Dorm Ready for Residents

Evans-Kimmell Hall

2008 Alumni Hall of Fame Honoree

Frank Oropeza

New Way to “Do College”

$2 Million GrantHomecoming 2008 Pictures

Warrior Weekend

Leadership Gifts Launch Momentum Campaign

Volume 5 / Issue 1The magazine for students, Alumni & Friends of Indiana Tech

Contents

Departments

2 Letter from the President

4 Tech Happenings

16 Richter’s Notes

16 Alumni News

18 In Memoriam

19 Facuty & Staff News

Features

6 Dorm Ready for Residents

7 New Way to “Do College”

8 Building Momentum

9 Leadership gifts launch Momentum campaign

12 Homecoming 2008 pictures

14 Frank Oropeza is 2008 Alumni Hall of Fame Honoree

15 Academics at Tech: Past, Present and Future 15

10% post consumer recycled paper

3Fall 2008

14

13

Greetings, friends.

Another academic year is off to a great start here at Indiana Tech! We welcomed our traditional students back to campus in August, while our students in the College of Professional Studies continued studying year-round to complete degrees that will change their lives. Our enrollment this year will be more than 4,400, and I find it extremely gratifying to know that we are helping so many learners of all ages.

In addition to the start of the academic year, fall also brings our Homecoming celebration. Those of you who joined us for the festivities this year were witness to a historic announcement, the launch of Indiana Tech’s largest fundraising campaign ever. Momentum: Accelerating Excellence will allow us to more quickly achieve our goal of becoming a regionally prominent comprehensive university.

I’ve spoken to a wide variety of donors over the past years. I always convey our gratitude, but I’m also curious as to why they choose to give to Indiana Tech. The reasons are often very personal, and they often stick with me as I go about my duties as president. One that I find particularly compelling comes from one of our lead Momentum givers. She told me that when her husband attended Indiana Tech he was very aware of how the financial support of others lessened the burden on him and made it possible for him to earn a degree he couldn’t otherwise afford. They wanted to provide that same kind of support for future Indiana Tech students.

You’ll see other universities with larger campaigns, but you won’t see any with more significant campaigns. Your gift has the potential to change the lives of our students, and I hope you’ll carefully consider how you can help us accelerate excellence at Indiana Tech.

Thank you,

Dr. Arthur E. Snyder, President

Trends Volume FIVE, Issue ONE.

© 2008 Indiana Institute of Technology

Arthur E. Snyder, Ed.D., President

Trends is published quarterly for students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Indiana Tech by the uni-versity’s Creative Services Department.

Janet Schutte Marketing Director

Jeffrey Melton Marketing Specialist

Nathan Davidhizar Marketing Intern

Please send comments, news, and feature story ideas to:

Indiana Tech attn: Creative Services 1600 E. Washington Blvd. Fort Wayne, IN 46803

(260) 422-5561, extension 2250

e-mail: JLSchutte@indianatech.edu

For alumni news, please send to the attention of the Alumni Office at the address on the left, or call:

(260) 422-5561, extension 2219

e-mail: alumni@indianatech.edu.

The editors reserve the right to edit articles for length and clarity. Articles may be reproduced with permission and proper attribution.

Letter from the President

4 TRENDS 5Fall 2008

tech happenings

Senator Richard Lugar was the guest speaker at the “Need to Go Green” conference organized by Grassroots Green and hosted by Indiana Tech. Lugar spoke on “Energy: National Security and the Environment.”

The university is becoming more involved with efforts to develop environmentally friendly energy sources with this year’s addition of a bachelor’s degree in energy engineering. In addition, the program will prepare students to manage the business aspects of

implementing renewable energy solutions.

“Engineers who specialize in renewable and alternative energy systems like wind and solar power or ethanol will help their clients understand that the best energy solution is often a compromise of many factors. Equipment costs, construction and maintenance costs, and monthly efficiency savings must be evaluated,” says Dave Aschliman, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Studies.

Fall Semester Brings 9% Growth for Indiana TechIndiana Tech welcomed the fall semester in late August with significant enrollment growth. Total enrollment for the university will be 4,404 for 2008-09, a 9% increase from the 4,046 of 2007.

The university’s total enrollment includes traditional students at the main campus in Fort Wayne as well as students in the College of Professional Studies at campuses throughout the state and online.

Indiana Tech’s strategic plan to become a more comprehensive university has prompted the university to add new academic programs, open new campuses, expand athletic offerings, and develop online programs in recent years. Each of these elements has contributed to the enrollment growth.

“The growth of our student body is an indication that our efforts to continuously improve the education and experience that we provide are making a difference,” said Dr. Arthur E. Snyder, president of Indiana Tech. “We’re finding more ways to blend the wants and needs of prospective students with our strengths as an institution, and that has led to more students choosing us and staying with us.”

The 2008 enrollment total includes 902 traditional students and 3,502 students in the College of Professional Studies.

Satellite Campus Moves to MishawakaIndiana Tech celebrated the opening of its new location in Mishawaka with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on Aug. 1, 2008.

The Mishawaka site replaces Indiana Tech’s College of Professional Studies location in South Bend. The new 4,700-square-foot facility on Edison Lakes Parkway has four classrooms, including a computer lab, as well as university staff offices.

“We are excited to provide professional higher education in the

hub of the Michiana professional community,” said Dr. James Fischer, campus director. “Our new facility will enable us to serve more students more effectively. We look forward to a long and healthy partnership with Mishawaka and the surrounding community.”

President Arthur E. Snyder and Mishawaka Mayor Jeff Rea spoke at the event, citing the partnership between the university and the community to foster educational and economic development in the area.

Lugar Visits for Green Event

Convocation Encourages InvolvementThe theme for the second annual convocation was civic responsibility, and students were encouraged to get involved on campus and in the community. The event on Sept. 2 included speeches by President Arthur Snyder, Vice President of Academic Affairs Elaine Pontillo, Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry, and student Joel Putek. The speakers emphasized the importance of being involved in campus activities and civic groups to round out the educational experience. Students also were encouraged to register and vote in the upcoming elections to be sure that their voices are heard.

6 TRENDS 7Fall 2008

Hundreds of students, alumni, staff, and faculty gathered during Homecoming to celebrate the official dedication of Indiana Tech’s newest residence hall as Evans-Kimmell Hall.

The residence hall is named in honor of the parents of Indiana Tech Trustee Dr. Michael Evans, and a gift from Evans will fund a substantial portion of the $3.4 million cost of the building. His father, Robley Evans, was a civil engineering graduate of Indiana Tech in 1942.

“I wanted to thank Indiana Tech for the opportunity it gave my father to have an education that then allowed him to have a successful professional career as an engineer,” said Evans, president and CEO of AIT Laboratories in Indianapolis. “My father had to live in boarding houses while he attended Indiana Tech, so to be able to give today’s students a sense of stability while seeking an education was important to me.”

At the time Robley Evans attended Indiana Tech the university was located in a former mortuary in downtown Fort Wayne and offered no student housing. The university moved to its current campus on Washington Boulevard in 1957.

During the dedication, President Arthur Snyder commented on Michael Evans’ appreciation for education, which was instilled in him by his parents.

“It was Michael’s desire to create something for the benefit of our students. Something that would last. Something that would help many students in their ability to come to Indiana Tech and to get started on the road to lifelong success here, as his father

had,” Snyder said. “It was Michael’s very generous contribution that enabled the university to construct this magnificent residence hall, named in honor of his parents.”

Several members of the Evans family watched as a commemorative plaque was unveiled and Snyder declared:

“This students’ residence hall is hereby named in honor of two very special individuals whose kindness, caring, love of family, and passion for learning has inspired many and will inspire generations to come, Robley W. Evans and Ruth Kimmell Evans.”

Evans-Kimmell Hall is the university’s fourth residence hall and houses 58 students in apartment-style suites. Each suite has two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchenette, and a living room. In addition to the suites, Evans-Kimmell Hall has a community area on the first floor with a big screen television, a billiards table, a fireplace, an island dining area, and a full kitchen available for use on request. A loft on the second floor provides additional lounge areas. The building has laundry facilities on each floor, cable TV, and Wi-Fi Internet access.

Evans-Kimmell Hall also offers a suite for President’s Club members who would like to spend a night on campus.

Evans-Kimmell Hall was designed by Design Collaborative and built by Whitley Manufacturing.

The Board of Trustees recently approved the construction of another residence hall to be built directly to the east of Evans-Kimmell Hall.

Not everybody approaches learning the same way or with the same background, so one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to college.

Recognizing the need for education that resonates with a wide range of students, Indiana Tech is creating a new program with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The university received $398,395 this fall for the first year of the grant, which is then renewable for four years, for an expected total of nearly $2 million.

Indiana Tech will use the funds to develop a specialized curriculum that emphasizes academic coaching by faculty and advisors, and col-laboration and social interaction among students. The program will provide a unique freshman experience, as well as prove valuable for returning and transfer students. The university anticipates accepting 100 to 120 students into the program during the first year. There will be no additional cost or requirement to register for it, but students identified through interviews and transcript reviews as those who could benefit will be encouraged to enroll.

The program will include supportive student services such as more frequent advising, tutoring, and learning communities. A core group of faculty and advisors will be selected to work with the students and to provide specialized courses for English and math. Block scheduling will enable students in the program to work in cohorts.

For example, students who will major in business may be scheduled into the same math section where they can work on projects in teams, with the subject matter geared toward their degree requirements in a way that also meets individual students’ learning style needs. That cohort then could take their required Foundations of Business course as a group.

It is likely that students in the program will have their schedules for-matted in Monday-Wednesday-Friday classes and Tuesday-Thursday classes, all concentrated in the morning and early afternoon. This type of focused scheduling will condense time between classes and com-plete them by 2 p.m. daily, thus allowing for athletic team practices

or on- and off-campus employment. Creating these types of learning communities also helps to build camaraderie and support.

Friendships and “feeling at home” at Tech will be encouraged further by interaction through shared campus activities. While the university always has social opportunities available, the new program will pro-vide for even more events through the creation of both full-time and part-time staff positions to implement and oversee activities and stu-dent organizations. The social aspect will be of benefit to all students.

“In addition to the extra guidance for coursework, the strong emphasis placed on campus involvement will be especially beneficial for first-year students.” President Arthur Snyder said. “Helping students adapt readily to university life and build very solid academic skills will lead to their being more successful.”

Although several components of the program are formulated with freshmen in mind, upperclassmen who can benefit will be encouraged to consider enrolling in it, as well.

“This is a very structured way to ‘do college,’” explained Dr. Elaine Pontillo, vice president of academic affairs. “Some students find this type of study environment, which includes more interaction with faculty and often working in teams with other students, really helps them focus their efforts and achieve higher grades than they would have earned otherwise.”

To facilitate academic success further, a library educator will be available to assist students in research projects, fostering student use of research tools, particularly with navigating both on-campus and off-campus electronic networks.

Tech’s growing enrollment and retention will be aided by the imple-mentation of the program. During this first year of the grant, the uni-versity is planning all details carefully and conducting in-service train-ing for involved faculty and staff. The program will be launched in fall 2009. Selection of an official name for the program is in progress.

Dorm Ready for Residents

New Way to “Do College” Created with $2 million Grant

8 TRENDS 9Fall 2008

Study diligently, work hard and care about people. That life philosophy from his parents guided Dr. Michael Evans when he was growing up and when, as an adult, he built a successful career in the field of toxicology. In 1990 he founded AIT Labora-tories in Indianapolis. Today it is the nation’s foremost forensics lab. AIT was named one of the best places to work by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce in February 2008 and received the prestigious TechPoint Mira Award for its technical prowess in the realm of health and life sciences in May 2007.

Before his career as an entrepreneur, Dr. Evans served as a tenured professor, director, faculty member and researcher for institutions such as the Indiana University School of Medicine and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is renowned as a visiting professor in the United States and China and is sought after as an expert witness and for private consultation. He was recognized as a Midwest winner in Ernst & Young’s 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

Dr. Evans has served on the Indiana Tech Board of Trustees since 2005. When talking with university president Dr. Arthur Snyder, he discussed making a gift that would help students by providing a tangible, lasting impact.

Therefore, honoring the parents who valued education and taught him to love it too, Dr. Evans made a generous leadership contribution to the campaign that enabled the university to build a greatly needed residence hall this past summer. Evans-Kimmell Hall is named for his parents, Robley W. Evans and Ruth Kimmell Evans. Robley graduated from Tech in 1942 with a degree in civil engineering. He credited Indiana Tech with providing him the foundation that led to his successful career.

Dr. Evans sees the welcoming atmosphere of Indiana Tech as a base for students to do their best in their studies and to find inspiration for the future, as his father did.

leadership gifts launch momentum campaignIndiana Tech is fortunate

to have alumni and constituents

who believe very strongly

in the university and its future.

Among these supporters

are several who wanted to

help launch the $19 million

Momentum comprehensive

campaign by making leadership

contributions. We are very

grateful to Dr. Michael Evans;

Ellen Smaardyk; Bob and Lois

Gill; and Don and Doris Willis.

Building momentumIndiana Tech embarks on historic fundraising campaign

As the crowd in Andorfer Commons sipped punch and munched on crackers and cheese, President Arthur Snyder took the stage to welcome everyone to Homecoming 2008. However, this Homecom-ing welcome was like no other. This Homecoming welcome revealed a plan to shape the future of Indiana Tech with a $19 million fundrais-ing campaign.

The campaign dubbed Momentum: Accelerating Excellence is the largest in the university’s history and takes aim at the core of the university’s needs—academic program development and attracting and supporting students.

“Because we had developed so much synergy on our campus, so much positive activity, we felt we should name this campaign Momentum, because of the momentum we have established,” Snyder explained.

The five-year campaign has been in a quiet phase for about a year. During the campaign planning process, the Board of Trustees had given permission to announce the campaign publicly if half the goal was reached by Homecoming 2008. Loud cheers erupted as Snyder declared that Indiana Tech had successfully surpassed that benchmark.

“I’m very pleased to tell you that we are going public, and we have raised $12 million dollars,” he said.

In shaping the campaign goals, university officials explored areas that would have dramatic benefits for students. As a result, the $19 million total targets several key areas. Momentum will provide support for:

The College of Engineering and Computer Studies, including ■curriculum development, equipment upgrades, and endow-ment for future needs

The Keene School of Education, which will be named in ■honor of the university’s longest serving president, Archie T. Keene, and focus on continued development of teacher education programsScience and technology labs, which will support students in ■all majorsMcMillen Library, including materials to support the expand- ■ing range of academic programs and increased access to online databasesCampus housing, to meet the needs of the growing enroll- ■ment in traditional programsThe Scholars Leadership program, which will provide scholar- ■ships to students with leadership potential in addition to academic abilitiesNeed-based scholarships, to provide opportunities for stu- ■dents in financial need

Snyder described the elements of the campaign as “a series of projects and plans dedicated to creating excellence not just for the Indiana Tech community but excellence for our students.”

The Momentum campaign is slated to run through 2012, and Snyder is more than confident the goal can be reached in that timeframe.

“We’re not going to be satisfied with a goal of $19 million,” he said. “I would expect that we would exceed that goal, exceed it fairly quickly, and reset the goal.

“We truly do have Momentum. Indiana Tech is charted to continue this upward movement and continue this path of excellence.”

To learn more about the campaign, visit www.IndianaTech.edu/ Momentum.

Dr. Michael Evans and Dr. Andrea Terrell

10 TRENDS 11Fall 2008

“Keep your curiosity and keep an open mind,” is Ellen Smaardyk’s advice to Indiana Tech students. She says her husband Abraham, who graduated from Indiana Tech in 1943 with a degree in mechanical engineering, was an avid learner and would often say, “Never refuse the opportunity to learn something new. People aren’t lucky—they’re ready when opportunity arises.”

Abe passed away in 2006, but he and Ellen had talked about ways to provide opportunities for learning for the students at Indiana Tech, to “keep things going for the next generation, as the previ-ous generation had done” for them. Abe and Ellen had established a scholarship fund 14 years ago, but Ellen wanted to honor Abe further, with something else that also would last and be of benefit to many students. “Abe was a scientist—hook, line and sinker,” she says. So what could be more fitting than to create a center that would educate future generations in their discoveries? The Smaardyk Cen-ter for Advanced Technology, established through a leadership gift from Ellen Smaardyk, will provide computer laboratories for use by students in all majors.

Technology was a big factor in Abe’s very successful career. After grad-uating from Tech, he went on to earn a master’s degree in automotive engineering and worked for Chrysler Corp. in Detroit. When he was

with Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Ill., one of his many accomplishments was the design of a seal for the first nuclear powered submarine. He enjoyed seeing the developments in technology and would be happy to know that his and Ellen’s support will enable Indi-ana Tech to keep up with the rapid changes of the 21st century.

“Abe strongly believed that the better the schools are, the better all our lives are,” Ellen says. “He was a man of great determination and always wanted to be of service to others.”

The Smaardyks’ helpfulness to others continues through their commitment to Indiana Tech and its students.

When Bob Gill’s service in the U.S. Navy was completed, he enrolled at Indiana Tech, earning his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in the accelerated 9-term program, graduating in 1960. Packing a four-year engineering degree into 27 months resulted in an intense appreciation for education. “Take in as much as you can, as fast as you can, was the way the program worked,” he says. “And that’s still good advice.”

While working at Magnavox Electronics Systems Co., Bob went on to earn two master’s degrees. He says his master’s in engineering from Purdue University taught him much about the theory that under-pins the practice, and his MBA from Pepperdine University taught him about people, behavior and business. But it was the foundation at Tech that taught him the real “how to” of engineering that got his career off to such a successful start. “Magnavox was a company that rated Indiana Tech very highly,” he says. Some of Bob’s favorite memories of Tech revolve around the hands-on classes that have been a big part of his accomplishments.

“I had wonderful professors at Indiana Tech. They had practical knowledge. I loved every single class,” Bob says.

Because of this great affinity for education, and for Indiana Tech, Bob and his wife, Lois, made a substantial commitment to the university’s Scholars Leadership Program.

This year, Bob celebrates 48 years in the corporate world, where he has specialized in general management, operations and engineering for high technology, emerging growth corporations. He has been the CEO of five companies and is now the principal officer of the Topaz Group. In his spare time, Bob is the executive in residence and chair-man of the executive board at the Deming Center for Entrepreneur-ship at the University of Colorado and is chairman of the Boulder Innovation Center.

Bob and Lois say they find it very gratifying to provide scholarships that will help students at Indiana Tech emerge as leaders on campus and in society. They previously established an endowed scholarship in 2005.

Don and Doris Willis love Fort Wayne and believe in investing in the community. They believe that with enough entrepreneurial spirit, educational opportunities and technical knowledge among the people that live in Fort Wayne, it can become the most desirable city in the country. And they believe that Indiana Tech is in a strong position to help make that happen.

Don and Doris believe so fervently in Indiana Tech that they have agreed to be the co-chairs of the Momentum campaign, and they have made a substantial leadership contribution. Don has further demonstrated his support for Tech by serving on the Board of Trustees since 2004. He is currently vice chairman.

After earning his BSEE/Research degree from the University of Evansville, Don worked as an engineer at Magnavox Electronics Systems Co. for 22 years. Then, he formed Command Systems, Inc., which specialized in defense industry command and control software. Thirteen years later, he sold the company to defense contractor General Dynamics.

Now, Don is chairman of FourthWave, LLC, a holding company for subsidiaries SentryPoints, MetroMetrics, and VersiTech. He is also president of FourD Develop-ment, LLC and of the FourD Education Foundation, which he envisions will develop better approaches to teaching our nation’s elementary and secondary students. He was instrumental in creating the Keystone Schools for grades K–12 and in bringing Imagine Charter Schools for grades K–7 to Fort Wayne.

Don and Doris are very passionate about education. “Strong schools are the key to a strong nation,” Don says. “I want to see education in our local school systems and throughout the U.S. improve, and I believe Indiana Tech can play a major role in preparing graduates to accomplish that.”

“The Momentum campaign embodies our vision for propelling students forward so that Tech graduates may acquire not only significant career opportunities for their own future well-being, but that they may also promote the future well-being of our nation,” Don says.

Bob and Lois Gill

Ellen Smaardyk

Don & Doris Willis

To learn more about the

campaign, visit www.

IndianaTech.edu/Momentum.

This year’s celebration featured a variety of events involving

alumni, current students, and faculty and staff. Thanks to all

who made this year’s Homecoming a smash!

For more Homecoming photos, visit our photo gallery

at www.IndianaTech.edu/alumniandfriends

Next year’s Homecoming will be September 18–20, 2009.

warrior weekeNd

14 TRENDS 15Fall 2008

Indiana Tech has a rich history and tradition rooted in the engineering fields. Historically, many students were attracted to its concen-trated engineering curricula which afforded the opportunity to complete the entire degree in less than three years by engaging in an intense program of study and attending classes on a year-round schedule. Many of our alums relate colorful stories of their experiences in those programs and that they benefitted greatly as they launched into very successful careers.

Today’s higher education environment is vastly different and is in a state of constant and rapid change. Our students, both traditional age and adults, want more choices of programs and educational experi-ences to prepare them for successful careers. That preparation must consist of academic programs in current and emerging fields linked with learning experiences to develop the “soft” skills necessary for advancement today. These skills, applicable to all fields, include oral and written communication, information literacy, and the ability to function effectively as team member and team leader.

To address these academic issues, Indiana Tech is approaching academic programming holistically. New program areas are being added and the general education core is being strengthened so that the general skills are addressed in a fashion that is transferable to ap-plications in the major program areas. There are many advantages to this approach for our students. Rather than experiencing individual courses, faculty are collaborating to establish consistent expectations and integrating concepts. This encourages our students to grasp the interrelationships of courses and the rationale for the design of the total program of study.

Let me tell you about some of the new programs we have added

during the past few years. You will see that Indiana Tech is, indeed, becoming a more comprehensive university while holding steadfast to our mission to prepare individuals for careers/professions im-portant in today’s world. You will note that the variety of programs provides many choices to our students. Often students come to Tech with a specific field of study in mind and then discover that it is not what they had anticipated.

Several new programs have been developed, some that expand upon the engineering tradition and others that open new fields of study at the university. Here are a few baccalaureate degree programs to demonstrate the breadth of programs:

Biomedical engineering, an interdisciplinary degree that ■combines mechanical engineering concepts with biological sci-ences for careers with companies that design and manufacture replacement limbs, joints, and tissues for the human body.Software engineering, a project-based program designed so ■that the students learn concepts and apply them directly to real-world business projects.Elementary education, an innovative program developed ■in partnership with Fort Wayne Community Schools to prepare teachers for today’s schools with diverse student populations. The program links each course to field experi-ence with children.Criminal sciences, a set of programs designed to address the ■safety and security needs of today’s world. Currently, the pro-grams allow students to specialize in either law enforcement administration or crime analysis.

Future articles will address more specific developments in these and other programs and how Indiana Tech is expanding its graduate offer-ings to meet the needs of practicing professionals.

ACADEMICS at TECH: PAST, PRESENT and FuTuREElaine Pontillo, Ph.D., Vice President of Academic Affairs

Frank oropeza is 2008 Alumni Hall of Fame HonoreeThis year’s Alumni Hall of Fame honoree

is Frank Oropeza, who graduated from

Indiana Tech in 1959 with a degree

in electrical engineering.

Having grown up in Tucson, Ariz., Oropeza enlisted in the u.S. Army at the age of 18. upon returning from Korea and completing his military service, he enrolled at Indiana Tech and earned his

degree through the accelerated program. He began a career with Standard Oil of Indiana and then eventually went to work as an engineer for Martin Marietta. But Oropeza got to a point where he decided he wanted to go into business for himself.

With a talent for innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit, he founded a number of companies, with one succeeding to a degree he had not even imagined, when he began making automotive voltage regulators in his garage in Florida in 1978. He made a trip through several southern states to do a marketing survey and found there was indeed a need for his product. So Oropeza and his wife, Anne, mortgaged their home and started the company they named Transpo. Oropeza began traveling throughout the southeastern united States, selling his regulators from the trunk of his Trans Am.

It wasn’t long before the operation outgrew the garage, and new quarters had to be acquired. Within the first three years, Transpo had hit $2 million in sales and had 30 employees. Like a true entrepreneur, however, Oropeza was constantly looking for new opportunities and better ways to do things. In 1981, he decided to shift to thick film technology for his high-reliability circuits. This gave Transpo a headstart on its competition. Sales soon increased even more, and Oropeza established a distribution center in Tucson to serve the western united States and Mexico. Transpo was able to corner the domestic market for the high volume automotive voltage regulator business that had been sourced out to overseas firms.

“I would pray about what I should do, and it just seemed like everything went right. Decisions worked out to our advantage. The timing was perfect. We were very blessed,” Oropeza says.

After 25 years, Transpo had grown to a global enterprise with 700 employees in the Orlando headquarters and annual revenue in excess of $165 million. From 1996 to 1998, the Oropezas acquired competitors’ operations in Germany and Singapore, bought a semiconductor facility in Northern Ireland, and began a manufacturing operation in China. In 2004, they sold Transpo to WAI in Royersford, Penn.

Oropeza attributes his accomplishments to determination, commitment, and hard work. “I don’t believe in slacking off,” he says. “From the time I was 15, I knew I wanted success and that I would have to work hard to get it.” He now conducts seminars that emphasize achievement in business through vision, goal-setting and organization.

Oropeza says he is very grateful for the education he got at Indiana Tech. Giving back to the college that started him on his way to success is important to him. He spent nine years serving on the Board of Trustees, and he and Anne have been generous supporters of Tech as members of the President’s Club and the Archie Keene Society. In 1987, Indiana Tech awarded Oropeza an honorary doctorate of engineering.

► James McKain, BSIME 2001, recently became the father of Ella Grace. He and his wife, Amber, also have a 3-year-old daughter, Adylyn.

► Lolita Campbell, MBA 2002, recently graduated from united Way of Central Indiana’s comprehensive leadership development program, Leadership united.

► Jill (Bartoszek) Foxworthy, MBA 2006, was recently promoted from business development analyst for General Electric to senior accounting analyst for the Lighting Business in Fort Wayne. She lives in Fort Wayne and can be contacted at JEFoxworthy@Verizon.net.

► Michael Vorndran, BSBA 2006, is now a contract specialist with the Indiana Air National Guard. He retired from the u.S. Air Force active duty in December 2007 with 24 years of service. Vorndran lives in Fort Wayne.

► Brian Van Gheem, MSM/MBA 2007, is the senior operations engineer for Midwest ISO. His e-mail is bvangheem@midwestiso.org.

► Gerald Eke, MSE 2007, has opened a new company in Fort Wayne called Envision Optimal Performance (EOP). The company offers engineering services to equipment manufacturers in the automotive and electronic industries. The firm’s Web site is www.eopengineering.com.

► Rebecca Mark, MBA with Marketing concentration 2003, has opened her own business, Body Type Fashions. The clothes designed for different body types can be found at stores.ebay.com/Body-Type-Fashions or at the Andersonville Galleria, 5247 N. Clark Street in Chicago.

Indianapolis Student Wins Alumni ScholarshipThe Alumni Board of Directors has cho-sen Beverly Austin, a student at the In-

dianapolis campus, to receive this year’s Legacy 2001 Scholarship. Austin, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration, will receive a scholarship for $2,534. The Legacy 2001 Scholarship is awarded each year to a student in the College of Professional Studies who is unemployed or whose employer does not offer a tuition reimbursement program. Austin was recommended by Professor Jim Schaffer and was chosen based on her academic achievements as well as her extensive community involvement and service to others.

2008 Alumni Volunteer of the Year AwardEach year during Homecoming, Indiana Tech honors a graduate who has gone out of his or her way to serve Indiana Tech and our students. This year’s recipient is Gary Hall, BSELE 1960. Hall is a retired employee of Magnavox and a longtime member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. He trains and mentors student callers for the university’s annual Phonathon and is a loyal supporter of Warrior athletics. He is a member of the Warrior Club Advisory Council and rarely misses an athletic game.

New Awards Honor Young AlumniAt the Homecoming banquet, Indiana Tech introduced two new awards that will honor young alumni each year:

The G.O.L.D. Alumni Award was created to honor an outstanding graduate of the last decade. The 2008 recipient is Jason Crandal, BSACC 1999. Crandal is a member of the Indiana Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors, chairman of the TWIST Golf Tournament Committee and a member of the Alumni Scholarship Committee.

The CPS Alumni of the Year Award was created to honor an outstanding graduate of the College of Professional Studies. The recipient of this year’s award is Katie Mettler, BSBA 2000, MBA/MSM 2007. Mettler resides in Fort Wayne and is employed as the compliance officer at Crossroads. She is a member of the Indiana Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors, a member of the board’s

Programming Committee and has spent countless hours organizing fundraising and alumni events for the university.

2008 Indiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame Honors Warrior GreatsThe 2008 Athletic Hall of Fame banquet, sponsored by Wells Fargo, was held at Don Hall’s Guesthouse in Fort Wayne, on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. Roger Newton, athletic director, announced the 2008 inductees:

Nancy Rehm (inducted posthumously, ►

represented by parents Tom and Audrey Rehm)Heather Keller — Softball 1999–2003 ►

Jan Johnson — Soccer, Basketball, and ►

Softball 1997–2001Andrew Dix — Soccer 1997–2001 ►

Jim Whisler — Soccer 1996–2000 ►

Michael Priest — Basketball 1981–1985 ►

Tracy Robinson — Basketball 1986–1989 ►

Tyler Ryan — Baseball 1999–2004 ►

Jesse Hoover — Baseball 2000–2004 ►

(Tech’s first professional baseball draftee, who plays in the New York minor league system)

Coach Kirk Kavanaugh and the 1981–1982 women’s basketball team were honored for their achievements on and off the court. Honored team members were Tammy Leach, Rhonda (unverferth) Osterhage, Kathie (Wilder) Frazee, Joan (Wenning) Gilliland, Lori (Hoffman) McVaigh, Danielle (Poinsatte) Harber, Lori Nonemaker, Nancy Rehm, Julie (Teeple) Blauvelt, Laura Aldridge, and managers Ann (Wynk) De Roo and Toni Mason.

Dr. Arthur Snyder presented Track & Field National Champion rings to Alissa McKaig for winning the Indoor 5,000 Meter Run and both the Outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 Meter Runs in NAIA National Record times. Rod Waters received a ring for winning the 110 Meter High Hurdles at the NAIA National meet.

The dinner and awards ceremony were followed by casino games, music and an auction including Indianapolis Colts tickets, an autographed Larry Bird Jersey, and a weeklong Aruba getaway.

► Richard Leong, BSME 1972, has joined NATCO Group as senior vice president, European operations. NATCO Group Inc. is a leading provider of process equipment, systems and services used in the production of oil and gas.

► Joseph Knecht, BSEE 1980, is now vice president, quality and continuous improvement, at WCI Steel in Warren, Ohio. Knecht is working to engage employees in WCI Steel’s steelmaking, hot rolling and finishing facilities to identify process improvements that will result in greater efficiency, improved yields, reduced cycle times, more consistent quality, lower costs and increased levels of customer service. He holds two patents in melting technology and has published in industry journals. He has been a member of the American Society for Metals, Instrumentation Society of America, International Titanium Association,

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and International Society for Six-Sigma Professionals. Knecht and his wife, Jill, are the parents of two daughters and one son, and reside in Canfield, Ohio.

► Belinda Edwards, BSCIS 1991, is employed by The MITRE Corporation as lead information systems engineer. She is featured in the June/July 2008 issue of Diversity/Careers in Engineering & Information Technology. Her e-mail address is techbe@comcast.net.

► Sharon Dinges, BSEE 1992, has been with Trane, Inc. for 15 years, and is currently a Control Systems Applications Engineer, located in the Twin Cities. She has been elected as Committee Secretary for ASHRAE’s SSPC135 — BACnet (Building Automation Control network).

► Anna Markey, BSBA 1994, works

for Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ as an executive secretary.

► Deepankar Thakur, BSIME 1999, is the body shop dimensional engineer for Lordstown Car Assembly (which makes the Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5), located in Warren, Ohio. He was awarded the

“People Make Quality Happen” plant team award for 2003. Thakur currently lives in Streetsboro, Ohio, and his e-mail address is thakurda1@gmail.com.

► Dr. Darrell Bowman, MBA 2000, is a professor at the university of Indianapolis. He wrote a paper titled,

“Technical Problem-Solving: A Practical Approach to an Old Model,” that is to be published in the October/November issue of Information Management Journal. Bowman resides in Brownsburg, Indiana, and can be reached at dbowman@uindy.edu.

16 TRENDS16 TRENDS 17Fall 2008

Mark Richter, vice president of Institutional Advancement.

Richter’s Notes

I invite you to take a stroll through campus. You’ll see a high-performing university. That’s for sure. But most of all, I hope you experience a unique sense of place and of purpose.

A place that strives for constant improvement and never loses sight of its goals. A place where students live and learn and develop a sense of community. A place where respect, honesty and accountability are celebrated. A place that is purposefully changing lives.

Indiana Tech is growing and attracting more students—outstanding students—every year. Courses and activities are being added as the university responds to their needs and interests. Our excellent faculty is committed to the success of each and every student. Beautiful buildings and green space join together, by design, to create a campus that evokes profoundly positive emotions.

In short, your school is gathering momentum. It’s moving forward at an increasing pace.

In physics, momentum is seen as a force achieved through motion. In sports, momentum is often used to describe a period when almost everything goes right. At Indiana Tech, elements of both definitions can be found everywhere.

We’ve chosen Momentum as the name for the fundraising campaign that we launched at Homecoming a few weeks ago. It conveys in one word our strong commitment to doing things right and moving forward. The goal does not change. We’re working hard at preparing students for useful, productive and meaningful lives.

I hope you’ll take the time to visit campus and see first-hand the learning that’s taking place here. Take a stroll around campus. While you’re here, please stop by my office so we can get acquainted. I’d be happy to show you around.

I invite you to be part of the momentum that’s growing stronger every day at Indiana Tech. If I can be of service, do let me know. My office is on the first floor of Abbott Center. My telephone number is 800-937-2448, extension 2346, and my e-mail address is mrichter@indianatech.edu. I look forward to talking with you!

TAkE a STROLL

alumni news

18 TRENDS 19Fall 2008

Gordon AlbrightBSCE ‘42Rocky Mount, VA

Duane E. AlwardBSEE ‘52Sunbury, OH

Charles Beale, Jr.BSME ‘49Belmont, MI

Harlan BlairBSRE ‘39Butler, PA

Daniel A. BombaBSANE ‘51Greensburo, NC

Michael I. Brown, Jr.ASBAM ‘04Fort Wayne, IN

William O. CalderonBSME ‘54Fremont, CA

Glen M. CraigBSEE ‘60Savage, MN

Owen B. Cranston, P.E.BSCE ‘61Stockton, NY

Norman H. Connell BSME ’55 Sullivan, IN

Allen F. Cullen, Jr.BSANE ‘57Choctaw, OK

Carlie CunninghamWife of Joseph Cunningham (deceased)Fort Wayne, IN

George N. DervenisBSEE ‘58Columbus, OH

Lester C. Ehresmann, P.E. BSCE ‘60Yankton, SD

James A. EllisBSRE ‘49Fort Wayne, IN

Virgil E. GardinierBSANE ‘53Beaumont, CA

Kenneth GerhardsteinBSSEE ‘57Mansfield, OH

Kenneth R. Heiser, P.E.BSME ‘51Churubusco, IN

James B. HickeyBSEE ’50Leesburg, FL

Lawrence A. Hoffman BSME ’66 Fort Wayne, IN

H. Dan Huss BSMA ‘67Fort Wayne, IN

Charles C. KalninBSCE ‘54Milwaukie, OR

Donald KeenMDD ‘40Sebring, OH James A. LandefeldBSANE ‘43Dayton, OH

Harry Curtis Lauer IIIBSCE ‘50 Savannah, GA

Elizabeth “Liz” Lykowski, a senior and member of the Warriors volleyball team, died suddenly in October due to an undetected heart defect. Her degree in business administration will be award posthumously. Ottawa Lake, MI

Jackson R. McGowenBSANE ‘39Palm Desert, CA

Donald J. MichnaBSAEE ‘56Sidell, LA

Carl R. MillerBSRE ’49Aliquippa, PA

William R. OsbanBSME ‘51Gulf Breeze, FL

L. J. PursifullBSANE ‘43Newport News, VA

Albert C. Schrimshaw BSME ’39 Columbia City, IN

Edward (Ed) J. SlagaBSEE ‘55Flint, MI

John Frank SmallwoodBSME ’50Dayton, OH

Stanley C. SmithBSME ‘38Cincinnati, OH

Richard “Dick” UtzBSME ‘66Sterling, MI

Earle R. WalkerBSCE ‘55Wooster, OH

John Claude WellingBSME ‘60Bethlehem, PA

Dr. Walter (Jack) WilliamsFormer InstructorFort Wayne, IN

Mitchell ZielinskiBSME ‘44Agawan, MA

We have learned of the deaths of the following alumni and friends. If you would like to send a memorial gift to honor someone, please contact Eve Colchin at 800.937.2448 ext. 2335.

Katrina Applegate, admissions representative, College of Professional Studies-Columbus

Arryne Boyd, administrative assistant, College of Professional Studies-Indianapolis

Cassandra Bracht, graduate assistant in the Career Planning & Development Center

James Doane, assistant professor of mechanical engineering

Zachary J. Engan, assistant professor of mechanical engineering

Emily Franze, associate admissions counselor

Gary Hawkins, assistant professor of business and lead instructor, Elkhart

Mike Hepner, assistant professor in criminal justice

Phyllis Hogan, administrative assistant, College of Professional Studies-Indianapolis

Steve Hundersmarck, director of the Center for Criminal Science

Jessica Inniger, director of student life

Ed Karasek, women’s lacrosse coach

Simona Lewis-Spice, enrollment specialist

Scott Livorno, enrollment manager, College of Professional Studies-Greenwood

Beth Moak, administrative assistant for enrollment management

Benedict Moore, part-time reference librarian

Roger Newton, athletic director

Terry Nichter, men’s lacrosse coach

Michael Peterson, director of special gifts

Gina Schulz, assistant office manager for Institutional Advancement

Helen Starks, part-time assistant in the business office

Janice Thompson, director of field experience and teacher education

Ami Troyer, associate admissions counselor

faculty & staff newsIn Memoriam

Two New Trustees Join University BoardIndiana Tech is proud to welcome two new members to the Board of Trustees. The appointments were effective July 1.

Janet C. Chrzan, CPA: ► Janet C. Chrzan is a principal of Vision Management Consulting and an independent contractor for Accenture Consulting. She retired from Lincoln National Corp. in 2006 with 22 years of service in a variety of roles including senior vice president and chief financial officer of Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the university of Nebraska and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1981. Chrzan also serves on the Parkview Health System Board of Directors, the Wilson Foundation Board of Directors, the Nature Conservancy of Indiana Board of Trustees, the Foellinger Foundation Investment/Finance Committee, the St. Elizabeth Church Finance Committee, the Leadership Fort Wayne Alumni Board of Directors, and the united Way of Allen County Audit Committee.

Eric J. Jenkinson, M.D.: ► Eric J. Jenkinson is a non-operative musculoskeletal physician with Orthopedics Northeast specializing in sports medicine. He earned his medical degree from Indiana university School of Medicine after earning his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Taylor university-upland. He is the head team physician for Indiana Tech as well as Taylor university, Indiana university-Purdue university Fort Wayne, and Elmhurst High School.

The Indiana Tech Board of Trustees now has 18 members plus the president of the university, Dr. Arthur E. Snyder, and two trustees emeriti. Each trustee serves a three-year term and can be re-elected based on committee recommendations.

Phlipot Earns Teaching AwardAssociate Professor Jack Phlipot ► earned the first Leepoxy Plastics Award for Teaching Innovation. The award, presented at the university convocation on Sept. 2, was established by business owner Larry Lee.

University Welcomes New Staff

Indiana Tech is pleased to announce several additions to the university staff:

save the dateThe Alumni Association’s 7th Annual Alumni Wine Tasting will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on January 24, 2009 at the Fort Wayne campus. Watch for more information on tickets.

Learn about upcoming alumni events and view our alumni photo gallery online at www.indianatech.edu/alumniandfriends

TE CH

WA RRIORS

1600 East Washington Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46803www.IndianaTech.edu

Non-Profit Org.u.S. POSTAGE

PAIDFort Wayne, INPermit No. 159

2008–09 Student AmbassadorsEighteen students have been chosen as Student Ambassadors for 2008-09. The Student Ambassadors participate in events sponsored by the Office of Institutional Advancement and the Office of Admissions, building relationships between students, alumni, and the community. This year’s ambassadors are Tiffany E. Aiken, A’rielle T. Anderson, Shane M. Baughman, Justin M. Glaza, Mario R. Gomez, Cole A. Hale, Erica M. Havens, Jenna E. Hewitt, Aide V. Martinez, Dustin L. Nickels, Stephen J. Putek, Joel H. Putek, Lindsay A. Reeve, Brandan J. Satisfield, Ashlie N. Sklenicka, David L. Snider, Seth Tribbett, Alyssa D. Webb.

2008–09 Alumni BoardThe 2008 Alumni Board includes: Mary Brown, BSACC 1988; Joe Corona, BSBA 2004, MBA 2007; Greg H. Lynch, BSCE 1981; President Terry Bultemeier, MBA ‘06; Secretary Audra Wilcoxson, ASACC 1989; Tamra B. Dominique, BSBA 1995, MBA 2001; Alumni Representative to the Board of Trustees Gene Dominique, BSME 1961; and Board Members Jason Armey, BSBA 2004, MBA 2007; Vice President Jason Crandal, BSACC 1999; Michael Rossi, BSBA 1991, MBA 2003; Curt French, MBA 2002; Jill Foxworthy, BSACC 2001; David Barrett, BSEE 1977; Treasurer Katie Mettler, BSBA’00, MSM/MBA 2007; Tony Radkiewicz, BSIS 2007; Matt Harrold, MBA 2007.