fort Wayne Jeremy Rice, Warren, Indiana Outstanding Criminal Justice Student Idontea Richardson, Fort Wayne, Indiana Outstanding Pre-Law Student Brenda Robison, Jeffersonville, Indiana Outstanding College of Professional Studies Undergraduate Student –South Region Morgan Sage, Kendallville, Indiana Outstanding Elementary Education Student Jacob Stafford, LaOtto, Indiana Outstanding Information Systems Student Eliott Stidd, Fort Wayne, Indiana Outstanding Networking Student Patrick Stone, New Haven, Indiana Outstanding College of Professional Studies Graduate Student –Online Haley Toliver, Bluffton, Indiana Outstanding Business Administration/Marketing Student Daniel Veguilla, Indianapolis, Indiana Outstanding College of Professional Studies Graduate Student –Indianapolis Rayana Villalpando, Bellflower, California Outstanding College of General Studies Student Russell Waldon, Wabash, Indiana Outstanding Physical Education Student

Indiana Tech Magazine

21

For the first time ever, Indiana Tech Law School graduates received diplomas during commencement ceremonies.

Congratulations Class of 2016 Best of Luck!

22

Summer 2016

Business professor Sherrill Hamman was named Faculty of the Year during the commencement ceremony.

Indiana Tech Magazine

23

PREPARING FOR THE REAL WORLD AHEAD

By Reggie Hayes

SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECTS for Indiana Tech engineering students require countless hours, successes, failures, exhilaration, frustration and a clock-ticking deadline.

In other words, the projects provide perfect preparation for the real world ahead.

The best-of-the-best capstone projects illustrate Indiana Tech’s latest engineering graduates are primed to make a difference as they move beyond the campus.

Amanda Dicks, Zachary Katter and Scott Anderson completed capstone projects this past spring, exemplifying innovative thinking and persistent work ethic. A look at each one reassures us that the future is in good hands.

24

Summer 2016

SEEKING A MORE COMFORTABLE PATIENT

O

ver the course of her studies as a biomedical engineering major, Amanda Dicks worked on projects or internships that dealt with total knee replacement and spinal issues. For her capstone project, she sought a challenge in a different medical area.

Once she settled on a nextgeneration tracheostomy tube, she discovered something somewhat stunning. Research and improvements in the device are relatively stagnant.

“I found a lot of research from the past, from back in the 80s sometimes,” said Dicks, Indiana Tech’s Outstanding College of Engineering Student and Outstanding Biomedical Engineering Student for 2015-16. “Some of the research was kind of outdated. The tracheostomy tube had improved a lot, but after a couple of decades they kind of felt it has been perfected and said, ‘This is good enough’ and they kind of forgot about it.”

As Dicks researched further, she realized there is little momentum for improving or updating the tube.

Dicks’ goal was to produce a functioning prototype that would improve the comfort level for patients.

In preparation, she studied the FDA regulations she would have to follow, the products currently on the market, the sizes and features of the products and then delved into some of the major patient complaints. She studied the materials needed, the federal requirements of those materials and other variables.

There were hurdles along the way, including the fact she wanted to use polyurethane with the tube’s cuff, but the cost was prohibitive for a senior project. She had to work around that roadblock with other materials for her prototype.

Ultimately, she produced a next generation tracheostomy tube that is more flexible and provides more comfort than others on the market.

“I had three different shaped tubes and conducted a cadaver trial with them, testing the smoothness of insertion and whether there was obstruction or tracheal damage upon insertion,” Dicks said.

Controlled testing of her tracheostomy tube showed her prototype performed better than some on the market.

Dicks will be pursuing a doctorate in biomedical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, so she will not try to take her design on to the market.

She has presented her project in other venues, however, so perhaps she has sparked an interest in others who might pursue improvements.

Dicks looks back at the hours spent refining her prototype and feels satisfaction knowing demonstrated improvements could be made in the tracheostomy tube. “It was extremely overwhelming at first,” she said. “You just have to be so dedicated to your

project. Even when it’s not working, you just have to keep going. You have to fail so many times, but you take those failures and turn them around.

It prepares you for all kinds of things in life.”

<<

Indiana Tech Magazine

25

GETTING IN THE FLOW achary Katter spent the last two years as an intern for Fort Wayne City Utilities, so he gained an understanding of infrastructure. The mechanical engineering major decided on a project that would take him another step further in his knowledge.

Katter built a physical model of a sewer system, specifically one that illustrated the system around Fort Wayne’s pollution control plant.

His model is about four feet high and four feet long, with clear plastic that allows a visual look inside at the water flow. He used PVC pipe and other materials for the underside of the model.

“The main point was to use it as a conceptual model, but it is not one that’s hydraulically accurate” due to the size of the model, he said.

Katter was able to demonstrate the actions and route water would take if he shut off flow to certain points of the system. The ability to see, on a smaller scale, what’s going on within the sewer system was the foremost intent of the project.

“Since I had been working at the city, I wanted to focus my project related to that,” Katter said.

The project is now at Citizens Square, and Katter hopes it can be used by City Utilities moving forward.

Katter landed a job working for the city’s engineering department upon graduation.

“There are a couple of things we’re going to tweak on it,” Katter said. “They’re thinking of using it as a learning tool for interns. It gives you an idea of what’s going on underneath the ground.”

Like other seniors with their capstone projects, Katter lost track of all the hours he spent researching, studying, building and sometimes rebuilding his project.

“You just have to stay calm,” Katter said.

“Patience is a big one. You just can’t give up. That’s the hard thing when you’re balancing classes and everything else. When the pipes break on you or it

Z

26

Summer 2016

>> “You just have to stay calm,” Katter said.

“Patience is a big one.

You just can’t give up.” busts on you, you have to take a little step back and say, ‘This happened, how did it happen and what do I do to fix it now?’ ” Katter, Indiana Tech’s 2015-16 Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Student, feels satisfaction that his project can be used beyond the classroom.

“It’s nice that it can help people understand what’s going on.”

LIGHTING THE WAY cott Anderson’s project, intended for firefighters and one he hopes will become reality, is the Light Emitting Nozzle System.

He calls it LENS. LENS incorporates LEDs into the end of a firefighting nozzle in order to allow firefighters better sightlines in dark situations.

“This has what we call real-world viability if it’s developed further,” said David Rumsey, associate professor of electrical engineering and mathematics.

Anderson describes the project in simple terms.

“Basically, I took an existing fog firefighting nozzle and put eight high-

S

powered LEDs on the end of it,” Indiana Tech’s 2015-16 Outstanding Electrical Engineering Student said. “It faces forward so it incorporates the light and makes it a multi-use tool. It’s pointed in the direction of the firefighters’ attention and it also lights the stream of water.”

Designing the system was far from simple, however. Anderson had specifics in terms of the brightness of the lights, the weight of the lights, the type of battery to use and converting the voltage from the charger to battery to LEDs. Anderson designed his own schematic circuit.

Laying out the circuit board was among the most difficult parts of the project, he said.

“I limited myself to a certain amount of space to keep it compact and everything,” Anderson said. “I sent out the circuit board to be made and I soldered all the components myself.

Everything fired up the first time.”

The prototype LENS ended up weighing 2 pounds, 6 ounces. The battery life is 1.9 hours and the final light was 2700 lumens.

“I mentioned it to a couple of fire departments and they’ve actually shown some interest in it,” Anderson said. “The company I got the model for the actual fire nozzle from told me, ‘When you’re done, show us what you’ve got and we’ll see what we can do from there.’ ” Anderson landed a position as an electrical design engineer with Raffel Systems in Germantown, Wis., but hopes to continue to see if the LENS can find its way into firefighting in some form.

“I’m not real concerned about making it a project that makes a bunch of money,” he said. “I just want to see if one of these companies that have a reputation with fire departments would see this and say, ‘Hey, that’s smart technology and something we could incorporate in the near future.’

“I’ve always had an interest in the fire service and just making the people that protect us as safe as possible,” Anderson said.

Rumsey said he would rank Anderson’s project as one of the best he’s seen in the last four or five years.

“It’s definitely not something I’m going to put on a bookshelf and forget about,” Anderson said.

<<

get technical

Want more information about these capstone projects? See CAD drawings, diagrams, detail photography and video explanations at IndianaTech.edu/capstone/eng.

Indiana Tech Magazine

27

SPRING SPORTS ROUND-UP

A

B

E

F

Baseball RECORD:

40-20 overall, 19-12 WHAC, 4th/10 POSTSEASON:

1-2 in opening round of NAIA Baseball National Championship The Warriors’ tradition of excellence under ninth-year head coach Kip McWilliams continued as they reached the 40-win plateau and made the postseason for the seventh time. McWilliams reached the 300-win mark as a coach. Senior catcher/third baseman Brian Hakes was the key cog in the Warriors offensive machine and was named an NAIA First-Team All-American, just the third Warrior in program history to achieve the honor. James McReynolds threw a no-hitter on March 19 and garnered SecondTeam All-Conference honors from the WHAC along with Glen McClain, Mark Carpenter and Charlie Sipe.

HIGHLIGHTS:

ACADEMIC HONORS :

David Barksdale, Taylor Cooper, Brian Gremaux, Steve Remesnik, Tyler Wells and

28

Summer 2016

G

Josh Wiesman were named to the WHAC All-Academic Team and were Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes as well.

Men’s Outdoor Track and Field

C

D

H

I

selection while Stuart was named to the Second-Team. Dixon, Nate Kimble and Marcus Hobbs were named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

Nine athletes (Matt Adair, Dixon, Hobbs, Kimble, Brian Larabel, Isaiah Lintz, Tanner Wall, Jesse Wheeler and Brenden Zoltek) were named to the WHAC All-Academic Team.

POSTSEASON:

Won NAIA National Championship HIGHLIGHTS: Tech continued its dominance on the track under eighth-year head coach Doug Edgar as the team won their third outdoor championship in four years to sweep both the indoor and outdoor titles. The team also won its fourth consecutive WHAC title and had 12 individual All-Americans and three relays that garnered All-American status. Edgar was named USTFCCCA Coach of the Year and the team was honored as the Program of the Year by the association.

ACADEMIC HONORS: Malik Stuart and Alain Dixon were named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, with Dixon garnering his second First-Team

Men’s Golf

Men’s Lacrosse RECORD:

5-9 overall, 3-2 WHAC (3rd/6 Division 2 Teams), 3-4 CCLA (3rd/4 West Division) POSTSEASON:

Lost in CCLA Quarterfinals to Lourdes, 18-16 The 2016 season was one filled with top competition as every team on the Warriors schedule was ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA or MCLA Coaches’ Poll. Sophomore attack Jace Childs was named an Honorable Mention All-American by the MCLA for the second consecutive year after leading the team in almost every major offensive category. Senior Brian Nichter finished his career with Honorable Mention All-Conference (CCLA) honors. Coach Terry Nichter stepped down to spend more time with his family. He is being replaced by his former assistant, Bryan Seaman.

Seaman spent the past two years at St. Gregory’s (Okla.) where he started the Cavaliers program.

HIGHLIGHTS: POSTSEASON:

Freshman Nathan Terry finished in a tie for 36th as an individual at the NAIA National Championships Terry is the first Warrior golfer to qualify for the NAIA National Championships after he won the WHAC Championship with a 215, the first individual medalist in school history. The team finished third at the WHAC Championship, with three finishing in the Top 15, four in the Top 17 and all five in the Top 25.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Seniors Brandon Bailey and Zach Wetzel were named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

ACADEMIC HONORS:

Aidan Cahill and Brian Nichter were named to the

ACADEMIC HONORS:

WHAC All-Academic Team.

Men’s Tennis RECORD:

9-8, 4-2 WHAC, 3rd/7

POSTSEASON:

Lost in WHAC Semifinals to Aquinas, 5-1 The Warriors fared well in their first season under Brandt Danals as the team picked up several votes in the NAIA Coaches Top 25 Poll and finished with a winning record for the third consecutive year. Joaquin Ferrando, Fernando Sousa and Mikel Oscoz were named All-Conference Honorable Mention.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Softball RECORD:

15-31, 4-14 WHAC, 9th/10

HIGHLIGHTS: The 2016 season was a bit of a battle for the Warriors, who missed the conference tournament.

Freshman Caitlyn Walter looks to be a star both at the plate and in the field; she led the Orange and Black in batting average, runs, hits and doubles out of the leadoff spot, while splitting time between third base and shortstop. New coach Stephanie Zimny will lead the Warriors next season.

Five studentathletes (Hannah Foltz, Amanda Kendziora, Jamie Kilps, Maggie McCrory and Cassandra Mendoza) were named to the WHAC All-

ACADEMIC HONORS:

Academic Team.

Ferrando, Sousa, Oscoz and Kino de Leon were named to the WHAC All-Academic Team while Nicholas Aguirre, Fernando Fernandez, Oscoz and Alberto Tenias were named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

ACADEMIC HONORS:

Women’s Outdoor Track and Field POSTSEASON:

Finished second at the NAIA National Championships HIGHLIGHTS: Junior Brianna Woods was named MVP of the NAIA National Championships after winning the 100- and 200-meter dashes and anchoring the national champion 4x100m relay. She concluded a marvelous season as she was named the USTFCCCA Female Athlete of the Year and a First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American.

Woods was named a Daktronics Scholar-Athlete along with April Wilson and Kerigan Riley. Riley was selected as a CoSIDA Academic All-District while six student-athletes (Tia Cooper, Tyra Cooper, Justice Hosey, Riley, Wilson and Woods) were named to the WHAC All-Academic Team.

ACADEMIC HONORS:

Women’s Lacrosse RECORD:

14-4, 9-1 WHAC, T-1st/6

POSTSEASON:

Lost in the first round of the NWLL National Championship and NAIA National Invitational The 2016 season was a spectacular one for the Orange and Black, who earned a split of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) regular-season championship. Sophomore Sam Vikstrom earned NWLL National Player of the Year honors in addition to WHAC Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-American honors from the NWLL and NAIA. Tech started the year on a sevengame winning streak and rose as high as number three in both national polls. Senior Alexa Winter concluded a terrific collegiate career with a team-high 65 goals.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Vikstrom was named a First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American while Winter garnered All-District honors.

Four players (Tayler Campbell, Aubri Hazen, Nicole Price and Winter) were named to the WHAC All-Academic Team and senior

ACADEMIC HONORS:

Nicole Price was named an NWLL Academic All-American.

fi nished fi fth in the WHAC for the second year in a row.

Women’s Golf

ACADEMIC HONORS:

POSTSEASON:

T-11th/27 NAIA National Championships HIGHLIGHTS: The Warriors’ dominance on the golf course continued in the spring. After capturing their third consecutive Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) regular season championship in the fall, Tech made it a clean sweep with a WHAC Tournament Championship in the spring, while junior Wiebke Schlender won her third-straight tournament. Tech recorded its second-best finish ever at the National Championships (t-11th) as rain shortened the 72-hole event to just 36 holes. Schlender and classmate Courtney Dye were both named All-Americans while sophomore Bailey Bostler was named to the NAIA AllTournament Team with Schlender.

On July 17, Dye won the Fort Wayne Golf Association Women’s City Tournament. She finished with a three-day total of 219 for a seven-stroke win over her nearest competitor.

Belli de Oliveira, Cordero, Raquel Manzoni and Kayla Morell were named to the WHAC All-Academic Team in addition to being selected as Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

A

Brian Hakes

B

The 2016 NAIA outdoor national track and field champions

C

Freshman Nathan Terry

D

Freshman Ryan Nutter

E

Freshman Rui Lima

F

Sophomore Sam Vickstrom

G

From left to right: Sophomore Bailey Bostler, junior Wiebke Schlender, senior Rachel George, freshman Lauren Kreider and junior Courtney Dye

H

Senior Barbara Belli de Oliveira

I

Senior Tiffany Rauch

Schlender and Dye were named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and WHAC All-Academic Team members in addition to Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

Rachel George was also named to the WHAC All-Academic Team and Scholar-Athlete list.

ACADE MIC HONORS:

WOMEN’S TENNIS RECORD:

2-14, 2-4 WHAC, 5th/7

POSTSEASON:

Lost to Lawrence Tech in the first round of the WHAC Tournament HIGHLIGHTS: Barbara Belli de Oliveira and Anabell Cordero were named Honorable Mention All-Conference as the Warriors

Indiana Tech Magazine

29

PATH OF A WARRIOR

Calling all alums!

New Alumni Association Benefits for 2016-2017 We’ve updated our alumni benefits program. This means as a dues-paying member to the Indiana Tech Alumni Association, you’ll receive even better benefits—from travel discounts to insurance programs and so much more. With these changes, we’ve also changed our renewal date to July 1, the start of the fiscal year, which means your membership won’t expire until June 30, 2017.

From the Desk of Arienne Juliano It’s a fact. Another year has come and gone and it just keeps getting better here at Tech. I recall last year at this time looking back on our achievements, and I can’t help but do it again. Why? Because our university and the students, faculty, staff and alums like you make it great, with graduation being a highlight of these achievements.

If you’ve never attended commencement, it’s something to behold. Maybe it’s a combination of seeing a student’s proudest moment, or a family trying to make the most noise when their son or daughter is called across the stage, or the tears in the eyes of our professors who have grown so close to their students over the years, or the impactful message given by our keynote speaker, this year Mr. Jerry Mathers. Whatever it may be, it’s an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and gratitude to those who make it possible.

So this year, I look forward to all the new and exciting things we have planned, especially for Homecoming 2016. My hope is that you can attend with your family and friends and see

30

Summer 2016

for yourself how our Warrior community is bringing students and alums together. And if not, hopefully you’ll be able to share a memory you have of Tech when you were here. I love receiving your stories!

I’m also looking forward to connecting our scholarship recipients with their generous donors, engaging young alums and reconnecting them to Tech, strengthening our alumni association and offering more benefits for our members.

Of course, the achievements we’ve made and the goals we hold for the future are all made possible by you. Without your support, input and engagement, we’d be without leaders that continue to help us improve and prosper.

So, thank you again for another great year, another class of outstanding graduates and another year to look forward to. Go Warriors!

Do you have a memory, piece of gratitude, update or experience you’d like to share? Send your thoughts to Alumni@IndianaTech.edu.

Visit IndianaTech.edu/AlumniDues to learn more or pay your $20 dues online and start receiving these great benefits!

And remember, your dues payment helps provide student and university aid in the areas of greatest need.

We thank you for your support!

Keep us connected!

Your stories are what make Indiana Tech proud—and we want to hear from you! Share your successes, update your information, learn about the Alumni Association and find ways to connect with your peers, friends and faculty members on our website at Alumni.IndianaTech.edu. You can also email your updates to Alumni@IndianaTech.edu.

Indiana Tech Alumni Group @IndianaTechAlum Indiana Institute of Technology

Alumni Notes / SOUNDBITE We love to hear from our alums and students—their experiences, good times and the memories that come with it. See what our Warrior Community had to say in this edition of Tech Soundbite:

Are you aware of the notoriety Indiana Tech received in the David Baldacci book Simple Genius? On page 83, the first two paragraphs make reference to Indiana Institute of Technology that you will be pleased with. They are as follows: • “Good to know. What’s your take on Champ Pollion? Let me guess, he was first in his class at MIT.” • “No, he actually was second in his class at the Indiana Institute of Technology, a school many in the field consider even more prestigious.”

“Joyce and I were pleasantly surprised when we pursued the winter alumni magazine and found our picture. We sure had a great time at homecoming and hope to make another one.”

“I have taken everything I learned from the classes I took at Indiana Tech with me to every job I have had. I have developed recreation programs, educated people on what recreation therapy is, and brought new/therapeutic activities to people’s minds. If it weren’t for Beth Weisner (Robinson) and Indiana Tech, I wouldn’t know what recreation therapy is and have no idea what I would be doing at this point in my life.”

Ø Dick Bray, BSEE , ’65

Ø Tracie Ball, BSTR, BSRM ’10

Being a 1961 graduate, I knew you would enjoy seeing this.

Ø Joseph F. Moore, P.E., BSEE ’61

“I was able to attend classes at Indiana Tech online while taking care of my family and working full time. I was even able to graduate earlier than I expected, and even though I did everything online, I still felt a sense of community with other students and faculty.”

“I’m so grateful for my graduate experience at Indiana Tech. The opportunities available through the College of Professional Studies were exactly what I needed when I needed them. Trying to blend a professional career with academic goals can be challenging, but the professors and flexible scheduling helped everything fall into place and I know having earned my MBA will continue to help me reach my goals.”

Ø Kristen White, AS Health IT, ’14

Ø Stasha Carrasquillo, MBA ’13

Indiana Tech Magazine

31

PATH OF A WARRIOR

Tech Millennial Makes a Difference COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT isn’t a chapter studied in textbooks, it’s taught by example, and one outstanding Tech alum is showing us how getting involved can make a real difference in the lives of others and our community.

Ryan Krueckeberg, BAIS ’11, didn’t always know where he was headed in life. In fact, he spent some time traveling across the U.S. exploring, staying with friends and trying to figure out what he truly could take interest in. When he decided an education was going to help pave the way, he enrolled in the College of Professional Studies (CPS) in business information systems at Indiana Tech.

Now a senior business analyst at Lincoln Financial Group, Krueckeberg says Tech had a hand in helping him begin to know how important leadership skills are to students and young professionals. “Tech taught me the leadership skills I needed to develop as a professional. They taught me how to understand processes and programs, and gave me the tools to learn more.”

Now, Krueckeberg is serving his community in more ways than he imagined possible just a few years ago. One of his greatest achievements includes serving as vice president for Young Leaders

32

Summer 2016

of Northeast Indiana (YLNI), where he’s really been able to make an impact in the lives of young leaders and professionals. Krueckeberg recalls that “YLNI really gave me something more. It has been an eye-opening experience to see behind the scenes what our community can do, and having been able to share my input and be a part of it has been great.”

But it doesn’t stop there.

In March 2016, Krueckeberg received a Forty Under 40 Award in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

This honor is given each year to 40 individuals who exemplify what it means to make a real difference in their community. As great of an achievement as it is, however, Krueckeberg remains humble. “I just want to serve the community, make a difference here and feel attached and involved with what I’m doing.”

So what does the future hold for this young alum?

Krueckeberg says there’s more work to do. “I want to be involved in what’s happening downtown [Fort Wayne] and be part of the major development that’s happening here. Talent attraction and retention is something I’m passionate about, and getting involved is what did it for me, so I want to help others realize this, too.”

RYAN KRUECKEBERG, BAIS ’11

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT - Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana, vice president - Cinema Center, Hobnobben Film Festival, co-chair - Arts United, Quality of Life committee member - Fort Wayne Dance Collective, marketing committee - Greater Fort Wayne Inc., Leadership Fort Wayne, Class of 2016

WN

N IS I

YO

O

IN

CH

ANA TE I D

UR T

Tech in Your Town Did you know that Indiana Tech’s Institutional Advancement office has a team of dedicated individuals who regularly visit with our alumni all across the country?

Some of you may have had the opportunity to receive a one-on-one update on all things Tech over coffee, lunch or dinner, or perhaps you’ve taken part in a group event near you. If not, be sure to keep an eye on your mailbox and email for invitations to upcoming Tech in Your Town happenings near you!

A

B

Director of Alumni Arienne Juliano hosted Tech in Your Town in Denver on April 29. Pictured here, back row, left to right: Carl Maciolek, BSME ’62; Jack White, BSCE ’73; Anthony Juliano, MBA ’03; John Dranchak, BSME ’80; front row, left to right: Tymara Howard, BCCIS ’04, MSM ’13; Arienne Juliano, MBA ’15.

A

B

From left to right: Merv Shetler, BSEE ’59, and Dave Stevens of the Tech team in Langley, Washington on Whidbey Island in the Seattle area with Camano Island in the background.

Indiana Tech Magazine

33

Remember this?

We had no idea when we posted Remember This in the last issue we’d have such a great response from our alums! We asked you to help identify second president Archie T. Keene’s assistant in this photo, and in came your facts, guesses and stories.

Thanks to all who responded, you’ll be happy to know the mystery is solved! The nowidentified man is Lou Culp, Director of Public Relations and Alumni Relations from the 1960s, most notably found on page 127 of the 1963 yearbook.

• Phillip G. Conarroe, P.E. BSME ’66 A shout out to those who guessed it right, and a big thanks to all who participated!

We found “Will,” A.K.A. Steve Mann!

• M.J. Pfister, BSME ’61 • Walt Chrush, BSEE ’65 • A. Samuel Uhler, Jr., P.E. BSEE ’66 • C. William Wright, BSCE ’63 • William D. Schrader, Ph.D. BSME ’55

You might recall in our winter 2016 issue the “Play Day” photo that received quite the response for the mystery man we dubbed “Will Ferrell.” Well, he saw it and here’s what he had to say!

“I am responding to the question posed in regard to the picture on the back page of the winter bulletin. ‘Did you hang out with Will Ferrell that day?’

Apparently, I am ‘Will Ferrell.’ My name is Stephen (Steve) R. Mann.

My class was the last graduating class to participate in graduation ceremonies in the old Concordia Chapel. I played basketball at Tech from 1974 through 1976 for Coach Dave McCracken.

ity commun et h c e T a n g ntire Indiater for events and . e e th d n is sa ing 2016! Reg ni, friend omecom Join alumting Homecoming dianaTech.edu/H in celebra kend ’s details at In e all the we

here! t u o y e e We’ll s

"Play Day was the brainchild of my friend, Mark Lazarus, who also graduated from Tech in 1977. Mark planned all kinds of fun activities all over campus and he was able to convince the administration to cancel classes for the day. ‘Play Day’ was an event held two years in a row.

"I enjoyed seeing the picture in the bulletin and it is the first time anyone has ever thought that I looked like Will Ferrell!”

Steve Mann, BSRM ’77

IndianaTech.edu/Homecoming

Thanks, Steve!

IN MEMORIAM

We have learned of the deaths of the following alumni and friends.

If you would like to

Lawrence J. Dranchak Continental, OH BSME 1956

Robert J. Masterson San Jose, CA BSELE 1959

Curtis S. Sitler Friendswood, TX BSME 1954

Donald R. Drung Clearwater, FL BSAEE 1955

George F. Miller, Sr. Suffolk, VA BSEE 1966

Laird W. Smith Oak Park, MI BSCE 1957

Charles E. Anderson Ruffin, NC BSCE 1949

Harishchandra J. Ganatra Honesdale, PA BSME 1964

Billy J. Mooney Tucson, AZ BSELE 1958

James “Donald” Stevenson Quincy, IL BSEE 1943

John E. Bartus Mauldin, SC BSEE 1961

Floyd B. Garrett Penfield, NY BSCHE 1943

Wesley N. Munson Austin, TX BSCHE 1959

Howard R. Storer Waukesha, WI BSCE 1959

Mervin E. Bavier, Sr. Jackson, MI BSME 1965

Albert R. Gibson Roanoke, VA BSELE 1958

Robert F. O’Malley Marietta, OH BSCE 1949

Gayson L. Terry Bowling Green, KY BSME 1960

Kenneth D. Beasley Fayetteville, NC BSCE 1950

R. David Glass Reedsville, PA BSAEE 1961

Donna M. Pendergrass Fort Wayne, IN ASBA 2002

Lowell K. Thompson Keswick, VA BSELE 1960

Richard A. Birner Toledo, OH BSAEE 1949

Herman C. Goldenbagen Columbus, OH BSME 1957

Everet J. Penn West Lafayette, IN BSEE 1939

Bernard Turansky Fort Wayne, IN BSCE 1951

Raymond D. Brooks Harvard, IL BSRE 1942

Anthony G. Grodson Saint Petersburg, FL BSAEE 1948

Bob Perry Sugar Land, TX BSRE 1948

Kenneth L. Walker Fort Wayne, IN Professor at Indiana Tech

James L. Cahoon Denver, CO BSEE 1965

Louis Peter Hartman, Jr. Whitesboro, NY BSME 1962

Kenneth R. Rauscher Monroeville, IN BSEE 1973

William P. Ware Charlotte, NC BSAEE 1950

James W. Clark Leland, MI BSME 1968

Dean R. Hull Rockford, IL BSME 1943

Jalal A. Saleh Fort Wayne, IN BSME 1964

Edwin L. Wedel Enid, OK BSRE 1952

Calvin Collier Fairborn, OH BSEE 1958

Dennis E. Laird Charlotte, NC BSEE 1964

Harlie Cordeiro e Silva Chamblee, GA BSAEE 1948 BSME 1949

Chester P. Wegenka Brewster, NY BSEE 1950

Alex J. Demeter Hamden, CT BSME 1956

John N. Martin Sugar Land, TX BSCE 1943

send a memorial gift to honor someone, please contact Brian Engelhart at 800.937.2448, ext. 2299.

Hugh W. Simpson Troy, OH BSCE 1950

Allan L. Wennerberg Saint Joseph, MI BSEE 1956

Indiana Tech Magazine

35

NONPROFIT ORG U . S . P O S TA G E

1600 E. Washington Blvd.

Fort Wayne, IN 46803

P A I D FORT WAYNE, IN P E R M I T N O. 1 5 9

SAVE THE DATE Sept. 18 TWIST XXVII Golf Outing IndianaTech.edu/TWIST

Sept. 29 – Oct. 2 Homecoming 2016 IndianaTech.edu/Homecoming

Oct. 1 New! Casino Night IndianaTech.edu/CasinoNight

Remember this?

Hey guys, wait for me!

The Johnny-come-lately in the window better get his act together because it looks like his train is about to leave the station. Unfortunately, all we can do is speculate what is going on in this picture because we don’t have any details. Fortunately, the readers of Indiana Tech Magazine are excellent at helping us solve photographic mysteries. Let us know what’s going on in this picture. What year is this? What building is this? If you’ve got answers, contact Arienne Juliano, director of alumni relations, at ABJuliano@IndianaTech.edu. We’ll let you know what we find out next issue.