Mechanical Engineering Recieves Support for Student Design Practicum
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Three members of the 2004 Clean Snowmobile Challenge team (from left: Shannon Lynch, Matt Jend and Marc Bucaro) work on designing a less pollutant two-stroke engine. The Clean Snowmobile is one of several senior mechanical design projects that give CSU students an opportunity to try to solve real-world problems. |
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The Department of Mechanical Engineering has received three large gifts supporting the Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Practicum from alumni and friends of the college. Each of the gifts will be used to promote education and research.
The Senior Design Practicum is the capstone of the mechanical engineering undergraduate
curriculum. During their senior year, all mechanical engineering undergraduates
participate in designing and manufacturing a project judged in a national senior
design competition. Students may choose to design an SAE race car, a human-powered
vehicle, a clean snowmobile or may team up with electrical and computer engineering
students to build a robotic walking machine. Each project is based on a corporate
model that provides students with opportunities to develop leadership skills
and work on real-world problems. More than 40% of entering mechanical engineering
freshmen cite the experiential design program as a major factor in their decision
to attend Colorado State University.
Thanks to Brett Anderson:
Brett Anderson, a 1987 Colorado State mechanical engineering alumnus, has pledged $100,000 in support of the Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Practicum. Anderson is a managing partner at the Denver office of Accenture, a global management consulting and technology services company. Prior to this role, he served as the partner in charge of Accenture's Western U.S. Communications, Media and Entertainment industry Customer Relationship Management practice.
Anderson was a past host for one of the University's Faculty Fireside Chats, served as the master of ceremonies at the 2003 Denver Executive Luncheon, and has chaired the Corporate Committee on CSU's Development Council. He is a recipient of Colorado State's Personal Service Award and serves as a member of the Mechanical Engineering Advisory Panel.
Anderson has been an enthusiastic advocate of the unique educational experiences that the Department of Mechanical engineering provides to its students. Specifically, Anderson credits the department's Student Design Practicum for preparing him for his career by offering a rare opportunity to have one foot in the fast-paced world of industry while the other foot remained in the nurturing academic environment provided by the department's world-class faculty.
Brett Anderson's wife Danette graduated from Colorado State in 1987 with a
degree in human nutrition and dietetics.
Thanks to Joseph and Carolyn Marcus:
Joseph and Carolyn Marcus have pledged $25,000 to the Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Practicum and the College of Engineering.
Joseph Marcus worked for Lockheed Martin Space Systems. He most recently served as the vice president of Production Operations for Lockheed and was the College of Engineering's Honor Alumnus in 2003. During his career of 42 years, Marcus worked in engineering design, production engineering, program management and production operations management. As director of Lockheed Martin's Space Launch Systems Manufacturing at Astronautics Operations in Denver, he was responsible for the assembly and testing of engineering products including Titan and Atlas rockets for the U.S. Air Force and NASA. Marcus also served as director and program manager of the Superconducting Supercollider project and was director of Titan Program Manufacturing.
Among many honors, Marcus received two Lockheed Martin Corporate NOVA awards for teamwork and leadership and was named Denver Astronautics Manager of the Year in 1998.
Marcus graduated from Colorado State University in 1961 with a B.S in mechanical
engineering and received a PMD from Harvard. Carolyn is also a CSU alum in physical
education, earning a bachelor's degree in 1959, and four of their children are
CSU alumni. As alumni and long time supporters of CSU, the Marcus family has
contributed both personally and professionally. The Marcus Family Conference
Room was established in 1999 during the Engineering Building campaign. Joseph
Marcus also serves on the Dean's advisory council and the Colorado State University
Development Board.
Thanks to Allan and Susan Kirkpatrick:
Dr. Allan T. and Dr. Susan E.D. Kirkpatrick have recently announced their gift of $25,000 in support of the Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Practicum and the Kirkpatrick Family Scholarship, which benefits mechanical engineering students. As department head, Allan has played an active role in all levels of undergraduate education in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He and Susan share a common understanding of the importance of higher education to the development of tomorrow's leaders, and they prove this through active participation in numerous department, college and university activities. Susan is the former Mayor of Fort Collins and currently serves as Director of the Aims Community College Foundation in Greeley. She has degrees from CSU, Harvard and the Univeristy of Michigan. Allan holds degrees from MIT and the College of William and Mary.
Without the support of alumni, faculty, staff and friends, Colorado State's participation in design competitions would be limited. Generous donations like these bring the college one step closer to reaching the amount needed to fund the Senior Design Practicum and recognize the tremendous impact the program has on mechanical engineering students now and in the future.
For more information about the Department of Mechanical Engineering, visit www.engr.colostate.edu/me/. To make a gift to the College or its programs, please call (970) 491-7028 or e-mail Support Engineering@engr.colostate.edu.