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IN THE COMMUNITY GROWING TOGETHER
Peace tree takes root MSOE’s University Scholars Honors Program partnered with Menominee Tribal Enterprises (MTE) and Milwaukee Recreation to plant a 10-foot white pine and unveil a community mural by Rozalia Singh at Pulaski Playfield on Milwaukee’s east side. This initiative is the result of a year-long multifaceted project of MSOE students working with MTE to promote social unity, environmental consciousness and youth empowerment. The tree planting and mural unveiling occurred at a celebratory event on Oct. 8. The event featured performances by the Wolf River Group tribal drum team, remarks by elected officials and local dignitaries, a prayer and blessing of the tree, and unveiling of the mural entitled “Growing Together.” Milwaukee’s peace tree was first of many that were planted in neighboring cities (Appleton, Kenosha and Chicago), kicking off a week of community gatherings around Indigenous Peoples’ Day. White pines are an Iroquois symbol of Great Peace, of a new unity together, changing and growing as a nation. The trees came from the Menominee Forest in northeast Wisconsin, which has been sustainably managed by the Menominee Tribe for more than 150 years and is a premier example of forest management in the world. SCAN THE QR CODE TO SEE SCENES FROM THE CEREMONY OR VISIT MSOE.EDU/DIMENSIONS
Top: The celebratory event included a performance by the Wolf River Group tribal drum team. Right: Students from local elementary schools helped plant the white pine tree in Pulaski Playfield.
Water stewards Civil engineering students at MSOE designed an award-winning wastewater treatment system for the Samara District, which is located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It includes a growing population of 6,000 and welcomes 120,000 tourists per year. Currently, septic tanks are used to treat wastewater, but they are malfunctioning and becoming a public health hazard. Through the Global Water Stewardship/Central States Water Environment Association (GWS/CSWEA) Student Design Competition, Alexis Countryman, Grace Cushing, Brigid Doyle, Brandon Garrido, Mercedes Lentz, Sydney Shaffer, Molly Stewart, Yilda Torres and Monica Vincent designed an alternate eco-friendly, centralized and sustainable treatment system. The system can accommodate high flow variability, heavy rainfall, future flexibility, and simple operation and maintenance. Finally, the team ensured it would preserve the coral reef off the coast, drinking water sources and natural beauty of the area.
