These outstanding recipients have distinguished themselves in such a way that their peers suggested them for national alumni awards. We all take pride in their accomplishments.
Luminaries of Marquette engineering We asked you, our alumni and friends, to identify and honor the college’s most distinguished alumni: the Luminaries who have transformed technology, industry, education and everyday life with their innovations, accomplishments and leadership. A selection committee composed of 10 alumni, faculty and staff was charged with the difficult task of selecting the Luminaries of Marquette Engineering from a pool of more than 300 nominations. After much deliberation, 39 individuals were selected. Meet these remarkable engineers at go.mu.edu/muluminaries.
Designing solutions Senior engineering students are required to take a capstone design course, traditionally known as Senior Design. For each project, a multidisciplinary team of students tackles a real-world problem and develops a solution. Project ideas come from industry, faculty and students. Teams analyze, study, experiment, build, create, test, write and present a final product to students, faculty and industry sponsors.
The 2011–12 seniors are working on 33 different projects, including the redesign of a thermal shutoff valve, development of a CubeSat satellite and design of various assistive technologies. Approximately 30 percent of the projects involve technology for others. The capstone design course serves as a career dress rehearsal for future engineers. For details of the most recent projects, visit go.mu.edu/mucapstone.
Marquette’s Honduran water effort named Engineers Without Borders Premier Project The water distribution system in the community of Joyas de Carballo, Honduras, was old, poorly maintained and in need of repair. Members of the community suffered from parasitic and bacterial illnesses that resulted from dirty water and poor hygiene and sanitation practices. Since 2008, Marquette’s student chapter of Engineers Without Borders USA has been working with the community to address this issue by developing a clean, accessible, potable water source and an education program on health and sanitation. For this, the chapter received the 2011 Premier Project Award at the EWB-USA 2011 International Conference. “The EWB-USA Marquette University Honduras Project team’s new water supply system greatly enhanced the community’s
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Young Alumni of the Year Award: Stephanie Goplin Olsson, P.E., P.T.O.E., Eng ’00
access to clean, safe, reliable water,” said Cathy Leslie, executive director of Engineers Without Borders USA.
“The project included train-the-trainer education for the community to ensure that safe handwashing and sanitation practices continue on after the chapter leaves.” To carry their partnership with Joyas de Carballo forward, the Marquette team is evaluating the water distribution system and assessing other community needs.
Electrifying EWB results in Guatemala In neighboring Guatemala, another Marquette EWB team continues work on the community electrification project in Nueva Providencia. During a recent trip, team members wired five homes, two churches, and the community kitchen and mill. Most families in the community earn less than $5 a week. Subsistence farming is common, meaning that most children do not attend school past the age of 12. The addition of power in the village provides many new opportunities. New microeconomic options, such as oxygenated fish tanks for tilapia farming and sanitary steam-cleaned fruit canning operations, become a possibility. Students will have easier access to computers, and lighting will allow them to study after dark. In January 2012, the Marquette team will return to Nueva Providencia to continue work on the electrification project.
Learn more about the EWB chapter and other projects at go.mu.edu/muewb.
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