Indiana Tech Magazine - Fall 2014

MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS | FALL 2014

FALL 2014

Features 14 BOOSTING CAREER PROSPECTS Career Services expands to help College of Professional Studies students achieve success.

16 GIVING STUDENTS THE WORLD Tech Ph.D. program has been broadening horizons for five years.

20 FAST BREAK

New Warrior hockey team hits the ice flying.

24 WARRIORS UNITE

Homecoming 2014 dedicated new Academic Center and welcomed old friends.

Inside Tech 04 Letter from the President

Path Of A Warrior 29 Alumni Updates

Welcome to the new Indiana Tech Magazine.

News, photos and announcements from alumni.

Across the University 06 Enrollment by the Numbers

30 In Memoriam

Enrollment grows in traditional and adult programs.

08 Around the Regions The latest news from around Indiana Tech – north, south, east and west.

Remembering alumni, faculty, staff and friends of Indiana Tech

31 Remember This?

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Three alums did – and reunited!

09 Tech Happenings

Catch up on events, achievements, grants, awards and more.

10 A Few Words With ...

Sherill Hamman, associate professor of business.

11 Scaling New Heights The snows of Kilimanjaro lure Professor Robert Fontaine and wife Dawn.

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12 Faculty Update Tech professors lead the way in the classroom and earn recognition around the globe.

13 Tech’s Top Picks Team members show their app-titude.

Front Cover The newest addition to Indiana Tech’s main campus, the Academic Center has been humming with classes and student activity since opening in August.

Inside Front Cover

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Ph.D. Immersion Weekend welcomed over 150 Ph.D. students from around the globe to campus in September. For more on the Ph.D. program, see page 16.

Indiana Tech Magazine

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LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT One of the most enjoyable aspects of working

“The Path of a Warrior” section focuses on the

at our university is the frequency with which

personal and career news of our alumni, events here

we experience the new. At the top of the list, we

in Fort Wayne and around the regions, and more. In

regularly welcome new students to our Warrior

this issue, “The Path of a Warrior” includes news and

family. There are new things to learn each day,

photos from Homecoming, highlighting the many

new opportunities to impact lives around our

wonderful alumni events held during the course of

community, and new events taking place at each

the weekend.

of our campus locations.

One thing that has not changed in our magazine is As you may have already noticed, this issue of

the inclusion of in-depth features. This month, you’ll

Indiana Tech Magazine – formerly known as Trends –

read about our Ph.D. program, our new men’s hockey

is all-new as well! From the name to the design to the

program, and the work being done by our Career

content, we’ve updated every aspect of the magazine

Services team to serve students in our College of

to keep you connected with the all the latest from

Professional Studies.

around our university and out in the world with our alumni, students, faculty and staff.

I hope you enjoy Indiana Tech Magazine. Let us know how we’re doing, and please share all that In the “Across the University” section, you’ll

is new with you!

find highlights of events, student and faculty achievements here at our main campus, and at our regional locations. In each issue, the feature “A Few

Sincerely,

Words With…” will help readers get to know one of our dedicated faculty and staff members.

Dr. Arthur E. Snyder, Ed. D. President

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Fall 2014

Volume 11, Issue 1.

Arthur E. Snyder, Ed.D. President Brian Engelhart Vice President of University Relations Institutional Advancement Mary Slafkosky Associate V.P. of Institutional Advancement Mary Shankster, MBA ’15 Associate Director of Institutional Advancement Jeremy Rice, MBA ’13 Director of Alumni Relations Lisa Biers, MBA ’15 Annual Fund Director Rose Replogle Office Manager and Gift Processor Neal Quandt, MBA ’16 Prospect Researcher

Marketing Janet Schutte, MBA ’07 Director of Marketing Julie Farison Creative Director Lucinda Neff Graphic Designer Sarah Suraci Marketing Specialist Peter Nowak Webmaster 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 Team and Office of Institutional Advancement. © 2014 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, extension 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 of all ages with career-focused professional education in the areas of business, computer studies, engineering, and other professional concentrations; prepares them for active participation in the complex, global society of the 21st century; and motivates them toward a life of significance and worth.

Indiana Tech Magazine

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ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY

DIVING DEEPER: TRADITIONAL ENROLLMENT DEMOGRAPHICS

50% | 34% Out-of-state

In-state

16% » 28 International

Number of countries represented

53% » 25 By the Numbers

Intercollegiate athletes

Sports

»

2014 Enrollment Climbs 12% Indiana Tech continues to grow, with total enrollment of 8,818 students for fall 2014. This is a 12 percent increase from fall 2013. The most notable growth is the climb in traditional undergraduate enrollment at the Fort Wayne campus, which is up nearly 23 percent. Indiana Tech’s total enrollment includes students at the university’s main campus in Fort Wayne and its 14 regional campuses throughout Indiana and Kentucky, as well as online students.

26%

College of Business

21.3%

College of Engineering

13.4%

School of Computer Sciences More students throughout the country are taking at least some of their courses online.

Indiana Tech students are no exception to this trend.

ONLINE ENROLLMENT SNAPSHOT Students Taking at Least One Online Course in Session 2

27.7%

College of General Studies

11.5%

Exploratory Track/Guest/Exchange

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

»

»

»

6

»

» 889

1277 1566 2173 2572 Fall 2014

*the remaining 0.1% is Maximus.

He is still an undeclared major.

Indiana Tech Magazine

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ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY

Around the Regions ELKHART The Elkhart campus hosted a student appreciation night on Sept. 10. The evening included free hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, drinks, candy and cookies as well as door prizes.

Four Elkhart area employers who are currently hiring visited to talk to students.

HUNTINGTON Dawn Fisher, a student at the Huntington campus, was recently promoted to food service manager at Kroger. She told enrollment manager Pam Fech that if it wasn’t for her associate degree from Indiana Tech and working on her bachelor’s degree, she would not have been offered the promotion.

JEFFERSONVILLE AND LOUISVILLE Staff from the Jeffersonville and Louisville campuses participated in the Harvest Homecoming in New Albany, Ind., in October.

The admissions team shared information about Indiana Tech’s classroom and online opportunities for adult learners, and connected potential future warriors interested in earning a degree.

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Fall 2014

MISHAWAKA Ellen Brown, enrollment manager at the Mishawaka campus, designed a Warrior-themed bra for the 7th Annual Decorated Bra Contest organized by HeartStrings Sisters to raise breast cancer awareness. HeartStrings Sisters is a breast cancer patient support program sponsored by The Retreat Women’s Health Center and Goshen Center for Cancer Care of Indiana University Health Goshen. About two dozen decorated bras were submitted to the contest, and votes in the form of donations were collected throughout October.

MUNSTER The Munster campus hosted a Mental Health First Aid Certification Class in September. The program presented by Regional Mental Health Center and Geminus introduced participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental illnesses, built understanding of their impact, and overviewed common supports. The course used role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to offer initial help in a mental health crisis and connect people to the appropriate professional, peer, social, and

self-help care. The program also covered the common risk factors and warning signs of specific types of illnesses, like anxiety, depression, substance use, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and schizophrenia. The event was open to the public, with many Indiana Tech students among the participants.

WARSAW The Warsaw campus hosted an open house on Oct. 14 to help prospective students learn how they can purse their college degree at Indiana Tech while maintaining a busy work and family schedule.

Tech Happenings FOR THE LATEST INDIANA TECH NEWS VISIT: www.IndianaTech.edu/news

Campus Showcases Fort Wayne Favorites The Residence Life staff hosted Experience Fort Wayne during Welcome Week to help campus residents get to know the community.

The event allowed students to sample the specialties of local restaurants from around the city.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/IndianaTech WE TWEET TOO: @IndianaTech

College of Business Promotes Leadership

Library Gets Grant for Mobile Technology

The College of Business put together a series of events to help students learn about different styles of leadership and develop their leadership skills. Leadership Week included a cookout, a presentation on leadership by alum Ravi Talwar and Dr. Arthur Snyder, discussion of leadership topics as seen in popular movies, insights from a young business owner, and games designed to promote teamwork and leadership. The events and activities gave students the opportunity to have fun and network with successful leaders.

Indiana Tech has received a $10,000 grant to integrate mobile technology into McMillen Library. This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) administered by the Indiana State Library.

Constitution Day Event Focuses on Civil Rights Students, faculty, staff, and community members celebrated Constitution Day by packing the Law School courtroom to hear Janai Nelson speak about the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. Nelson is associate director-counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Students in the Indiana Tech Pre-Law Society handed out copies of the Constitution after the event.

Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.

Tech Named Military Friendly Indiana Tech has been designated a 2015 Military FriendlyÂŽ School by Victory Media, the leader in successfully connecting the military and civilian worlds. This is the fourth consecutive year in which the university has earned the designation.

C3 Now Open Indiana Tech’s new entrepreneur center, the Center for Creative Collaboration (the C3), officially opened in August.

The C3 will provide entrepreneurs with rapid, targeted, and effective assistance in all phases of business startup, operation, and growth.

Indiana Tech Magazine

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A Few Words With ...

SHERRILL HAMMAN, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS

Why did you become a professor?

I actually came here right out of college with no intention of being a teacher. My bachelor’s degree was in business education with a minor in library sciences. I was going to be a librarian, and that’s what my first job here was—I worked in the library. This was before we even had a business program. Then when we added business, they asked me to teach and I realized I absolutely loved it!

What excites you about accounting?

I like the accuracy of it. I like that it’s very systematic—it’s black or white, right or wrong.

It’s clear, it’s not abstract. There’s a lot of logical thinking in it. I love to do puzzles, and I use that when I teach. I tell students, “Pretend it’s a puzzle—Sudoku or whatever—and you only have certain pieces of information.”

What’s your pet peeve in the classroom?

People who come unprepared for class, because they expect me to teach it to them and I can’t do that if they haven’t done their part.

After more than 35 years at Tech, does anything still surprise you?

Hmmmm, I don’t think so. I see new faculty come in, and they’re so surprised by some things. But I love the classes that I teach, because every day is different. Sometimes the students think they’re unique, but the excuses they use for doing or not doing something are the same as they’ve always been. When I get to the point where I can no longer laugh about it, then it’s time to be done.

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Fall 2014

Are college students today different from 10, 20, or 30 years ago?

What would students be surprised to know about you?

They’re torn in so many directions now. This generation thinks they can multitask. But I’ve gone to conferences about how people learn, and the brain cannot multitask. We’ve given them the idea they can, and they just physically cannot do it. This isn’t just an old lady saying this; it’s experts and research.

That I showed dairy cattle—Guernsey cows—in high school. I grew up in Massachusetts until fifth grade when we moved to a family farm home in Muncie. I went from a city girl to a country girl really fast.

How does it feel to lead the procession at Commencement, as the faculty member with the most seniority?

I am so proud of the way this university has grown in all ways—physical space, programs, rigor, delivery methods. If someone had told me when I arrived in 1976 that this is what we would be, I wouldn’t have believed it. There’s a lot of pride in how far we’ve come, and who knows where we’ll go?

What do you hope college students learn outside of your classes?

The first thing that comes to mind is better communication skills. Everybody spends all of their time on their smart phones. I was walking through the hall and saw a bunch of students all looking at their phones, and I jokingly yelled at them: “Put those things away and talk to each other!” They’ve got to learn to communicate with each other. It’s not texting and emails, it’s having discussions and teamwork.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?

The Cunningham building. Indiana Tech feels like home; it always has. Since it’s gotten so big, the Cunningham building really feels like home. I’m excited about how collaborative the remodeled building will be.

It’s something our business students will embrace and grow dramatically.

What’s your favorite way to spend a Saturday?

With nothing concrete on my calendar and the ability for my husband and I to do whatever we want to do.

If you couldn’t be a professor, what would you do?

A librarian, of course, but I’d be an oldfashioned librarian. Or, if I’m retired, I think it would be great fun to work at Starbucks. I don’t know if I could remember how to make all of those different drinks. But I think it’s a hootand-a-half to be in there with that fast pace, making all those drinks for everyone.

3.0758° S, 37.3533° E | EL: 19,341’ (5,895 m)

Computer Science Prof Reaches New Heights Robert Fontaine, professor of information security, and his wife, Dawn, successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro during a three-week trip to Tanzania this summer. The 19,340-foothigh peak is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world.

“It was a once in a lifetime experience. I think I even had tears in my eyes when I reached the top!”

“I wanted to know what it was like to climb a real mountain,” Fontaine said to explain why he would try something that adventurous. “And I wanted to see if I could really do it.”

To prepare for the climb, the Fontaines took three trips to the Rocky Mountains to simulate conditions that they would encounter in Africa.

“We hiked in the desert, in the forest, in the rain, and in a foot of snow. We wanted to be physically fit and know how to use our equipment.” Mount Kilimanjaro has six distinct climatic zones, ranging from rain forest to tundra-like conditions.

The big concern with climbing in high altitudes is a lack of oxygen. Many people will suffer the dangerous effects and not be able to complete the climb, and may even risk death.

“We planned out a long, slow route that would give us enough time to acclimate,” Fontaine explained. “We hiked 5 or so miles each day and spread out the climb to 8 days. It worked perfectly. The altitude didn’t bother us a bit!”

Although Mount Kilimanjaro is not considered technically difficult, it does take a great deal of determination and persistence to complete.

Climbers camp out each night, sleeping on the ground and eat re-hydrated food made from purified glacier run-off.

“The high altitude requires you to drink many liters of water each day, and there are not any public restrooms on the trail. It was very windy and dusty,” Fontaine said. “I was quite filthy after a week without showering!”

The final summit attempt took 7 hours and began at midnight.

“The temperature was 20 degrees below zero, and the going was very steep,” Fontaine recalled. “But I really enjoyed the final push and couldn’t believe how beautiful sunrise is up there. It was a once in a lifetime experience.

I think I even had tears in my eyes when I reached the top!”

Indiana Tech Magazine

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ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY

Faculty Update Dr. Staci Lugar Brettin, assistant professor of marketing and management, was the winner of the 2014 Leepoxy Plastics Award for Teaching Innovation. The award established by supporter Larry Lee is given to a full-time faculty member who challenges students to continuously progress to higher levels of thinking; engages students in active learning activities; and connects to students in innovative ways to positively impact their experiences at Indiana Tech. Each year’s award recipient participates in a professional development activity related to improving instruction and connectivity to

Dr. Jeffrey Walls accompanied eight students from Indiana Tech’s Society for Human Resource Management Student Chapter to the 2014 SHRM Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla., in June. This was the 22nd consecutive SHRM conference that Walls has attended with students, and the student chapter was awarded the Superior Merit Award for their accomplishments during the 2013-2014 academic year.

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Fall 2014

students, and then shares the outcomes with colleagues. Brettin is attending a seminar on Teaching Design for Creativity and Innovation offered by AACSB International.

Lugar Brettin also was the keynote speaker on “Women’s Economic Empowerment” for the U.S. State Department’s Study of the United States in July, representing Indiana Tech at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind. Lisa Kindred and Colleen Hickman joined her as mentors to the delegates from Libya, Jordan, Iraq, Tunisia, and Egypt.

Carrie Halquist, part-time ARC specialist in McMillen Library, is a recipient of IUPUI’s School of Informatics and Computing Scholarship.

She attended the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference in October in Phoenix. The conference focused on the role of women in today’s technology fields, as well as connecting women in the field with other women in the computing world, new technologies, and employers.

Dr. Brenda Williams, an adjunct faculty member in the Ph.D. in Global Leadership program, was recently promoted to director of employee relations, diversity and inclusion in the Office of Human Resources, Strategic Talent Management at Montgomery College, Maryland.

Montgomery College is the largest community college in the state of Maryland with more than 60,000 students.

Bonnie Wilkins, health information technology program director, presented “Innovation in Professional Practice Experience” for the American Health Information Management Association Faculty Development Institute and Assembly on Education Symposium meeting in Chicago in July.

Dr. Kim Harding, assistant professor of psychology, received a grant to study effective teaching pedagogies for blended and online learning environments.

Dr. Stacy Lugar Brettin and Dr. Crystal Karn, assistant professors of marketing and management, received a grant to attend the 34th International Conference on Critical Thinking and Educational Reform in Berkeley, Calif.

Steve Malloris, assistant professor of humanities, received a grant for coursework for a master’s degree project at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Dr. Susan McGrade received a grant for professional development for teaching dramatic literature.

Dr. Laina Molaski, assistant professor of business and academic coordinator, received a grant to attend the 63rd Annual Conference of The American Association for Adult and Continuing Education in Charleston, S.C.

The Lilly Faculty Development Fund draws on an endowment established through a grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. to financially support our faculty in their continuous improvement efforts. The following faculty members have received Lilly Faculty Development Grants this year:

Dr. Ken Rauch, program director of the Ph.D. in Global Leadership, received a grant to set up a global practicum in Lima, Peru.

Cortney Robbins, associate professor of English, received a grant for continuing education.

Lisa Brown and John Minnich, assistant professors of accounting, received a grant to attend the 2014 American Accounting Association Annual Meeting and Conference on Teaching and Learning in Accounting in Atlanta.

Minnich also received a grant to participate in Leadership Fort Wayne.

Les Grundman, associate professor of mechanical engineering, received a grant for research into spatial visualization skill development, creation of a learning tool, and investigation of a first-year spatial visualization remediation class.

Dr. Dave Rumsey, assistant professor of mathematics, received a grant to develop a dynamic calculus classroom.

Dr. Jim Schaffer, professor of business, received a grant to attend the Learning Agility Assessment Seminar in Minneapolis, Minn.

Bonnie Wilkins, assistant professor and director of health information technology, received a grant for clinical coding classes.

Tech’s Top Picks Justin Neff » Bookroom Coordinator My favorite is Google Drive, because it is convenient to be able to access necessary documents/pictures/music at any time.

Doug Edgar » Track & Field Head Coach My favorite app is the WatchESPN app, because it allows me to watch multiple sporting events that I wouldn’t normally have access to.

Jerome Heaven » Professor of Mathematics My favorite app on both my smartphone and tablet is the Dropbox app. I am able to have all my content (ebooks, journals, class-note, videos, etc.) with me wherever I go.

By far it is my most-used app. I am a pro Dropbox user, and they recently increased storage to 1TB, perfect for all my content.

Cleevas Craig » Admissions Representative College of Professional Studies-Northern Kentucky My favorite app on my phone is my GroupMe application, because I can reach everyone on a particular subject at once, and we can all enjoy and take part in our responses!

Andrea Check » Director of Student Life I’ve been recently house shopping, so the Realtor.com app has been my new best friend. As a list-making, organization fiend, it feeds all my needs for making sense of house shopping. Plus… tons o’pictures.

Indiana Tech Magazine

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A Boost Up the Ladder

By Janet Schutte

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Fall 2014

ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY

CAREER SERVICES EXPANDS

Megan Keesler is the career services advisor/

directly with the field the student wants to enter

TO HELP CPS STUDENTS

employer services representative based at the Elkhart

into,” Keesler said.

campus, serving students in and around Elkhart,

ACHIEVE SUCCESS Traditional undergraduate students at the Fort Wayne campus are frequently told about the need for career preparation and have easy access to the services of the Career Center. The same hasn’t always been true for adult learners in the College of Professional Studies, a situation that recently

Mishawaka, Warsaw and Munster.

careers. “One of the major hurdles for adult students “I would say approximately 60% of my time is

trying to begin a second or new career choice is the

actually spent on the Elkhart campus, and I visit

socioeconomic impact on their families. There is a

the other campuses in my region once per session,”

significant difference in the pay scale for entry level

Keesler said. “I do make myself available to students

positions, and a position that you’ve been in for 10-

via in-person appointments, Lync/Skype, phone calls,

plus years.”

and emails. The rest of my time is spent networking at local events and through online resources.”

began changing.

In December 2013, the Indiana Tech Career Center was awarded a $425,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. for several projects including three

expansion of career services and employer outreach at satellite campuses; and expansion of the Career Readiness Certification Program to satellite campuses.

In addition to directly assisting students, Keesler also networks with as many northwest Indiana

She said the adult students have been receptive to the

employers as possible through activities like

free services offered by the Career Center, but like

attending Chamber of Commerce events and job fairs.

many younger students they think they don’t need

She discusses Indiana Tech’s degree programs so that

help until they’re ready to graduate.

employers have a better idea of how Indiana Tech

that benefit CPS students: expansion of the Virtual Career Center at careercenter.indianatech.edu;

She also noted the financial effects of changing

students and graduates can fit their workforce needs.

“Developing a well written resume takes time, and experience,” she explained. “Also, resumes need to be

“Many employers are eager to utilize the free job

drafted for each position that you apply for – there

postings through Warrior Jobs,” Keesler said, “and

isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ resume.”

some want to be very involved on campus by asking if they can participate in on campus events such as

Through the support of that grant, the university now has career services advisors/employer services representatives based at campuses in Fort Wayne, Elkhart, and Indianapolis to serve CPS students at surrounding campuses. Those staff members work directly with students as well as networking with area employers to help develop relationships that lead to career opportunities for Tech students

Cindy Verduce, director of the Career Center and

job fairs and mock interviews.”

regional career services, said that often there are few differences in the needs of traditional students and

It all adds up to preparing students for career success.

adult students. Adult students, however, may already have what she calls “barriers to employment,” such

“All in all, working with our adults is very rewarding,”

as a poor driving record that would prohibit jobs

Verduce said. “They know an education will change

that require people to drive or rent a car. Younger

their lives, and they’re willing to do the hard work to

students can be counseled to avoid such issues.

make that change.”

and graduates.

“Adults also have a lot more on their plates,” Verduce Providing free career services sets Indiana Tech apart from other universities that try to cater to

said, “so fitting in an internship or some other method of gaining experience is hard for them.”

adult learners.

Job seekers of all ages can benefit from help with “Some universities overlook the fact that older learners also need career help when they complete a degree,” said Brian Engelhart, vice president of university relations. “Whether they’re changing careers, seeking advancement in their current field, transitioning from military to civilian life, or maybe

networking, writing resumes and cover letters, and preparing for interviews. But while traditional

support them beyond the classroom.”

Northeast Indiana Carol Rouch: CARouch@IndianaTech.edu

students may be striving to get their first job after graduation, adult students are more likely to be seeking a promotion with a current employer or trying to transition to a new industry.

even re-entering the workforce for the first time in a while, we’re here to prepare them academically and

Career Services provides services to all alumni and current students and they are ready to help. Contact the main office: careerservices.indianatech.edu

“When looking to switch industries as an adult

Northwest Indiana Megan Keesler: MCKeesler@IndianaTech.edu Central Indiana Pamela Walters-Boley: PDWaltersBoley@IndianaTech.edu

worker, it is sometimes harder, because there is a lack of experience on that student’s resume that correlates Indiana Tech Magazine

15

GIVING STUDENTS THE WORLD Ph.D. Program Has Been Broadening Horizons for 5 Years

By Steve Penhollow

Jennifer Wegleitner grew up in a small town in South Dakota and ended up marrying a farmer from an even smaller town in South Dakota. She was the first person in her family to attend college.

“I graduated at the age of 23 with a stack of student loan debt, a job offer as an economic analyst, and an intense desire to see the world outside of my little community,” she said.

An intense desire to see the world outside of Wegleitner’s little community was not a common desire within Wegleitner’s little community.

But thanks, in part, to a supportive husband, Wegleitner saved her pennies and traveled when she was able. And her travels eventually lead her to that most cosmopolitan of North American cities: Fort Wayne, Indiana.

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Fall 2014

From small town to global leadership: Ph.D. student Jennifer Wegleitner on campus during Ph.D. program’s Fall Immersion Weekend.

Describing Fort Wayne as cosmopolitan might earn

Rauch said the whole program was designed to

a chuckle or two from people who have no firsthand

provide as much flexibility to adult professionals as

knowledge of Fort Wayne. But Wegleitner knows the

was feasible without compromising standards.

truth: She sought out Fort Wayne because she knew Fort Wayne could bring her the world. Wegleitner,

Most college programs allow students one or two

now a chair in the department of business and

points of entry. They can either enroll in the fall

technology at Presentation College in Aberdeen, is

semester or, at some schools, in the spring semester.

one of 170 students enrolled in the Ph.D. in Global

Rauch said students wanting to enroll in the global

Leadership at Indiana Tech.

leadership program have six points during each year at which they can apply for enrollment.

The Ph.D. program is celebrating its 5th anniversary since being established in 2009 to address two

Unlike most higher education programs that are

academic needs described by Dr. Kenneth Rauch,

constructed of fairly rigid sequences of classwork

director of the program.

and customary congregations of folks, the global leadership program is not “lock step” in an inflexible

The first need was for a program that gave students

cohort model, Rauch said.

tools to see beyond the western mindset in their business dealings.

For New York City resident and Ph.D. candidate Joe Lestrange, such flexibility wasn’t a luxury. It was

“We felt people in leadership positions currently

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Scholars enrolled in the Ph.D program this academic year. Built from the ground up five years ago, you can see our enrollment progress below.

a necessity.

and in the future are going to benefit from increased knowledge of cross cultural elements,” he said. “The

Lestrange is an assistant special agent overseeing the

Western perspective doesn’t fully inform leaders

Homeland Security Department’s public

about what they may or may not be seeing.”

safety division.

The second need was for a Ph.D. program that truly

Thirteen years ago, he was a special agent for U.S.

catered to the needs of adult professionals.

Customs when two hijacked jets hit the towers of

2009-2010

|

42

2010-2011

|

82

2011-2012

|

108

2012-2013

|

139

the World Trade Center. He would have been in that “Most Ph.D. programs have very restrictive residency

demolished complex had he not started his workday

requirements,” Rauch said. “They don’t allow adult

at the airport.

professionals to maintain proper life balance when considering both personal and professional activities

Since the subsequent establishment of the Homeland

and needs.”

Security Department, Lestrange has worn many hats and has worked on investigations and cases involving

Indiana Tech offers the best of all possible worlds to

terrorist finance, bulk currency smuggling, fraud,

students seeking a Ph.D. in the young field of global

border security, gang violence, cultural property

leadership: All the courses are offered online, but

recovery and repatriation, cyber crime and computer

Indiana Tech is not an online university. It is a brick-

forensics, intellectual property enforcement and

and-mortar institution with a distinguished history

child exploitation.

of nearly 85 years.

Indiana Tech Magazine

17

When the intense and wiry Lestrange began to contemplate further academic study that would take him to the next stage of his career, he knew he had some unique, challenging, and non-negotiable requirements. He entered a northeastern university, only to discover that it was far too traditional to serve his needs.

“The average college student has the time to wait all day outside of an office for the chance to speak with a professor,” Lestrange said. “My schedule doesn’t allow for that.”

When he was considering enrolling at Indiana Tech, Lestrange said he “asked probing questions” of Rauch and others. In light of the fact that Lestrange makes his living making probing inquires into the lives of people who are particularly reluctant to be probed,

professional expertise. However, conducting original

class referred to in a number of old jokes: Underwater

applied research at the Ph.D. level is unlike anything

Basket Weaving.

that they have experienced in their professional lives.

A lot of work must be done at that level. It’s very,

“It was nice that what I was learning was applicable

very unique.

to real-life situations and was something I could use outside the classroom,” said Stacey Little, a faculty

one can only imagine what that process was like.

In the end, Lestrange decided that Indiana Tech was

“These are the directors of major companies, whether

member in the American Public University system. “I

it’s Pfizer or whether it’s Boeing,” Rauch said.

really appreciated the applied learning approach.”

“Wherever they are, they’re in major positions with

the place for him.

“I knew I belonged here,” he said. “This program is unique. We’re all mid-career professionals. We’re all managers and leaders.”

tremendous responsibilities. They’re used to being

Rauch said part of the program involves attending

able to pull a lot of levers and make things happen.

academic conferences wherever they may be and, for

Whereas, when they enter the program, they really

some students, it means global practicums.

have a great deal to learn and master.”

“We have 18 countries where we have conducted

“Students in the global leadership program are adults who have already learned a thing or two about how the world works and the faculty at Indiana Tech

“The benefits for a faculty member of having such

original research,” he said. “Everywhere from St.

accomplished professionals as students is that they

Petersburg, Russia, to Finland to the Philippines to

come in motivated and stay motivated,” Rauch said.

Hong Kong. All over the world, Indiana Tech students have conducted original research.”

respects what they bring to the table,” Lestrange said.

“It’s not as if we need to get their attention, instill Rauch describes the discernible masterfulness of the

order and establish hierarchy,” he said.

with us to research and publish in major academic

students in the program as a “double-edged sword.”

Of course, the program gives students ample reasons “They are very, very accomplished,” he said. “And they’re very influential in their own area of 18

Fall 2014

“We really encourage our students while they are

to stay motivated. For one thing, it isn’t esoteric and far removed from utility like the (hopefully) fictional

journals and peer review journals,” Rauch said.

Joe Lestrange shares his experiences and observations during Ph.D. program’s Fall Immersion Weekend.

Indiana Tech students have presented original

“I do realize how much I have to be thankful for,”

research “from London to Istanbul and San Francisco

Wegleitner said. “It has widened my view of almost

to China,” he said.

everything. It’s a journey, and it’s one I make, a little bit, in isolation. I think about things so much

“We had a student present at Oxford [University],”

differently than I used to.”

Rauch said. “We had a student present at the Hague.

They’ve presented in Dubai and Africa. The list goes

Wegleitner has her eye on Barcelona, Spain, for her

on and on.”

next global practicum.

Wegleitner got a chance to go on a global practicum

She admits the global leadership program was a

to Peru in July. She said it was, among many other

hard sell back home – not with her husband, but

things, a chance to dispel a peculiar loneliness.

with her mother.

“It is difficult to describe, but being a Ph.D. student

“She said, ‘Why would you go back to school

can in some respects be lonely,” she said. “Sure, we

and sacrifice your daughter’s childhood?’ ”

are surrounded by family and friends, but even

Wegleitner recalled.

though they see us doing homework, they just don’t understand the struggles and random things that

She said that while she appreciates the small-town

you view differently now that you are immersed in

perspective of some of the people with whom she

learning about epistemology and other topics that are

grew up, she doesn’t feel the need to emulate it.

difficult to spell. Spending almost two weeks with the other students who were sharing this same journey

“I have been managing my own life since I was in

with me was refreshing.”

high school,” she said. “I paid my own way through college. I told my mom, ‘I understand your mindset

In Peru, Wegleitner was able to experience firsthand

but you should be proud of me.’ ”

stark contrasts between “tourist-based areas,” vistas of unparalleled natural beauty, and scenes

Wegleitner intends to take her husband and 5-year-

of extreme poverty.

old daughter Autumn with her on future trips, as long as those trips don’t interfere with planting or

“What was especially heartbreaking for me as

harvest time. She believes it’s particularly important

a mother,” she said, “was seeing children in such

to take her daughter on a mission trip.

desperate circumstances.”

“I want her to see that kids don’t get things like this all She said she came back with a very different notion

over the world,” Wegleitner said. “I don’t want her to

of what it means to be poor.

take anything for granted.”

Indiana Tech Magazine

19

WARRIOR HOCKEY IS READY TO MAKE HISTORY

By Ben Smith

Hockey runs like ice water through Frank

So where to start?

DiCristofaro’s veins.

in Michigan, some of whom he’d recruited for Wayne State. But Indiana Tech’s commitment to

With no road map, DiCristofaro started with …

the sport, its campus, and the hockey reputation

road maps.

of Fort Wayne itself also played key roles.

rhythms of the sport, all those cold winter days

They took him to Indiana and Ohio and Michigan

“It was a really good situation being here in Fort

and nights on cold ice pursuing a passion that

and Minnesota, anywhere there were potential

Wayne,” DiCristofaro said. “It’s really a hockey

was anything but cold. He played as a child, he

players to look at. The rental car joints got to

town. Not to sound cliché, but there’s a lot of

played as he grew beyond childhood, and, when

know him by name. He, in turn, became equally

interest in the game of hockey here.”

his playing days were done, he followed in his

familiar with the inside of his suitcase.

Namesake son of a Hall of Fame high school coach in Michigan, his life followed the chill

father’s footsteps, becoming first a high school

That was no accident. From the moment Snyder

coach and then a college coach at Wayne State

“The first thing you have to do is you have to

broached the idea, the goal became to not only

in Detroit.

build a team,” DiCristofaro said. “So you have to

make hockey viable at Tech, but to ensure that

tap into your existing recruit database. That’s

it fit into the framework of the school’s athletic

And yet indelible as they were, the footsteps

what we did. We kind of started with the

philosophy as a whole.

were no guide for this.

goaltenders and worked our way out. Instead of

It was the late summer of 2013, and DiCristofaro

recruiting to fill a few spots, you’re recruiting to

“We don’t do anything without putting thought

fill an entire roster.

into it,” Neuhoff said. “This is something that

had just been hired to build an Indiana Tech

Dr. Snyder looked at for quite a while and asked

hockey program from scratch. He had the

“So just about every weekend last winter, we had

us to do the research, and we spent quite a bit

enthusiastic backing of President Arthur Snyder,

some kind of showcase or some kind of two or

of time looking into it, checking all the angles

who initiated the idea, and athletic director

three-game set that our staff (assistant coaches

and checking with people who had (hockey),

Martin Neuhoff, who was charged with making

Brian Lockhart, Steve Bohjanen and Andrew

and we thought it was a match for our athletic

it happen.

Weiss) was on the road for. It was pretty heavy

department and the other programs we had.”

with weekend rental cars and weekend hotels.”

What DiCristofaro didn’t have were players and anyone to play.

“We felt hockey would be a good fit for our Fortunately, he had something to sell. His

university and would fit in with our principles

two-year stint at Wayne State, his high school

and what we stand for—most of all our Warrior

“It was a challenge,” he remembers. “And you’re

coaching days at St. Clair Shores Unified, and

Pride process, which basically means doing the

always looking for a challenge.”

his family’s hockey reputation gave him more

right thing if it’s the right thing to do. So having

than a nodding acquaintance with prospects

20

Fall 2014

Check it out – Coach Frank DiCristofaro and the hockey Warriors bring intensity to the rink for every game.

Indiana Tech Magazine

21

said that, I did a lot of research into coaches and …

Then there was team captain Jake Henrikson, a

“Yeah, definitely,” said Cameron Dimmitt, a

we concluded Frank was the right person.”

forward out of Novi, Mich., whom DiCristofaro

forward out of Holland, Mich., who played

recruited for Wayne State and who’s a transfer

his junior hockey for the Cleveland Jr. Jacks

from tiny Finlandia University in Michigan’s

of the NA3HL. “You can set records. You can

upper peninsula, an NCAA Division III school.

make history here. It’s definitely different,

And now it fell to DiCristofaro to do the legwork.

Long weekend by long weekend, his team came

that’s for sure.”

together. DiCristofaro got his goalie, John Slavik,

“I didn’t really like the location,” recalls

from South Lyon, Mich., where he was playing for

Henrikson, who, like most of the Tech players has

And so Dimmitt, who’d been talking to

the Detroit Fighting Irish in the Midwest Junior

been playing hockey almost since he could walk.

DiCristofaro “off and on for two or three years”

Hockey League. He got Quentin Holmes,

“Way up north, too much snow, very, very small

about coming to play for him at Wayne State,

a defenseman from Ohio who was playing junior

town. I’m a city guy. I like the city.

changed course, too. Making history was too

hockey in Eugene, Ore. He got Jacob Falls out

enticing a lure to turn down.

of San Antonio, Texas, who was playing juniors

“So when I left there, I got in touch with some of

in Bradford, Ontario, and two Fort Wayne

my friends that were coming here, told them to

Provided, of course, there would be a platform on

natives (Ryan Matteson and Ian Maisonneuve)

give my email and phone to coach.”

which to make that history.

It wasn’t exactly a hunch, but perhaps the next

That was step two for DiCristofaro and his staff,

who were playing for the local junior team the Fort Wayne Federals.

thing to it. Henrikson didn’t know DiCristofaro,

because a hockey team with no one to play

Eventually the roster for the inaugural season

but he knew of him. He knew he was a good coach

was not really a hockey team at all. That meant

would include 14 players from Michigan, but also

from “a big hockey family.” And if he didn’t know

DiCristofaro had another selling job to do, and,

players from Ohio, Indiana, Texas and Illinois.

anything about Tech, a couple of his friends did.

again, his contacts and the school’s commitment

The roster drew heavily from players in two

to the sport were key.

junior organizations: The MJHL and the North

“I came down here, really liked the campus, met

American Tier III Hockey League.

some people who were really nice,” Henrikson

“Teams want to make sure that you have the

said. “I had a few other considerations, but I

school backing,” DiCristofaro says. “And really, at

decided to go with Tech. They had the programs I

our level, making sure you’re gonna be around

liked and what I wanted to get into. Tech had it all.”

in the fall. Fortunately enough we’ve had a

“YOU CAN SET RECORDS. YOU CAN MAKE HISTORY HERE. IT’S DEFINITELY DIFFERENT, THAT’S FOR SURE.”

22

Fall 2014

tremendous amount of that—and not only from Including the chance to get in on the ground floor

the school itself but from the student body. That

of something fresh from the wrapper, a notion

tends to help as well.”

that appealed not to just Henrikson but also a number of others.

Initially, Robert Morris in Illinois and Michigan-

“It’s going real well,” DiCristofaro said. “We have a

a proof that they’re the right fit for us. They fit in

Dearborn took a flyer on Tech; eventually,

lot of guys that are working real hard. Obviously

extremely well.”

DiCristofaro put together a 37-game schedule

with a brand new group they have to become

that includes Michigan State, four Mid-American

accustomed to their own tendencies as a team, but

And the immediacy of the fit speaks well both of

Conference schools (Central Michigan, Western

such is the nature of putting together a brand new

the care that went into researching the program

Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Kent State) and

group of guys.”

and the foundation DiCristofaro and his staff have

opponents as far flung as Iowa State and Buffalo and Canisius in western New York.

put in place.

Henrikson, for one, is optimistic about that process.

“Often when you get a new program, it takes a little

Tech itself plays under the auspices of the American

“We’re coming together just fine,” Henrikson said.

time to adjust,” Neuhoff said. “You might have to

Collegiate Hockey Association’s Division I. That

“It’s kind of a shame we only had four weeks and

shave a few corners and make some adjustments.

organization doesn’t allow financial aid based

then we start games. But we talked to the ref after

But this one didn’t.”

on hockey, but that doesn’t change how Tech

our first game and he said ‘If I see you guys again in

regards the sport, which is as a fully funded

December, you guys will be a whole new team.’ And

“They basically hit the ice running, to be honest

varsity program.

we will be.”

with you.”

“It really depends on how the team is approached by

Already, they’ve had a moment of karma. In

the school, and our school considers this a varsity

their home debut, before a raucous homecoming

sport,” DiCristofaro said. “The governing body of it

weekend crowd that came decked out in gladiator

doesn’t allow financial aid based on hockey, but at

helmets and every conceivable shade of orange, the

the same time, when they come here they don’t pay

Warriors scored the first point of the game and sent

anything to play hockey.”

the crowd into a frenzy. Unfortunately, the game resulted in a 5-4 shootout loss to Central Michigan.

SEE HISTORY FOR YOURSELF...

See the Warriors in action at home at the Parkview/SportONE Icehouse in Fort Wayne, or on an upcoming road trip.

“Ice is free, equipment is free, they get free sticks and tape. All of that is a big draw, especially when

For Neuhoff, the outcome of the game wasn’t nearly

you’ve got kids coming up who are used to paying

as significant as what happened afterward.

thousands of dollars to play hockey.”

“Besides the spectators we had, after the game Now it’s just a matter of putting a competitive team

we had free skating,” he said. “Almost all the team

on the ice with an all-freshman roster that had just

members – and they didn’t have to do this – came

four weeks to get to know one another.

out with the 60 kids we had on the ice. So that was

12/13 GRAND VALLEY STATE 5:30 PM 12/14 WESTERN MICHIGAN

AT MEMORIAL COLISEUM 1 PM

(Doubleheader with Fort Wayne Komets – Toledo Walleye game following at 5 PM.)

1/24

WESTERN MICHIGAN

8:30 PM

1/25

WESTERN MICHIGAN

12:30 PM

1/30

@ CENTRAL MICHIGAN 8 PM

1/31

@ CENTRAL MICHIGAN 8 PM

2/13

@ WESTERN MICHIGAN TBA

2/14

@ WESTERN MICHIGAN TBA

2/20 @ Rochester College

6:45 PM

2/21

4:30 PM

ROCHESTER COLLEGE

Watch all Warriors home games via live stream ...

INDIANATECHWARRIORS.COM/LIVE Follow the team: @INTECHICE_D1

INDIANATECHWARRIORS.COM

Indiana Tech Magazine

23

Warrior Weekend 2014 was another great success as alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and current students gathered together on the Fort Wayne campus for a variety of festive events and activities. Highlights of the weekend included:

» Dedication of the Academic Center, including the placement of a time capsule to be opened in 2064

» Alumni and their guests celebrating 50 years since their graduation in 1964

HOMECOMING 2014 | WARRIORS UNITE » TECHnology 101 sessions about the Center for Creative Collaboration, the education lab, and the criminal justice lab

» Sherrill Hamman, associate professor of business, sharing her story to a full room at the annual Prayer Service

» A very successful Road Warrior Cruise-In featuring more than 40 vehicles and live music

» Alumni baseball and soccer games » The Alumni Recognition Lunch honoring the class of 1964, three alumni award winners, the newest Alumni Hall of Fame inductee, and more

» 1948 alum Herman Habegger returning to celebrate his 66th anniversary of graduating

» A riveting inaugural home opener for the Warrior ice hockey team This spectacular homecoming weekend was capped off with the 25th Annual TWIST Golf Outing played at Chestnut Hills. A full field of foursomes teed off at noon, and this year’s outing brought in more than $15,000 which will be distributed evenly between Warrior athletics and the Moore-Trask Scholarship (awarded annually to a deserving business student).

Don’t miss out on all of the wonderful events planned for Homecoming 2015. Put the dates on your calendar today: September 18 to 20, 2015.

24

Fall 2014

HOMECOMING 2014 01 |

ALUMNI HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Ravi Talwar, BSME 1965 Ravi Talwar arrived in Fort Wayne from India about 50 years ago with just a suitcase in his hand, $50 in his pocket, and speaking almost no English. He came to Fort Wayne to enroll at Indiana Tech and with the help of faculty and staff he was able to earn a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering in 1965. After he graduated he joined Sheller-Globe as a project engineer in a manufacturing facility and found his passion, which is manufacturing. Shortly thereafter he went back to college to earn a master of science in industrial engineering from Purdue in 1969.

Talwar honed his skills and used his new degree at General Electric where he led areas from manufacturing to quality control, shop operations and product development. He also spent some of his time on their training team. His final assignment with GE was running a joint-venture business in Saudi Arabia.

But he didn’t want to stay in Saudi Arabia too long because the love of his life, Eleanor, was waiting for him back in the United States.

Together, they became entrepreneurs with Ravi, then 42, leading the way by acquiring Indiana Bridge in 1987. This was a structural steel fabrication business that was having a difficult time staying in business, and he took a risk. He led Indiana Bridge to high levels of success and accomplishment. Ravi has established 10 businesses over the years and is currently the

26

Fall 2014

| ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS president and CEO of Tisher Industries, a company

seeking people with their skill sets. In this role he has

Hoffman has also been a supporter of Indiana

he started in 1990. In 1993 he started a company

been able to focus his attention on helping Indiana

Tech through BAE Systems. BAE has donated to

called Gate City Steel, and as an offshoot, he oversees

Tech graduates gain employment and further their

a scholarship fund which supports engineering

another company Gate City Software Solutions, with

careers. He also has worked with current students

students. BAE also has participated in career

his brother.

through Career Center events to develop their

readiness events, hosted students as interns, and

networking and interviewing skills.

hired alumni as employees.

of people working at his companies and kept them

03 |

04 |

employed even during tough times. He is a mentor for

Robert Hoffman, BSBA 1995

Kyle Schroeder, BSBA 2003

SCORE and was awarded an honorary doctorate from

Bob Hoffman is the director of operations and

Kyle Schroeder moved from Ohio to attend

Indiana Tech in 2013. He is an Indianapolis Colts and

site executive at BAE Systems in Fort Wayne,

Indiana Tech in 1999 and earned a degree in business

Pacers fan and enjoys hitting the links on occasion.

which employs more than 1,100 associates in the

administration in 2003. He played four years of soccer

Ravi and Eleanor are committed to helping future

development, manufacture, and servicing of products

and helped coach a season after graduation.

generations of students at Indiana Tech by graciously

for the Commercial Aircraft Solutions (CAS) business as

donating their time, talent, and treasure.

part of BAE Systems Electronics Systems Sector.

Schroeder currently works at Heritage Foodservice

Hoffman is a recognized expert and leader in lean

Group in Fort Wayne. He started in customer service

Over these many years, Talwar has built loyal teams

02 |

GRADUATE OF THE LAST

CPS ALUMNI OF THE YEAR

ALUMNI VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

transformation and manufacturing within the

and became a team leader. In 2013, Schroeder was

DECADE (GOLD) AWARD

aerospace and defense industries. A certified Shingo

chosen to manage the ecommerce customer service

Adam Lahr, BAIS 2012

examiner, he has led numerous efforts to promote

team of a new ecommerce company created by

Adam Lahr began working for Indiana Tech as an

and enhance BAE Systems’ lean enterprise across

Heritage. Soon after, they merged the two

admissions counselor after earning a bachelor’s degree

the business, its customer base, and its supply chain.

companies, and Schroeder helped design the

in management. While working for Tech, Lahr had

Under his leadership, the Fort Wayne site was named

front end tool for customer service along with the

the opportunity to earn a second bachelor’s degree

America’s Best Plant by Industry Week and won the

website that customers use. Today, Schroeder’s title

in information systems. The lessons he learned while

Shingo Prize for Excellence.

is hybrid platform manager and he dabbles a bit in

at Tech, both on the job and in the classroom, have

business development.

carried him into his career as an IT recruiter for

He is a member of the Indiana Aerospace & Defense

TEKsystems.

Council, Northeast Indiana Defense Industry

Schroeder currently serves on the Indiana Tech

Association, Greater Fort Wayne Inc., and the 122nd

Alumni Board and enjoys participating in

Fighter Wing Base Community Council.

alumni activities.

As an IT recruiter, Lahr networks with IT professionals and helps connect them with companies that are

01

02

03

04

Jeremy Rice, director of alumni relations celebrates alumni at the Alumni Awards Luncheon during homecoming.

From the Desk of Jeremy Rice I have to admit, fall is my favorite time of the year.

We are thankful here at Tech for all of you who

The weather is great (most of the time), football is on

continue to stay engaged with us. You provide

TV, classes have resumed, and homecoming weekend

extremely valuable support that allows our great

brings back familiar faces to campus. Homecoming

university to serve students better than we ever

weekend was great this year! Many alumni made

have before. Your support has a direct impact on a

it back to campus, some who had not been back

whole new generation of future Warrior Alumni.

for a number of years. I always enjoy seeing the

Please keep an eye on our alumni and friends section

excitement on the faces of folks who have not

of the Indiana Tech website as we have new and

stepped foot on campus for quite some time when

exciting alumni events.

they see all of the changes and amazing new things being done here at Tech.

Fall also means that the holidays are right around the corner. As you enjoy the upcoming holiday season

We had nine members of the class of 1964 return to

please remember that you have an extended family,

campus to celebrate their 50th class reunion. These

your Warrior family. We all look forward to seeing

impressive men all have done wonderful things with

you at the various alumni events that will take place

their careers and their lives. We also celebrated a

over the course of the year. If you can’t join us, keep

1948 graduate’s 66th year reunion. I thoroughly enjoy

us updated on you, your family, and your career by

hearing the life stories that are revealed throughout

sending us an email at alumni@indianatech.edu or by

the course of the weekend.

visiting www.indianatech.edu. Have a happy holiday season Warriors.

If you have never experienced one of our homecomings, I strongly encourage you to make plans to join us next year, September 18-20. The weekend will be full of fantastic events and activities for all to enjoy, including the 26th Annual TWIST golf outing at Chestnut Hills.

28

Fall 2014

Until we chat again…Go Warriors!

PATH OF A WARRIOR

Keep us connected!

Visit IndianaTech.edu.Alumni to submit alumni news and photos. News can also be submitted by email at Alumni@IndianaTech.edu, by phone at 260.422.5561 or 800.937.2448, extension 2219 or by mail.

Alumni Notes 01 Herman Habegger, BSEE 1948, had a 25-year

Charlynn (Gray) McBee, BSBA 2002, is now the tour

02 Michelle Crone, ASBA 2012, was named one of

career with the Naval Air Systems Command.

director at Castle Farms in Charlevoix, Mich. Castle

As a corporate engineer at Science Applications

Farms was built in 1918 by Albert Loeb, president of

Business Women’s Association. The Top Ten is the

International Corporation, he developed aircraft

Sears Roebuck Company, as a model dairy farm to

highest honor awarded to a member in ABWA. Crone

flight specifications. Habegger and his wife own

showcase products available in the company’s catalog.

is a business banking administrative manager for

and operate Graphics Plus and live in Indianapolis.

It was restored in 2001 and is now open year-round

Wells Fargo Bank.

Habegger is also the author of “Mysteries of the

for weddings, events and history tours.

Michael Dunne, BSHS 2014, is director of

Universe and Planet Earth,” published in 2013.

William Deitsch, BSME 1953, is retired from being

the 2015 Top Ten Business Women of the American

Amanda Fall, MBA 2006, is now the executive

residential living and social services at The

director of the Central Branch YMCA in Fort Wayne.

Heritage of Huntington.

an international service and support manager for Apple Computers. During his career he won the

Angela (Scheumann) Giese, BSCIS 2007, is a web

Management Excellence Award, Loyalty Award,

developer for Aquent.

and Productivity Award. He has been married for 54 years, has eight children and eight grandchildren.

Sheri LeFebvre, ASCJ 2008, has been promoted to victim services coordinator with Allen County

Glenn Repp, BSME 1953, is retired from being a flight

Adult Probation.

test project manager with Lockheed. Repp also served three terms in the Texas State Legislature and three

Angela (Schaeffer) Delagrange, ASBA 2010, is a

terms as the mayor of Duncanville, Texas, He has

purchasing manager for Apollo Design Technology

been married for 63 years and has four children, nine

in Fort Wayne. She works in partnership with

grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.

management to ensure effective and efficient

01

purchasing of materials and services.

Abraham Anouchi, BSEE 1954, president and founder of AYA Instruments, has written three books.

Matthew White, BSOL 2010, was recently awarded

“From Timna to Mars,” “The Hidden Scroll,” and “The

the 2014 John McLendon Minority Postgraduate

Legacy.” Excerpts of the books are available at

Scholarship. The $10,000 scholarship is given to

www.anouchibooks.com.

minority students who intend to pursue a graduate

01

degree in athletics administration. White has worked Norman L. Baker, BSAE 1956, recently wrote and

at the NCAA since 2007, first serving in client

published “Braddock’s Road: Mapping the British

relations at the eligibility center. Most recently,

Expedition from Alexandria to the Monongahela.”

White has transitioned into the coordinator of

The book is sold at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

championships: community programs and youth clinics position.

Renee Gerber, BSBA 1996, works for Delta Airlines at Pittsburgh National Airport.

02 Indiana Tech Magazine

29

IN MEMORIAM

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

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

Harold L. Auer Hunker, PA BSME 1958

Robert Dunn Olean, NY BSME 1949

James R. King Plymouth, MI BSELE 1959

Dale R. Peters Modesto, CA BSME 1958

William F. Bailey, Jr. Erie, PA BSEE 1950

Robert C. Engle DeLand, FL BSCE 1948

Chester Kirkpatrick Oroville, CA BSCE 1940

Robert A. Petrillo Lanesboro, MN BSEE 1976

Glen L. Bansbach Lakeland, FL BSEE 1958

Clarence E. Ford Roseville, CA BSAEE 1950

David A. Lambert Fort Wayne, IN BSCE 1962

William L. Royer Burlington, IA BSEE 1950

John B. Beckman Cedartown, GA BSAEE 1954

Richard J. Gearhart Mesa, AZ BSCE 1952

George G. Lashinsky Sunol, CA BSEE 1955

Edwin W. Schowe, Jr. Muncie, IN BSEE 1942

Lavar Burnett Phoenix, AZ BSELE 1956

Robert G. Geething Pekin, IL BSEE 1949

Donald W. Looft Lafayette, IN Adjunct professor at Indiana Tech

Mary F. Scully Fort Wayne, IN Spouse of Indiana Tech President Thomas Scully

Duane Theodore “Ted” Dahinden Middletown, NY BSEE 1949 BSRE 1949

Mark G. Gooding Santa Monica, CA BSEE 1957

James P. McGuinn Claremont, CA BSME 1952

Rolla (Jess) J. Stout Fort Collins, CO BSME 1959

Edwin C. Metcalfe Oro Valley, AZ Former member, Indiana Tech Board of Trustees’

Paul W. Tafel Lower Allen, PA BSME 1950

Joseph A. D’Allura Carmichael, CA BSME 1946 Scotia Marea (Mockobee) Dekker Beaver Dam, Wisconsin ASBA 2011 Robert L. Dennis Jacksonville, FL BSEE 1960 Charles L. Donham Iowa City, IA BSCHE 1953 Marjorie M. Dow Pinehurst, NC Worked at Indiana Tech as an administrative assistant Wife of Indiana Tech Professor Ben Dow

30

Fall 2014

Robert W. Gress Lehigh Acres, FL BSME 1959 Refugio Gutierrez Pasadena, CA BSCHE 1951 Gaylord E. Heaston Grand Rapids, MI BSME 1940 Harvey J. Hunt Rigby, ID BSEE 1958 Warren L. Keller Lebanon, IL BSELE 1956 Stephen C. Klerner Fort Wayne, IN Former weightlifting instructor at Indiana Tech

George N. Montgomery Sugar Land, TX BSEE 1956 Albert S. Mori Kapa`a, HI BSCE 1951 Rodney H. Morimoto Placentia, CA BSEE 1963 Raymond J. Nuss Doylestown, OH BSEE/BSRE 1951 Milton Perlman Manchester, CT BSPHY 1965

William T. Takei Los Angeles, CA BSAEE 1943 Robert F. Tanner Raleigh, NC BSCE 1951 Roger B. Thomson Columbus, IN BSEE 1960 Carlos H. Tobar Belleville, IL BSCE 1956 Arthur W. Wagner Anderson, CA BSAEE 1949

PATH OF A WARRIOR

Remember This?

Max Baumgardner ’56 Did When he picked up the Summer 2014 issue of

respond to the photo on the last page

Trends Magazine (now Indiana Tech Magazine),

of the recent issue of TRENDS. The

Max Baumgardner, BSME ’56, instantly recognized

three guys shown there are Boyd

someone familiar: his younger self.

Byerly and Dale Graft sitting, and me, Max Baumgardner, standing. The big O’s on our jackets were for our high

Along with Max in the “Remember This?” picture on the back cover were two of his friends and Tech basketball teammates. Pictured left to right:

school – Ossian High School, in Ossian, Indiana, where we each graduated in 1953. We were seniors together on our school basketball team, which won 24 straight

at General Motors Locomotive Group in LaGrange, Illinois.

Boyd Byerly, BSCE ’58 (seated, left). Indiana Tech

games before losing to Hartford City in the regionals.

Athletic Hall of Fame inductee in 2010.

Murray Mendenhall recruited me for Tech; after

You may have seen the table and benches under the

one season, I recruited both Boyd (who had gone to

gazebo west of Tech’s Administration Building (the

Butler) and Dale (who had gone to Purdue). We all

Wilfred Uytengsu, Sr. Center – editor’s note). I made

Max Baumgardner, BSME ’56 (standing, center).

played for Tech and later were fortunate enough to be

the benches and table for Tech in about 2010-11

Indiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame inductee in 2001.

added to the Athletic Hall of Fame at Tech.

from oak wood removed from the building during

Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award, 2012.

its renovation. For that I was awarded Alumni Boyd was a Civil Engineer who was responsible for

Volunteer of the Year, which I certainly appreciated.

Dale Graft, BSME ’58 (seated, right). Indiana Tech

all the roads and bridges at the GM truck plant south

Athletic Hall of Fame inductee in 2010.

of the Fort Wayne airport. Dale was a Mechanical/

By the way, Dale called me from Orlando when he

Electrical Engineer who ended up as head of

saw the photo – I hadn’t talked with him for several

Engineering at Lockheed-Martin in Orlando, Florida.

decades, so thanks for getting us back in touch.”

After seeing the photo, Max reached out to Indiana Tech’s Alumni Relations office with an e-mail about it:

“My name is Max Baumgardner. I live in Northern

I was a Mechanical Engineer; I worked at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, Connecticut, and then 25 years for General Electric Aircraft Engines in

Thank you for reaching out and sharing the story of

Cincinnati. I ended up as Director of Engineering

the photo, Max!

Illinois near Dixon. My reason for writing is to

Remember This?

Take a trip with us down memory lane and tell us everything you remember about this photo from our past: Who, what, when, where, how– whatever you’d like to share.

Indiana Tech Magazine

31

1600 East Washington Blvd.

Fort Wayne, IN 46803

Save the Date Dec. 14

Warriors Hockey vs. Western Michigan, 1 PM at Memorial Colisuem and a doubleheader with Fort Wayne Komets vs. Toldeo Walleye game following at 5 PM

Dec. 20 A Sinatra Christmas – Lerner Theater, Elkhart IN 6 PM Jan. 3

Men’s Basketball Alumni Night – Warriors vs. Madonna University at 3 PM

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

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