For the 30th Annual Engineers’ Week Dinner (EWD), held in last week to celebrate the engineering profession, an audience of nearly 300 enjoyed food, camaraderie, and a glimpse of how algae may be a prime biomass for future bio-diesel fuel. Five CEAS students were awarded scholarships at the event that featured the theme “Engineers Make it Work.”
Dr. Jay Newman, president of Optional Energy Partners, Inc., located in Sturgis, MI, provided the keynote address on "Sustainable Energy -Sustainable Communities.” His seven-month-old company is using the waste from waste treatment plants for fuel.
CEAS students won five scholarships, two sponsored by Eaton Corp. and one each from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Consumers Energy, and the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE).
Joshua Wiese, an engineering management technology senior from Belleville, Mich., is Epsilon Mu Eta president and the Tau Alpha Pi VP. He graduates this spring. He is presently interning at Post Foods and spent four summers interning at GM.
Greg Vosters, an electrical engineering senior from Otsego, Mich., graduates in Dec. He is currently working at Eaton in a co-op, working full time in the summer and part time while he’s in school. As the Tau Beta Pi president, he is involved with Relay for Life. Eventually he would like to work in power distribution
Britney Richmond, a civil engineering junior from Chesaning, Mich., is a member of ASC, the concrete canoe team, and Tau Beta Pi, and has been active in the development of service learning projects for local schools. She interned with MDOT last summer and is planning a career in the structural aspect of civil engineering and the completion of a master’s degree.
Nicholas Pohl, a mechanical engineering (ME) senior with math and science minors, is from Fowler, Mich. He wants an aerospace career after graduating.
Peter Feldpausch, a ME junior from Hastings, Mich., has career aspirations in engines and transportation. Both Pohl and Feldpausch are members of Alpha Lambda Delta and St. Thomas’ Parish.
Prior to the formal ceremony, four CEAS professors showcased their labs and research: Dr. Bade Shrestha, from MAE, introduced the students to the work done in the Fuel Cell Evaluation and Research Center; Dr. John Patten, from MFE, explained research about the CEAS’s wind turbine and the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle; Harold Hladky, from PCI, offered an update on bio-diesel creation; and Abe Poot, Sunseeker adviser, discussed solar-powered vehicles.
Sponsored by the Southwestern Michigan engineering societies, the event annually celebrates National Engineers Week and the engineering profession. The dinner and scholarships are possible thanks to WMU, professional societies and area industries.
Donors to the event include Pfizer, Post Foods, AIAA, SAE, ASCE, AIChE, ASME of Central Michigan, Haworth, IEEE, SW Mich. Chapter of MSPE, SPE of West Michigan, CEAS, Byce and Associates, Consumers Energy, Eaton Corp., Prein & Newhof, Soil and Materials Engineers Inc., and Tower Pinkster.
The EWD committee, chaired by Mike Schwartz of Prein & Newhof, included several CEAS people: Dr. Jorge Rodriguez, Dr. Peter Parker, Dr. Dean Johnson, Scot Conant, Johanna Wells, Tamara Bergman, Samuel Kallen, Jenni Soetaert, Michael Romkema, and Heather Highhouse.
Other members are Dave Caldwell (DENSO), John Lobo (Eaton), Pradip Sagdeo (AIAA), Tim Mitchell (SME), and David Anderson (VBISD).
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