President’s Message

Dear Alumni and Friends,

We may be operating in a hybrid educational world, but that hasn’t stopped faculty, staff and students from making the most of the situation and making an impact on campus and in the community. As you’ll see in the following pages, a lot has been happening this year: books have been published, competitions were won, projects were completed, community outreach happened and goals were realized. I cannot overstate my gratitude for everyone at MSOE and their commitment to keeping one another healthy and keeping MSOE open, albeit in a different format than we’re accustomed to.

We continue to have very low numbers of COVID-19 cases at MSOE, and the percentage of our campus community that is getting vaccinated is continually growing. This is positive news and has allowed us to begin actively planning for a return to near-normal operations of our university.

To guide us as we move forward, I have reconvened a campus-wide planning group to review MSOE’s strategic plan and determine the role that online and virtual tools will play in how we educate and operate post-pandemic. To adapt and prepare for the rapid change happening around us, we are looking at ways to update our strategies and action items. A major focus of this work is to develop best practices and identify operational efficiencies as well as opportunities to take advantage of robust flexible modalities as they relate to Engaging our Community; Learning and Discovery; and Being Extraordinary.

I am looking forward to the fall when we celebrate the opening of Hermann Viets Tower and welcome students to this living-learning facility. Visit msoe.edu/viets-tower for a live look at the construction progress.

We have spent more than a year living in a constant state of change, and it seems as though “normalcy” might finally be on the horizon. Let’s continue being extraordinary together.

Sincerely,

JOHN Y. WALZ, Ph.D.

President

IN THEIR WORDS ...

18 “I’ve loved every second of using the skills that I have to directly benefit another human being.” SARAH CEURVORST, ON HER PROJECT WITH THE NAVAJO NATION HANDWASHING STATIONS

FEATURES

6 Driving Community

Engagement Students from across campus came together to design, build and assemble 100 desks for local families in need to accommodate virtual learning.

14 A Powerful Relationship

MSOE’s unique partnership with Direct Supply takes students beyond the classroom, leading to valuable interactions, internships and fulltime jobs.

DEPARTMENTS

1 President’s Message 3 At the Forefront 10 Around Campus 18 In the Community 20 Raiders Wrap-Up 22 Impact 26 Class Notes 32 From the Archives

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An MSOE education prepared John Williams and Sabrina Stangler ’20 for careers at Direct Supply.

ON THE COVER: Actuarial science senior John Williams beams inside Direct Supply’s Innovation and Technology Center (ITC), located within the German-English Academy building on MSOE’s campus.

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