FA L L / W I N T E R I
COVER STORY
Bold step taken: MSOE celebrates Diercks Hall grand opening Lübeck Anniversary 6 Clean Water 11 Play Ball! 22
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GOING THE DISTANCE Zainab Alqallaf, industrial engineering major, developed a 2k factorial design (statistical) experiment aimed at determining the top variable(s) to maximizing distance as part of her Design for Quality class with Dr. Doug Grabenstetter. Design of Experiments is a powerful tool that can be used by all engineering majors.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Dear Alumni and Friends, We’re only one quarter into the 2019–20 academic year and MSOE is already celebrating milestones. We kicked off the year with a grand opening celebration for the Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall. The entire MSOE community gathered together to celebrate this bold step forward for the university. Each floor of the hall features nextgeneration technologies and collaborative rooms to propel our students’ learning forward. We are incredibly grateful to Dwight and Dian Diercks for their generous gift that positions MSOE at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) education. I’m looking forward to seeing how our brilliant students will take projects to the next level by utilizing the tools in Diercks Hall. There’s a huge demand for industries to implement new technology and utilize data analytics, machine learning and AI. Diercks Hall helps meet that demand and elevates Milwaukee as a center for tech talent. Businesses can collaborate with students, faculty and staff to leverage the computing infrastructure and make previously unreachable ideas a reality. Problems that were once deemed impossible now have solutions hidden in data, and our students are here to learn how to crack the code. This year marks a momentous milestone as we commemorate the 25th anniversary of our study abroad program with Technische Hochschule Lübeck (THL), or the Lübeck University of Applied Sciences. Our students spend their junior year studying in Germany and their German classmates then attend MSOE for their senior year. We truly value our partnership with THL as it gives our students a chance to immerse themselves in a new culture and make cherished friendships that will last a lifetime. Read more about our students’ experiences on page 6. In October we officially opened the highly anticipated Raiders Stadium in partnership with Nicolet High School north of campus in Glendale, Wisconsin. We are thankful for all our donors who contributed to gifting our baseball team a new home, including MSOE Regent Kathy Ruehlow ’72 for her generous donation. We had a great time celebrating the grand opening with an alumni versus varsity baseball game. I can’t wait for you all to join us in cheering on the team in spring! Sincerely,
JOHN Y. WALZ, Ph.D. President
EDITOR’S NOTE Universities are places of constant change and evolution. Faculty, staff and students continually bring forth new ideas and make discoveries. And at MSOE, we take bold steps forward and look for ways to innovate and be better. As part of MSOE’s strategic plan, the Dimensions editorial team began the process of redesigning the magazine over a year ago. We surveyed our readers (the majority of whom are alumni), benchmarked our publication against leading university magazines, and engaged the MSOE community to help us clearly
articulate the MSOE brand in a meaningful way through compelling stories and high-quality photography. We are proud to share with you our redesigned magazine, which incorporates all the feedback we received. Our goal is to bring you stories that go beyond the headlines, and showcase the students, faculty, staff and alumni who are making those headlines. You’ll always find breaking news on the MSOE website in the newsroom, our social media channels,
and monthly e-newsletters. More and more, we are expanding and enhancing our communications to provide timely and relevant updates to our readers in ways that meet their busy lives. We hope you enjoy the new look and fresh take on content and, as always, we’d love to hear your thoughts and story ideas. JoEllen Burdue Editor burdue@msoe.edu msoe.edu/about-msoe/news/submit-a-story
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IN THIS ISSUE OVERHEARD....
“ We’re nimble, we’re fast, we’re efficient, we’re MSOE, and we’re going to make sure that the Milwaukee region is ready to transform these great businesses for the world of AI.” — DR. DWIGHT DIERCKS ’90 FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
6 Lübeck 25th Anniversary MSOE commemorated the 25th anniversary of its study abroad agreement with Lübeck University of Applied Sciences in Germany.
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14 Bold Step Taken The MSOE community joined together to celebrate the grand opening of Diercks Hall.
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President’s Message At the Forefront Around Campus In the Community Raiders Wrap-Up Class Notes From the Archives
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The German exchange program is MSOE’s oldest and largest study abroad opportunity.
ON THE COVER: Dr. Dwight Diercks ’90, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, Dr. John Walz and MSOE students throw their hands up in celebration at the grand opening of Diercks Hall.
Dr. Dwight Diercks ’90 unveils Rosie the supercomputer at the Diercks Hall pre-grand opening celebration dinner on Sept. 12, 2019.
AT THE FOREFRONT MSOE MINDSET The flagship publication of Milwaukee School of Engineering. With stories inspired by our mission and vision, Dimensions shines a light on our students, faculty, alumni and campus events, all while highlighting the values that unite us.
Editor JoEllen Burdue
Managing Editor Annette Pirrung
CREATE Fellows develop inspiring culture Fostering growth of the MSOE Mindset is a priority of the CREATE Institute at MSOE. Teams of CREATE Faculty and Student Fellows are working across campus to ensure graduates are leaders of character, responsible professionals, passionate learners, and value creators.
Creative Director Kristin Dunn
Graphic Designers Clay Feller, Peg Houghton, Chase Patt
Contributing Writers Dr. Roger Frankowski, Jillian Kokott, Colin Terrill, Dr. John Walz
Contributing Photography Direct Supply, Dylan Critz, Troy Giljohann ’10, ’19, Mark Hines, Jillian Johnson/Complete Weddings and Events, DeAnna Leitzke ’98, ’08, Lüebeck University of Applied Sciences, Kent Peterson ’99, Gary Porter, Erol Reyal, Nick Seidler Use, reproduction or storage of the name, address or other information about any individual identified within this magazine is strictly prohibited and constitutes misappropriation of corporate property.
Address correspondence to Dimensions Magazine, 1025 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202; marketing@msoe.edu; or (414) 277-7117.
Fall/Winter 2019–20 Volume 34, No. 1
The CREATE team is providing diverse faculty from around campus the opportunity to learn with and from each other.”
2019-20 CREATE Student Fellows: Brianna Berillo, Jonathan Cobb, Dakota Cole, Rachel Hunter, Alaina Jante, Jesse Lambrecht, Isabel Maier, Veronica Mangio, Caleb Nolen, Jocelyn Riemann, Egor Shalamov, Anne-Marie Warren. 2019-20 CREATE Faculty Fellows: Jeff Blessing, Joshua Carl, Victoria Carlson-Oehlers, Mark Daugherty, Bill Farrow, Annemarie Fleishmann, Kseniya Fuhrman, Anne-Marie Nickel, Leah Newman, Tammy Rice-Bailey, Icaro dos Santos, Jera Sullivan, Gene Wright. MSOE.EDU/CREATE
—DeAnna Leitzke ’98, ’08 AWARDS The teams are creating a culture that inspires students to develop the mindset and skillset they need to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow by providing transformative student learning experiences that connect academic, community and industry needs. Starting this year, the CREATE Institute is also focusing on faculty development, serving as a center for teaching and learning for the university. A robust faculty onboarding program was launched in September, and a series of professional development opportunities has been planned for the academic year. “The CREATE team is providing diverse faculty from around campus the opportunity to learn with and from each other,” said DeAnna Leitzke ’98, ’08, director of the CREATE Institute. “Through this process, our faculty, who truly are extraordinary, are living the very mindset that they are striving to instill in our students.” The CREATE Institute provides resources to faculty, staff and students while leveraging the university’s partnerships with industry. A team of six full-time faculty and staff, in conjunction with Faculty and Student Fellows, are dedicated to helping students develop the MSOE Mindset through a wide range of programming.
National Science Foundation grants awarded Dr. Russ Meier, professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department, was awarded a $463,000 grant by the National Science Foundation to study computational thinking in the formation and enculturation of engineering students. Meier worked with colleagues at the Texas A&M University and the University of Oklahoma to submit the grant. As technology advances and the availability of supercomputers for deep learning and artificial intelligence increases, engineers will benefit from problem solving using computational thinking. Under the leadership of Drs. Gul Afshan and Eryn Hassemer, a biomolecular engineering senior project team applied for and won a Milwaukee NSF I-Corps grant and NSF Small Business Innovation Research - Small Business Technology Transfer Seed Funding for construction of novel prototype storage and processing for stem cells.
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AT THE FOREFRONT INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Direct Supply transforms historic MSOE building into tech hub Direct Supply unveiled its revamped Innovation & Technology Center (ITC) in the heart of MSOE’s campus in October. The ITC, which first opened in MSOE’s German-English Academy building in 2012, connects MSOE professors and students with research projects and internships at Direct Supply. The new ITC is now the largest of its kind in the nation. It has been renovated from its original two floors to now occupy the entire 55,000-square-foot building. Over 200 engineers working in the ITC will collaborate with startups, universities and progressive care providers to develop technology-based solutions that help shape the future of senior care. The goals are to help senior care professionals lower costs, improve outcomes and heighten the resident experience in senior care, an industry often underserved for innovation. The expanded ITC is one more piece in the ongoing transformation of Wisconsin into a hub for technological innovation. The new center also adds to the growing cluster of startup and entrepreneurial hubs in Milwaukee.
Above: Justin Smith, innovation and technology manager for Direct Supply, and his colleagues welcomed the MSOE and business communities to an open house at Direct Supply’s new Innovation & Technology Center. At right: A living moss wall art piece inside the ITC by Milwaukee artist Ali Carlucci features actress Betty White.
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IN MEMORIAM
Dr. Robert Spitzer By Dr. Roger Frankowski, retired vice president of academics Dr. Robert Spitzer, the third president of MSOE, passed away April 30, 2019. Spitzer served as president from 1977 to 1991, at a critical time in the evolution of the institution from advanced trade school to serious and creditable college. In the 1970s, MSOE experienced challenging financial issues and an ailing President Karl Werwarth was unable to effectively deal with these problems. The Board of Regents hired Spitzer, with his significant experience in business, to establish a firm financial base for MSOE. Spitzer recruited noteworthy individuals to serve on the Board of Regents and reinvigorated the university’s Development Department to help garner funding. Throughout his tenure, the debts of the institution were retired, the budget increased, salaries were enhanced, and MSOE’s endowment was more adequately funded. On the academic side, Spitzer oversaw the creation of many new baccalaureate programs, many of which are the mainstays of MSOE’s menu of curricular choice today. Faculty credentials were increased, expert faculty were recruited and encouraged to participate in professional organizations, and curricula were revised. These efforts were essential for MSOE to seek and obtain regional accreditation from the North Central Association, which truly transformed MSOE to a respected and sought-after college. In addition, Spitzer invited national figures to see the campus and become aware of MSOE, but also to expose the faculty, staff and student body to greater intellects and national ideas. Awarding honorary degrees to George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush, Norman Vincent Peale, to name a few, all enhanced the reputation of
President John Walz, Ph.D. (left) with MSOE Presidents Emeriti Robert Spitzer, Ph.D. (center) and Hermann Viets, Ph.D.
the college. Having President Gerald Ford at the Walter Schroeder Library dedication was clearly a thrill for the entire campus. Spitzer was instrumental in changing MSOE from strictly a commuter college to a residential college. While MSOE had residence halls prior to Spitzer’s presidency, most students went home on weekends. The campus didn’t seem to exist after Friday classes. A vigorous and well-directed program creating “student life” emerged on campus. Spitzer was a “people person.” He loved the students, faculty and staff. He invited them to his home; he ate in the residence halls; he talked to students in the hallways; and he listened to and appreciated the faculty. In return, the faculty, staff and students loved him. His annual “spanferkel” (pig roast) at the start of each academic year was appreciated by all. As a final note, Spitzer moved MSOE from institute to college, created an environment intellectually and socially advantageous for students, provided a solid financial base for the institution, and spawned an enviable “familial” attitude on campus. All of these advances made it possible for his successors to move MSOE to even greater heights. MSOE.EDU/SPITZER
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FEATURE STORY LÜBECK 25TH ANNIVERSARY
25 Years of Freundsc O
One of the most famous German buildings in the world, the Holsten Gate, was completed in 1478. And for 25 years, MSOE students have had the opportunity to see this landmark during their international studies in Lübeck, Germany, and build "freundschaft" (friendships) with students from around the world. Electrical, mechanical and industrial engineering students and Rader School of Business students have the opportunity to spend their junior year in Germany. All courses are taught in English and course work directly transfers to MSOE so students are able to stay on track for graduation. Additionally, their German classmates in turn spend their senior year at MSOE. Upon graduation, most program participants receive a degree from MSOE and Technische Hochschule Lübeck (THL) or the Lübeck University of Applied Sciences. Nicole Johnson spent her junior year in Lübeck. “It was a once in a lifetime experience. I made so many friends, got to travel all over Europe and learned so much more than just my course work. I would go back in a heartbeat!” The German exchange program is MSOE’s oldest and largest study abroad opportunity. President Emeritus Hermann Viets, Ph.D. developed the program in 1994 to give students international experience. Viets also created exchange programs with the Manipal Institute of Technology in Manipal, India, and Czech Technological University in the Czech Republic. The study abroad legacy continues at MSOE and short- and long-term programs are continually added. 2019 is a special year for our colleagues and fellow students in Germany as they celebrate milestones in their educational system and study abroad programs. An international crowd of 300 educators and elected officials gathered in Lübeck in June for a grand celebration of the 50th anniversary of Germany’s University of Applied Science system, including several representatives from MSOE. THL was one of the
I made so many friends, got to travel all over Europe and learned so much more than just my course work.” — NICOLE JOHNSON
first three institutions to form Germany’s University of Applied Science system. (In 2018, Fachhochschule Lübeck was renamed THL.) They were joined by MSOE/THL alumni from Germany and current MSOE students. The 25th anniversary of MSOE’s study abroad agreement with THL was another cause for celebration, during which MSOE President John Walz received “Citizen of Technische Hochschule Lübeck” honors, equivalent to an honorary doctorate from an American university. “It was extra special to be there for the 25th anniversary and to hear how much the program has grown and changed over the years,” said Johnson. MSOE.EDU/STUDY-ABROAD
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Above: MSOE students joined fellow international students on a tour of Schwerin Castle. Right: St. Peter’s Church steeple rises over Lübeck’s Old Town. Left: Faculty and staff from MSOE and Technische Hochschule Lübeck gathered in Lübeck to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their study abroad agreement.
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AROUND CAMPUS DRIVEN FOR SUCCESS
MSOE Supermileage Team cruises through competitions MSOE’s Supermileage Team hit the road and closed out the competition season with two successful races. In April, the team traveled to Sonoma, California to compete in the 2019 Shell Eco-Marathon, a three-day competition challenging student teams to design and build ultraenergy-efficient cars.
Despite rain delays causing a limited session and slick track, the team finished in eighth place out of 30 teams in the gasoline prototype category with 919 mpg. With a few tweaks to their car and race strategy, the team proceeded to compete in the 40th annual Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Supermileage Vehicle competition held in Marshall, Michigan in June where they finished fourth with a mileage of 1,093 mpg. Dr. Christopher Damm advised the 17 team members ranging from freshmen to juniors and spanning across all majors.
MSOE’s Supermileage Team makes final adjustments before racing at the 2019 Shell Eco-Marathon. The team prides itself on student-made designs.
1,093 MPG
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HIGH ACHIEVERS
Faculty/staff achievements President John Walz was named to the Committee on Policy Analysis and Public Relations for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). Dr. Michael Carriere,, associate professor in the Humanities, Social Science and Communication Department, received the Karl O. Werwath Applied Research Award. Dr. Patrick Jung received the Best Book in General History Award from the Midwest Independent Publishing Association of Minneapolis for his recent book, “The Misunderstood Mission of Jean Nicolet: Uncovering the Story of the 1634 Journey.” Additionally, the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Board of Curators designated his book as the recipient of the 2018 Book of Merit. Dr. Katrina Moskalik,, assistant professor, Rader School of Business, was named the Rexnord Engineering Educator of 2019. Jane Peterson, testing services specialist in the Wellness Center, received the Johanna Seelhorst Werwath Distinguished Staff Award. The Council for Wisconsin Writers awarded Professor Emerita Judith Steininger Honorable Mention in the Kay W. Levin category for Short Non-Fiction for an article published in Montana Quarterly entitled “The Girl(s) from Montana.” Michele Trawicki, clinical assistant professor in the Rader School of Business, earned the Wisconsin Elementary School Principal of the Year Award from the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators. Trawicki is principal of Marcy Elementary School in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin and a university supervisor for students in MSOE’s MBA in Education Leadership program. Dr. Anthony van Groningen, associate professor in the Mathematics Department, received the Oscar Werwath Distinguished Teacher Award. Tom Wanke ’78, ’96, CFPE, director of MSOE’s Fluid Power Industrial Consortium (FPIC), was inducted into the International Fluid Power Society’s Fluid Power Hall of Fame.
New book highlights MSOE history MSOE librarians Denise Gergetz and Lindsay Bastian are the authors of a new book highlighting the history of the university. “Milwaukee School of Engineering” is the newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s Campus History Series. The book is available for sale in the MSOE Bookstore, Grohmann Museum Bookstore and on Amazon. Drawing heavily on the MSOE Archives collection in the Walter Schroeder Library, the authors compiled hundreds of photographs and archival materials all while writing a story that illustrates MSOE’s dedication to innovation over the course of more than a century.
Dr. Patrick Jung’s latest book pieces together the research of historians to tell the complicated and interesting journey of Jean Nicolet.
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AROUND CAMPUS
WELCOME WEEK 2019 From the athletic tailgate to a multicultural cookout and an art museum walk, Welcome Week 2019 was jam-packed with unforgettable events and fun, informational sessions to welcome new students to our thriving campus.
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GIVING AND GETTING
Uncovering a memorable past
MSOE Archivist Denise Gergetz (left) shows Rick Gagliano (center) and Michael Heaven ’83 artifacts in the MSOE Archives.
Did you know MSOE has a dedicated archive to maintain, preserve and share items of historical significance from the university’s past? Alumnus Michael Heaven ’83 and his wife Cindy spent an unforgettable day back on campus this past summer uncovering some pretty unique finds. Heaven and MSOE staff member Rick Gagliano won an afternoon to “Explore the MSOE Archives” after making a gift to the Fund for MSOE on Giving Day April 26. What were their key finds of the day? Heaven: “I really enjoyed reading the commencement program from the year I graduated and seeing pictures from the opening of MSOE’s library with President Gerald Ford. The entire experience brought back fond memories of my time on campus.” Gagliano: “I loved seeing all the old Student Life promotional materials.” Mark your calendars! MSOE’s Annual Giving Day is April 23, 2020.
GIRLS RULE!
Clean water and healthy communities An all-female team of students from MSOE’s Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management Department competed in—and won—a sanitary sewer and wastewater treatment design competition sponsored by the Central States Water Environment Association Inc. (CSWEA). Members of MSOE’s team include: Alexis Countryman, Miranda Durbin, Guissel Davila, Sydney Shaffer, Jamie Sykora, Rachel Montavon and Christine Boland-Prom. Assistant Professor Doug Nelson was their advisor. The competition challenged students to develop a water renewal facility for Monteverde, Costa Rica as part of CSWEA’s Global Water Stewardship—a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing sanitation in the developing world. The designs and presentations were judged by a delegation of elected officials, government staff and university professors from Costa Rica. As the competition winners, MSOE’s team traveled with Global Water Stewardship professionals on a trip to the project site in Costa Rica in August. They also represented CSWEA at the national Water Environment Federation (WEF) Student Design Competition in Chicago where they took fourth place.
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AROUND CAMPUS
AT T H E
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MARVEL AT THE MACHINES
Magnificent Machines of Milwaukee Extended through Jan. 26, 2020 Milwaukee’s most significant engineering marvels are on display at the Grohmann Museum during the Magnificent Machines of Milwaukee exhibition. Whether it’s typing on a QWERTY keyboard, riding a motorcycle, adjusting the thermostat, or driving a boat with an outboard motor, we have all been influenced by a Milwaukee engineer/ inventor. From household names like the Sawzall, to more arcane developments like DESCO’s diving apparatus, Magnificent Machines of Milwaukee seeks to highlight not only Milwaukee-born equipment and machinery, but also the engineers who created them. The exhibition features some of the most significant engineering marvels in Milwaukee’s history and includes photographs, documents, ephemera and
a number of the actual machines highlighted in the book of the same name by engineer Thomas Fehring, who also serves as guest curator. Nash automobiles, Merkel motorcycles, Evinrude outboards, Johnson Controls environmental systems, Master Lock locks, and Stereo Realist cameras—these are but a few of the Magnificent Machines of Milwaukee, a one-of-a-kind exhibit filled with one-of-a-kind inventions.
COMING SOON! Jan. 17–April 26, 2020
Ironboat: New Photography by Christopher Winters A wonderfully vibrant and powerful collection of photographs tracing the toil and travels of a number of ironboats on the Great Lakes Superior and Michigan. Gallery Talk with the Artist: Friday, Jan. 17, 5–9 p.m. Gallery Night Open House: Friday, April 17, 5–9 p.m.
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ALL IN THE FAMILY
CAREER FAIR HUGE SUCCESS
Engineering legacy lives on
MSOE talent is in demand
Nine family members, six engineers across three generations, three MSOE grads, one happy family. The Kubicek family lives by the motto, “It’s all about efficiency,” which shines true for each member of this engineeringcentric family. Bernice Kubicek, a May 2019 MSOE graduate double majoring in electrical engineering and mechanical engineering, grew up with a passion for physics and math and desire to follow the engineering footsteps of her dad and grandpa. Her grandpa, Edward Kubicek, kicked off the engineer lineage in 1946 when he received training through the U.S. Army. After serving in the Army, he went on to work as a systems engineer on various projects including the first moon rover, Titan missile control systems and many others. Todd Kubicek, Bernice’s dad, continued the engineering legacy at MSOE. An ’84 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology, he designed specialized equipment for the railroad industry, food industry and foundries.
MSOE is where he met Bernice’s mom, Virginia, who also graduated from MSOE in ’84 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Bernice received her Order of the Engineer ring during a ceremony in May 2019 held the evening prior to Commencement. The event was extra special for Bernice as her grandpa and dad joined her on stage to receive their rings as well. “I consider my father and grandpa two of the smartest men I know. My dad is my role model. I was excited and honored to receive my ring with both of them. My family is thrilled, too, and the majority of them were there to cheer us on!”
MSOE held its largest Career Fair for students and alumni with 338 employers in attendance—a 20% increase over last year’s record-setting numbers! The two-day fair drew recruiters from around the nation who were eager to fill internships and full-time positions with MSOE students and alumni. A Winter Career Fair will be held Jan. 23 and 24, 2020. Contact MSOE Career Services at (414) 277-7120 or career-services@msoe.edu for more information.
MSOE SUMMER PROGRAMS
Bernice attends the University of Iowa and is pursuing a doctorate in electrical engineering with a focus on signal processing.
Give your favorite high school students a STEM-filled summer! Registration is open now for MSOE’s Summer Programs, which are week-long residential camps for students entering their sophomore, junior or senior year of high school.
Todd Kubicek ’84 receives his Order of the Engineer ring along with his daughter and father.
WOMEN IN ENGINEERING An immersive opportunity for girls to explore 10 different engineering disciplines. EXPLORE SUMMER PROGRAMS Get your feet wet and explore nine STEM fields. FOCUS SUMMER PROGRAMS Take a deeper dive into your future career and focus on your favorite STEM field.
msoe.edu/summer
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FEATURE STORY DIERCKS HALL GRAND OPENING
BOLD STEP
TAKEN
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Students, faculty, staff and community partners entered the new Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall in awe and excitement on Sept. 13, 2019 to celebrate the official grand opening of the new building. The day commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring speeches from influential community leaders, MSOE President John Walz, computer science students Errin Miller and Kyle Rodrigues, and a moving speech from Dr. Dwight Diercks ’90, MSOE Regent and NVIDIA senior vice president of software engineering and donor of $34 million to construct the state-of-the-art facility. Diercks paid homage to the people who supported him throughout his journey, including his wife Dian and their families, former high school teachers and college professors, classmates, colleagues, the construction crew and the entire MSOE community for supporting the project and making his dreams a reality. He described his journey and how the building came to fruition, starting with the formation of the computer science program and the need for a new home to support the program and propel artificial intelligence (AI) learning forward. From the initial idea, to meeting with Regents, to discussions with architects, to construction, Diercks Hall was born. Diercks Hall is a $34 million, 65,536 square-foot innovative and experiential learning center to support both MSOE and community partnerships. Each floor is packed with unique spaces, collaborative classrooms and next-generation technologies that position MSOE at the forefront of AI education. “These technologies will change everything: the way engineers design and optimize, the way construction projects are planned and managed, the way actuaries calculate risk, and the way nurses care for patients,” said Walz during his
Rosie, MSOE’s new supercomputer, was unveiled at the grand opening of Diercks Hall on Sept. 13, 2019.
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FEATURE STORY remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony. “MSOE has the ability now to prepare students for that future. That is a claim few universities in this country can make.”
With these new technology advancements, students are able to take a trip to the operating room without leaving campus by working on the Anatomage Table, a fully segmented, real human 3D anatomy system. It is displayed in an operatory bed form and enables students to visualize anatomy exactly as they would on a cadaver. A cyber security room grounded with copper pipes and electromagnetic We’re MSOE, and paint allows students to conduct real-world cyber we’re going to security experiments and make sure that the test defensive mechanisms in a professional and Milwaukee region is controlled environment. ready to transform Students can immerse themselves in augmented these great and virtual reality businesses for the environments to visualize molecular modeling, walk world of AI.” through a building they — Dr. Dwight Diercks ’90 are designing and so much more. The highlight of the ribbon-cutting ceremony was the introduction and powering on of Rosie, the NVIDIA GPU-accelerated AI supercomputer and brains behind the futuristic, tech-savvy building. Diercks closed the ceremony by powering on Rosie, illuminating a light show and igniting a round of applause from the impressed crowd. Read more about Rosie and the inspiration behind her name on page 18. NVIDIA founder, president and CEO Jensen Huang followed the ribbon cutting ceremony with his keynote address, “AI: The Most Powerful Technology Force of our Time.” Diercks Hall then opened to all students and community members for an afternoon open house featuring panel discussions, demonstrations, displays (Continued on page 19)
The Anatomage Table, as demonstrated by Dr. Olga Imas ’99, is a fully segmented, real human 3D anatomy system.
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RELIVE THE CELEBRATION! Visit msoe.edu/diercks-hall to • Watch the ribbon-cutting and Dr. Dwight Diercks’ speech • Watch Jensen Huang’s keynote address • See news highlights • Meet Rosie
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FEATURE STORY 1
MEET ROSIE Rosie is an NVIDIA GPU-accelerated AI supercomputer with three NVIDIA DGX-1 pods, each with eight NVIDIA V100 Tensor Core GPUs, and 20 servers each with four NVIDIA T4 GPUs. The nodes are joined together by Mellanox networking fabric and share 200TB of network-attached storage. The name of this number-crunching powerhouse was inspired by the women who programmed one of the earliest computers in 1946—the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC)—and captured in the documentary “Top Secret Rosies – The Female Computers of WWII.” During World War II, the military hired six women as “computers” to calculate ballistics trajectories by hand. The job was time consuming so two male engineers—John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert—designed a machine to do it faster. Programming the ENIAC was an intellectually demanding job that involved extensive preparation, planning, and then configuring wires on a machine stretching across a 50-by-30-foot room. At that time, only those six women were trained to use it. The team included Jean Jennings Bartik, who lead the development of computer storage and memory, and Frances Elizabeth Holberton, who created the first software application. Together these women laid the groundwork for future programmers and software engineers and were instrumental in teaching others to program after the war. With artificial intelligence computing, the magic of programming is done by the computer (Rosie) after the scientists and engineers feed it data. Like the days of the ENIAC, a modern Rosie is the secret behind the acceleration of AI for decades to come.
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3 1. Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall 2. Left to right: Students Grant Fass and Isaiah Zupke had Dr. Dwight Diercks and Jensen Huang, NVIDIA CEO, autograph their graphics cards. 3. Dwight and Dian Diercks display the proclamation from Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett declaring Sept. 13, 2019 Dwight and Dian Diercks Day throughout the city. 4. Hundreds of students gathered in the student village outside Diercks Hall to watch a livestream of the opening ceremony and enjoy a variety of activities.
and interactive exhibits from corporate partners who sponsored the classrooms and laboratories throughout the building. The day closed with a commemorative “Rosie” T-shirt giveaway and a group photo of students surrounding Diercks, Huang and Walz (pictured on cover). “MSOE has a strong reach across the entire Midwest. We are in general a maker of great engineers, among other things. We’re nimble, we’re fast, we’re efficient, we’re MSOE, and we’re going to make sure that the Milwaukee region is ready to transform these great businesses for the world of AI,” said Diercks. Thank you, Dwight and Dian, for your generous donation and this magnificent building. We couldn’t have taken this bold step forward without you!
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IN THE COMMUNITY
MSOE and Ryan Braun make reading a hit MSOE staff and students volunteered with Ryan Braun at the Ryan Braun Summer Learning Gain Initiative, a SHARP Literacy educational program designed to use summer break to support academic success by helping urban school students prevent learning loss. MSOE donated equipment for SHARP Literacy’s new baseball themed summer coding program and volunteers were able to play a variety of baseball-themed games with approximately 375 kids. “The kids were so excited to use the equipment that MSOE donated to collect data related to their baseball swings,” said Deanna Leitzke ’98, ’08, director of the CREATE Institute. “We look forward to getting more involved with SHARP Literacy’s coding programs that introduce children to the fundamentals of engineering, like curiosity and making connections.” Other MSOE volunteers included baseball coach Steve Sanfilippo and three of his baseball players, Cole Raines, Ian Knuth and Christopher Barnes, as well as his son Sam. MSOE has been partnering with SHARP Literacy since 2013 through the Office of Servant-Leadership.
MSOE room at Pizano’s Did you know the party room at Pizano’s Pizza and Pasta is dedicated to the achievements of MSOE students and athletes? Pizano’s, which just celebrated its first anniversary in Milwaukee, is famous for its Chicago-style pizza. Be sure to check it out the next time you’re on campus. Pizano’s is located on the ground floor of the Grohmann Tower at the corner of Water St. and Juneau Ave.
DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2019–20
Girls STEM Academy Twenty-eight middle school girls explored the real-world application of key STEM concepts through hands-on learning experiences during the Girls STEM Academy. MSOE, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation teamed up to offer the week-long summer program. MSOE faculty and student ambassadors led on-campus sessions in coding and computer science, architecture and construction management, and biomedical engineering and medicine. The girls heard from community and business leaders on real-world applications of what they learned about and toured the Fiserv Forum, the Milwaukee Bucks Offices and GE Healthcare.
Coach Jimmy Banks is Positively Milwaukee
Dr. Michael Barber ’82, MSOE Regent and president and CEO of molecular imaging & computed tomography at GE Healthcare, speaks during the Girls STEM Academy.
Milwaukee Empty Bowls The 21st annual Milwaukee Empty Bowls event raised $65,475 for six local organizations that provide meals and services to community members in need. Attendees purchased more than 2,500 hand-crafted bowls donated by Milwaukee-area artists and enjoyed soup from more than 30 area restaurants. The event was held at the MSOE Kern Center and more than 100 faculty, staff and students volunteered to help everything run smoothly.
OUR PRESENTING SPONSORS JENNY AND BOB HILLIS,
in honor of Bob and Genie Friedman, invite you to experience
CHICAGO JAZZ ORCHESTRA SWINGS INTO THE HOLIDAYS WITH
ELLA FITZGERALD
and celebrates the Songs of Joe Williams
Sunday, Dec. 8 at 4 PM TURNER HALL BALLROOM | 1034 N. 4TH ST.
Owned and operated by:
WMSE.ORG WMSE.ORG
The late Jimmy Banks, MSOE head men’s soccer coach, was posthumously honored by Milwaukee’s NBC affiliate for his work in the community. During the station’s third annual Positively Milwaukee Awards celebration, he received the TMJ4 Positively Milwaukee Legacy Award and the TMJ4 Inspiring Person of the Year Award. Banks and his teams enjoyed much success and many championships during his tenure at MSOE, which began in 1999. Prior to coaching he was a professional soccer player with the Milwaukee Wave and the U.S. Men’s National Team that played at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. The Positively Milwaukee awards shine a light on the work Banks did with urban youth. Banks was instrumental in introducing soccer to youth in the Sherman Park neighborhood at the Boys and Girls Club. He launched the Milwaukee Simba Soccer Club to give inner city soccer players the opportunity to not only learn and play the sport, but to excel on and off the field. “At a time when few African American players were reaching the elite level of the sport, Jimmy’s rise … inspired a new generation to reach the same level,” U.S. Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro said in a statement. “His time as a player, coach and mentor will leave a lasting impact on the sport in this country, particularly his tireless efforts to grow the game through his inner city soccer programs.”
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RAIDERS WRAP-UP
PLAY BALL!
MSOE Raiders Stadium now open The MSOE’s Men’s Baseball Team has a new home: MSOE Raiders Stadium. A grand opening celebration was held Saturday, Oct. 5 at the stadium, located at Maslowski Park in Glendale, Wis. “MSOE Raiders Stadium is a dream come true to the MSOE baseball community,” said Steve Sanfilippo, head men’s baseball coach. “It’s a spectacular place to play and will be for years to come. We are truly blessed with the support of our donors, the university and our athletic department to continue to build the baseball program!” The facility is also home to the Nicolet High School Baseball Team. It features a synthetic turf baseball field, dugouts, lights, a press box and wrap-around seating from the first- to third-base sides of the field for more than 300 spectators. Through an agreement with the Nicolet Union High School District and City of Glendale, MSOE built the $2.5 million MSOE Raiders Stadium. The partnership allows MSOE students access to the swimming pool and tennis courts at Nicolet High School. The stadium was funded primarily by a gift from Dr. Kathleen Ruehlow ’72, MSOE Regent; Dr. Alan Ruud ’69, MSOE Regent; Catalyst Construction; and Gene Sheedy also supported the project.
DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2019–20
Dr. Kathleen Ruehlow’s grandson Cole had the honor of throwing out the first pitch (below), after which the MSOE Men’s Baseball Team played MSOE alumni (left). The varsity team beat the alumni 11-1, and is looking forward to their regular season this spring.
Jesse Lambrecht is the fifth student-athlete in MSOE history to break the 25:40 mark in an 8k race.
Speed racer He was recruited by NCAA D1 schools. So how did men’s cross country and track sophomore Jesse Lambrecht find himself as an MSOE student-athlete? “I visited with a few D1 schools, but they weren’t where I wanted to be academically,” said Lambrecht. “Even when I committed, I figured that running was not going to be a focus. But now with coach (Bill) Massoels in charge, I feel like my running goals are in line with my academic goals.”
I visited with a few D1 schools, but they weren’t where I wanted to be academically.”
Lambrecht, who is a mechanical engineering major, has a passion for challenging himself. Not only is he doing that in the classroom, but he is also performing at a high level in the — JESSE athletic realm. In his LAMBRECHT first cross country season Lambrecht ran an 8k race of 25:54 at the 2018 NACC Championships, good for eighth best in program history. “Throughout the season I was making progress with my time, but then I made a big jump that gave me the confidence for future races.” That record was bumped to ninth when he became just the fifth student-athlete in MSOE history to break
the 25:40 mark earlier this year. “Having experience running 8k races in my freshman year, plus being at a better fitness level allowed me to build up a strong base that held up throughout that competition. I didn’t feel like I was running fast, and I was actually surprised with my time.” Not only has he broken records on cross country courses, he has made waves on the track as well. Lambrecht recorded the Raiders’ fastest time in the 5,000-meter run in early 2019. “Early on in the indoor season, I felt like I just wasn’t fit enough, but things started to turn around in February. The harder training program really helped to put me in that position to take down a record.” Besides running for the Raiders, Lambrecht is a CREATE Student Fellow, and is involved in MSOE’s student chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the rocket team. He also had a summer internship at Reynolds Consumer Products where he used CAD software to work on machine design. When it comes to MSOE as a school, Lambrecht had some good advice to future students. “Always finish your homework early and study for exams well in advance. I felt that really helped me and allowed for a smooth balance of athletics and academics.”
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CLASS NOTES
1980s
__________________
Dr. Jacqueline Herd-Barber 84 EE, MSOE Corporation member, will receive the 2020 Sacagawea Award from Professional Dimensions in recognition of her professional accomplishments, commitment to the community and support for the advancement of women. Henry Brooks 85 MCE/MET, president of customer & account management, Collins Aerospace, West Palm Beach, Fla.
1990s
__________________
Steven K. “Zimmy” Zimmermann ’80 IM was inducted into the Land O’ Lakes Baseball Hall of Fame on June 26, 2019. Zimmermann (pictured second from right) played 12 seasons with Sussex, Butler and Lannon, winning two Grand Championships. He was Rookie of the Year in 1979 and a seven-time All-Star including MVP of the 1981 All Star game. Zimmermann won 13 games for MSOE from 1977–1979, was a member of the 1979 WICA conference championship team and compiled a career ERA of 2.89. He was inducted into the MSOE Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.
Jason Mankowski Sommer 11 NU,
received a Master of Science in Medical Informatics from MSOE.
Thomas Tarkowski 91 ME, engineer in charge for bridges and buildings, Department of Public Works, Milwaukee John Balzer 97 MSEM was named to the board of directors at Kathy’s House, a hospital guest house in Wauwatosa, Wis. Brian Savoie 97 IE, VP of finance, Bethesda, Watertown, Wis. Michael Brimer 98 AE/MS, senior vice president—integrated project delivery, Omicron, Vancouver, BC
2000s __________________
Heather Turner Loth 01 AE/CM, workplace strategy leader and associate shareholder, Eppstein Uhen Architects, Milwaukee Jeffrey Spenner 06 ME earned his MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Concordia University, Mequon, Wis. Jake Basten 07 AE/CM, senior project manager, Greenfire Management Services, Milwaukee
2010s __________________
Nathan Sommer 13 MIS, IT manager– client architecture & collaboration, Bemis Company Inc., Fort Worth, Texas Zachary Polak 16 BE, technical support technician, Siemens Healthcare, Cary, N.C.
DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2019–20
Evan Schilling 16 CE/EE graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with an M.S. in Electrical Engineering. Chad Sova 16 MBAEL, assistant principal, Homestead High School, Mequon, Wis.
Brittany Daniel 18 NU received the 2019 Rising Star Award from Aurora Health Care. Andrew Winston 18 CE, software developer, Epic, Verona, Wis.
Eric Fulsaas 17 CE, engineer, City Water LLC, Milwaukee
Michael Wojciki 18 EE, quality engineer, Hitachi Automotive Systems America Inc., Harrodsburg, Ky.
Alex Rathke 17 ME, inside sales engineer, Cummins Inc., Oak Creek, Wis.
Cole Abbeduto 19 SE, full-stack software engineer, Northwestern Mutual, Milwaukee
Adey Tewolde 17 NU is the staff nurse representative on the Wisconsin Nursing Association (WNA) Board of Directors.
Colton Agathen 19 CE, software engineer, Collins Aerospace, New Berlin, Wis.
Zachary Bartmer 18 CE, support technician, Froedtert Hospital, Kenosha, Wis. Trevor Crain 18 BM, web project management, Barrett Hardware & Industrial Supply Co., Joliet, Ill.
Riley Behnke 19 EE, graduate engineer, Realtime Utility Engineers Inc., Fitchburg, Wis.
Braden Andryk 19 AE/MSAE, structural engineer, raSmith, Brookfield, Wis. Jessica Bade 19 BIOE, quantum chemistry research associate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash.
Tyler Belofsky 19 AE, mechanical design engineer, Excel Engineering, Fond du Lac, Wis. Erik Billstrom 19 AE/MSAE, mechanical design engineer, EXP U.S. Services Inc., Milwaukee Mark Bolek 19 CE, BMC firmware engineer, Foxconn, Milwaukee Tyler Braun 19 ME, product engineer, E.D. Etnyre & Co., Oregon, Ill. Lauren Bremer 19 MBAEL, managing director, Write On Door County, Fish Creek, Wis. Riley Bruce 19 CE/EE, front end design automation engineer, Intel Corp., Folsom, Calif. Riley Buol 19 CM, project engineer, VJS Construction Services Inc., Wauwatosa, Wis. Alexander Buschke 19 EE, service engineer, Enercon Industries, Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Lt. Col. Tim Kerrigan ’90 MET, ’99 MSE was deployed to Kuwait with the U.S. Air Force for six months to build a new airbase at the Kuwait City International Airport and move the U.S. operation from the original base to the new one. Kerrigan is director of the Fluid Power Institute at MSOE.
Hailey Butler 19 ME, application engineer, Rockwell Automation, Milwaukee Patrick Carey 19 EE, field engineer, Verizon, New Berlin, Wis. Connor Christie 19 SE, software engineer, Johnson Controls, Milwaukee Noah Debroux 19 EE, electrical engineer, Touchpad Electronics Inc., Mukwonago, Wis. Danielle Dee 19 NU, registered nurse, Ascension, Milwaukee Spencer Dittmann 19 ME, application engineer, HeatTek, Ixonia, Wis.
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CLASS NOTES
Summer in the City ’19 SAVE THE DATE
The annual alumni reunion will be held July 31–Aug. 2 in 2020.
Summer in the City was a weekend filled with fun activities. Alumni and their guests toured campus, cheered on the Milwaukee Brewers, toured Lakefront Brewery, enjoyed visiting with friends old and new, and so much more. Ron Hahn ’91 was named 2019 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. Hahn is the president and chief operating officer of Scot Forge. Ted Salgado ’76, Lisa Vanlerberghe ’02 and Frank Weiler ’69 received Alumni Achievement Awards during Summer in the City.
DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2019–20
Patrick Eckloff 19 IE, operations engineer, Woodward Inc., Rockford, Ill. Melanie Ehlers 19 BBA, junior sales operations administrator, Zywave, Wauwatosa, Wis. Christopher Eidson 19 SE, software engineer 1, Johnson Controls, Milwaukee Jessica Flock 19 CE, full-stack software engineer, ETE Reman, Brown Deer, Wis.
Alexander Kanute 19 BE, process engineer, Excel Engineering, Fond du Lac, Wis.
Michael Glembocki 19 IE, project engineer, Signicast Investment Castings, Hartford, Wis.
Sharon Romero 19 NU, registered nurse, Advocate Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee Anna Rowe 19 AE/CM, engineer, GRAEF, Milwaukee Brian Rupp 19 BE, applications engineer, B&R Industrial Automation, Appleton, Wis. Nathan Russell 19 EE, BMC engineer, Foxconn, Milwaukee
Ashley Fozio 19 NU, registered nurse, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Zachary Gaatz 19 CM, project engineer, J.H. Findorff & Son Inc., Milwaukee
Geovanni Rogel 19 IE, project manager, House of Doors, Brookfield, Ill.
Noel Knibb Jr. 19 BE, Edison engineering development program, GE Healthcare, Milwaukee Marcus Koga 19 BE, test engineer, Plexus Corp., Neenah, Wis.
Serhane Satout 19 EE, hardware design engineer, Astronautics Corporation of America, Milwaukee Madeline Schroeder 19 NU, registered nurse, Ascension, Milwaukee Jonathan Shebesta 19 BIOE, analytical chemist, Alcami Corp., Milwaukee
Becky Guzman 19 AE/CM, cost segregation specialist, Wipfli, Wauwatosa, Wis.
David Konstorum 19 ME, mechanical engineer, IMA Automation North America, Rockford, Ill.
Jennifer Hansen 19 EE, naval engineering officer, U.S. Coast Guard, New London, Conn.
Jeffery Koehler 19 CE, software engineer, Lansing, Mich.
Michele Soderman 19 NU, registered nurse, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Elsey Kohlmann 19 IE, operations leadership development associate, Parker Hannifin Corp., Chetek, Wis.
Brandon Strzelecki 19 CM, project engineer, Pepper Construction Company, Chicago
Quinten Krisik 19 BE, development engineer, Nuvasiv, San Diego
Andrew Sullivan-Bormann 19 SE, software developer, Litera microsystems, Chicago
Connor Kroll 19 CE, software engineer, Johnson Controls, Milwaukee
Michaela Thiry 19 ME, mechanical engineer, BG Building Works, Avon, Colo.
Aaron Lowery 19 IE, manufacturing engineer, Racine Metal-Fab, Racine, Wis.
Alex Turkow 19 CE, embedded software engineer, Harris Corporation, Mount Prospect, Ill.
Taylor Heideman 19 AE/MSAE, project engineer, U.S. Engineering Company, Denver Maia Heineck 19 ME, OMLP, GE Healthcare, Milwaukee Brian Jones 19 EE, electrical engineer, Power Design Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Shravanthi Maniscalco 19 BE, project manager trainee, Pieper Electric, Milwaukee
Joshua Jordan 19 EE, associate electrical design engineer, SPX Corporation, Waukesha, Wis.
Daniel Morton 19 ME, associate engineer, United Conveyor Corp., Waukegan, Ill. Anthony Pappalardo 19 ME, product engineering technician, Heraeus, Hartland, Wis. Adam Petrenko 19 IE, industrial engineer, Ace Precision, Menomonee Falls, Wis. Christopher Piparo 19 CE, embedded systems engineer, Johnson Controls, Milwaukee Jacob Pribbernow 19 EE, engineer– automation, Kohler Company, Kohler, Wis.
Kevin Searle 19 SE, developer, Avionos LLC, Chicago
Jonathon Wallace 19 SE, applications developer, Local Job Network, Milwaukee
Connor Walters 19 SE, software developer, Epic, Verona, Wis.
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CLASS NOTES
Ryan Weise 19 SE, programmer, Acuity Insurance, Sheboygan, Wis.
Bradley Wetzel 19 MBAE, director of admissions, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee. Jacob Wood 19 EE, hardware engineer, Touchpad Electronics Inc., Mukwonago, Wis.
Nathalie Oehlers ’15 BM married Dan Adamonis on May 4, 2019. Several alumni joined in the celebration. From left: Martha Savory ’15 IE, Dr. Victoria Carlson-Oehlers, associate professor, Adam Oehlers ’18 BM, Patrycja Kolodziej ’16 NU, Dan and Nathalie Adamonis, Joshua Ruehlow ’14 AE, Samantha Wallace ’15 CM/TC, Hannah Klecker ’15 IE, Alexandra Apenteng ’14 IE, Elizabeth Bitante ’15 ME, Zach Dawiec ’16 AE/CM, Bradley Helm ’15 ME, ’17 MSE.
Share your stories
____________________________________________
We love hearing from our alumni! Send your class notes to alumni@msoe.edu
Julie Zeamer 19 BE, technical leadership development program, Konecranes, New Berlin, Wis. Rachel Ziemba 19 BE, supplier quality engineer, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, Wis.
Marriages Meghan Scanlan 14 AE, MSST married Adam Kiel on May 18, 2019.
Births/Adoptions To Ana Sofia (Larraga Martinez) Gross 16 IB, and Kevin Gross, a son, Benjamin Gross, born Jan. 22, 2019
Elizabeth (Watry) Mikulski 12 NU and Brandon Mikulski 14 BIOE a daughter, (right) Marlena Belle, born Jan. 24, 2019
DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2019–20
Flying to new heights
S
Catherine Chappell ’08
Since graduating from MSOE in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Catherine Chappell has been flying to new heights—literally. Chappell serves as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and flies the C-130 and the HC-130, a special C-130 that does rescue missions. She trained for civil search and rescue as well as combat search and rescue, including airdrop, air refueling helicopters, low level and more. Once she acquired enough flying experience, she applied to Test Pilot School (TPS), an opportunity she had her sight set on for years. “I had always wanted to go to Test Pilot School, so once I met the requirements I applied, interviewed and was accepted,” said Chappell. TPS was a 48-week program that consisted of more than 2,500 hours of academics and 120 hours of in-flight training. It covered everything from subsonic and supersonic aerodynamics, to equations of motion, to systems engineering. It also included a rigorous flight schedule going from flight sciences, basic performance of various airplanes, their flying and handling qualities. Chappell graduated from TPS in June 2018 with a Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering and now works as a C-130 experimental test pilot.
“We test all models and variants of the C-130 for all the new systems and capabilities that are constantly being developed so that our aircrews have the best systems to do their jobs when they deploy.” In her time as a pilot, Chappell has traveled across the world and has been deployed four times to various locations from Afghanistan to Africa. She is humbled by her experience, the people she works with and their dedication to helping the team succeed. “I get to work with very smart people—pilots, engineers, scientists—who are all the best at what they do. I do my best to take everything that I’ve learned to better our processes and outcomes so that the guys downrange have the right tools to do their jobs.”
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CLASS NOTES
TOTAL RAISED:
$259,867
(net)
More than a quarter million dollars were raised for student scholarships during MSOE’s President’s Golf Outing and Regents’ Golf Outing this year. Thank you to our sponsors, corporate partners, Regents, Corporation members, alumni and friends for your support at these annual events.
In Memory
Andrew Sweetana Jr. 56 EE
Robert Beranek 65 IET
Roger Post 58 EE
Michael Brandl 67 ME
Rellis Herzfeld 48 EE
Leon Straub 58 ECT
David Vetter 69 ECET
Paul Halter Jr. 50 EE
Edward Uhl 58 ME
Alan Moersfelder 70 EE
Raymond Litynski 50 ELTNT
Charles Hartjes 59 EE
Robert Braucher 71 EE
Paul Reimann 50 EEP
Kenneth Cage 60 ME
Randy D. Frame 75 SE
Jack Storm 50 RTT
Leander Kons 62 ME
David Long 76 IM
Jerold Krempel 52 EEP
Eugene Brudnowski 63 IET
Jeffrey Scott Truman 79 IM
Davide E. Lorenzi 53 RTT, 60 EE, 70 MSEM
Helmut Haupt 63 IM
Robert Gregor 80 IM
Kenneth Kafer 63 EE
Todd Holtkamp 82 ME
Louis Mezydlo 55 AAS
Dennis Ring 64 EEC
Mark Abler 91 EE
Norman Nishioka 56 RTT, 58 EE
Joseph Ryczek 64 ECET
Alan Blasinski 99 MSEM
DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2019–20
Jim Molnar, adjunct assistant professor, MSOE School of Nursing, passed away June 11, 2019. Molnar taught from the sophomore to the senior level and was committed to ensuring that his students could critically think and act in the clinical setting. He joined the MSOE faculty in 2007 and brought years of experience as a certified Nurse Practitioner in vascular interventional radiology to his role. Dr. Bob Kern, professor, passed away July 17, 2019. Kern joined the faculty in 1977 and was a professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department. Kern was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship from Case Institute of Technology, and won the Oscar Werwath Distinguished Teacher Award in 1985. Kern was an advisor for mechanical engineering students. He also was a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Kern advised many senior projects, including MSOE student teams that won the Society of Automotive Engineers Mini-Baja and Aero-Design competitions. Peter O. Kirchhoff, MSOE Regent Emeritus, passed away Oct. 1, 2019. Kirchhoff was a member of the MSOE Board of Regents from 1976 to 1998 and served on the Finance Committee. In 1998 he became a Regent Emeritus. Kirchhoff was the retired manager of Babcock & Wilcox Co. where he held several managerial positions and was appointed manager of steel operations before moving to Wisconsin to become plant manager of Babcock & Wilcox— Tubular Products Division.
Alumni in the Washington, D.C. area were treated to tours of the reconstruction of the National Air and Space Museum and the construction site for the Eisenhower Memorial thanks to Sami Wallace ’14. Wallace is a project manager for Clark Construction, which is overseeing both projects.
MSOE Alumni and Friends Tour
Germany Revealed
OCT. 12–22, 2020
Tour highlights include Rudesheim, Eisenach, Weimar, Dresden, Meissen, Berlin, Hamburg and Lübeck. PRICE PER PERSON
Double Occupancy: $4,750 / Single Occupancy: $5,200 Cost includes round trip airfare from Chicago, transfers, nine nights hotel, sightseeing, luxury coach, tour manager, most meals, and more! Contact Elaine Nap, MSOE alumni tours, at (414) 241-0733 for more information.
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MSOE Alumni Association
R
Reinvigorating MSOE’s alumni relations plan and increasing alumni involvement to better connect them with one another and the university is one of MSOE’s strategic initiatives. Over the past year, several alumni have committed to serving on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and are developing new opportunities for alumni engagement. We talked to Kim Pettiford ’93, ’99, president of the alumni association, about the board’s goals. Q: What are you most excited about for the Alumni Association? Q: What is new about the MSOE Alumni Association? A: The Alumni Association is stronger than ever with a whole new board of directors and a renewed energy toward pulling together to find ways to serve both MSOE, the students and the alumni. We held a working session during Summer in the City where we identified the committees we believe we want to start with to focus our energy on the most important things. Q: What initiatives are you working on? A: We have just begun establishing scope and setting goals for committees in the following areas: affinity groups/ chapters, analytics, alumni programming, communication/marketing, and awards. Each group will be identifying ways to engage even more alumni to support their priorities which are focused on serving the students and alumni and will help MSOE achieve its strategy.
A: I’m most excited about the opportunity to create ways to connect alumni with students, faculty and staff in ways that are meaningful to them. We are looking to use data to help us identify what the needs are, so keep an eye out for a possible survey or two to help us hone in on the right things! Q: How can alumni get involved, especially those who live outside Wisconsin? A: For now, please reach out to Cathy Varebrook or myself if you are interested in getting involved. Our committees need a little more time to get organized, but in the meantime, there are events held across the country that might interest you where you can connect with other alumni. Our goal is to use our social channels and the MSOE website to help alumni stay connected on ways to get involved in addition to our traditional mail/email methods. It’s an exciting time for MSOE and the Alumni Association!
I’m most excited about the opportunity to create ways to connect alumni with staff, students and faculty in ways that are meaningful to them.” Members of the MSOE Alumni Association Board include Inga Bentley ’14, Toby Canapa ’02, Adam Friedman ’08, ’09, Troy Giljohann ’10, Ben Gover ’97, ’02, Matt Hughes ’18, Abby Johnson ’17, Kermiath McClendon ’12, Michael Powalish ’01, Brandon Rosner ’02, Michele Savoie ’97, Alan Winegar ’90 and Stephanie Zeiler ’91. For more information, contact Cathy Varebrook, director of alumni affairs, at varebroo@msoe.edu or (414) 277-4523.
FROM THE ARCHIVES THE COMPUTER AGE
MSOE has always been on the leading edge of technology. Today we have a new supercomputer, but in 1958 our admissions staff was learning all about computers and the computer technology curriculum. We’ve highlighted some key points that, today, might make you chuckle, or realize that the more things change the more they stay the same.
Talk given to Admissions Counselors on May 23, 1958
No computer is able to think or remember.
If a computer is awe-inspiring, it is so because: a. It is very large or b. It is very fast or c. It is very expensive.
Any ingenious feature of the computer’s operation is an indication of the ingenuity of the user.
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Milwaukee School of Engineering 1025 N. Broadway Milwaukee, WI 53202-3109 Change Service Requested
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Honor Roll Fall is not only time for back to school, it’s also rankings season for universities. MSOE continues to be recognized for its academic excellence and the value of its education. Find our complete rankings online at msoe.edu/rankings. Here are a few highlights: Forbes America’s Top Colleges (every year since 2008) PayScale Inc. Highest average early and mid-career salaries of any college or university in Wisconsin, 68th highest in the U.S. (2019–20) Highest return on investment (ROI) of any college or university in Wisconsin, 65th best in U.S. (2018) VIQTORY 2019–20 Military Friendly® School (every year since 2013) SmartAsset MSOE graduates enjoy the highest average starting salary among alumni from 10 Wisconsin colleges and universities. MSOE tops the list of the 2019 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin. Washington Monthly Best Bang for the Buck Midwest College (2019)
U.S. News & World Report (2020)
9th Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs overall in the U.S. 6th Best Computer Engineering Program in the U.S.
6th Best College for Veterans in the Midwest
9th Best
5th Best
Mechanical Engineering Program in the U.S.
8th Best Electrical Engineering Program in the U.S.
9th Best
Value School in the Midwest
Civil Engineering Program in the U.S.
Among the Best
Top Performer
8th Best
in Social Mobility
Master of Science in Nursing Programs in the U.S.
University in the Midwest