As the College of Technology’s Spring 2012 graduates complete their time at Purdue, we are profiling a few and finding out their future plans and how they arrived at this point in their lives. Commencement is May 12, 2012.

Eric Kaiser, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
CAD Designer for Nobletek, Wooster, Ohio

Education
Bachelor’s degree in computer graphics technology

Job duties

• Design various components from a concept drawing.
• Utilize specialized software to generate NC code for machining parts.
• Create and manage master assemblies and generate a bill of materials for their production.

Purdue classes that helped Eric for his job

• All of my CGT classes have helped in one way or another, but specifically the Virtual Product Integraton and Product Lifecycle Management courses will be used the most.
• My capstone course taught me how to justify my decisions. It isn’t just about why a customer wants something. If you don’t know just as much about what they are asking for, and you are trying to design it, then something can get easily overlooked, because you don’t know enough to ask questions. It was a real eye-opener.
• The Visualization and Simulation course allowed me to branch out from the manufacturing side of CAD, and helped me learn some material stress analysis as well as basic animations. I will use these skills when determining if an aircraft tank can handle an impact, or if it needs to be reinforced.
• Introduction to surface modeling: This class really opened my eyes to how diverse and robust computer modeling has become. It exposed me to more advanced techniques, which was a little intimidating for a while until I got the hang of the more complex functions. This process is used everywhere, and knowing how to work with it makes designing around curves (such as inside an airplane) much easier.
• Product Lifecycle Management: Another great course, and completely different from the others. It really makes you think about how what you are doing has lasting implications, and how to account for those changes. It focuses on a product, but you can apply its lessons about adapting to change and the importance of communication to almost anything.

Other ways the College of Technology and/or Purdue provided preparation and assistance
The biggest thing I want to thank the College of Technology for is for showing me that there are multiple paths towards each goal. At Purdue, being exposed to so many diverse people, with their own goals and opinions, is the best environment to learn. You have to challenge everything, look at things from a different angle, and never stop seeking new knowledge.

Thanks go to:

• First, to my family. I wouldn’t be here without their love and support. Mom (Cindie) and Dad (Don) , thanks for encouraging me when I did well, and not letting me settle for anything but my best. Bryan, thanks for leading the way, I’ve always looked up to you.
• To all my friends: It has truly been a blast. From the “All-American” Marching band, The Solar Racing Team, and the Boiler League of Tag, keep doing what you do best. Every one of you has helped me along this road. Thank you for making Purdue feel like home.
• Professors Craig Miller, Patrick Connolly,  Nathan Hartman, and Terry Burton: For answering every one of my questions, you deserve a medal. I can’t thank you enough for exposing me to these great technologies and pushing me to do more than I thought possible.

• Committee for the Education of Teaching Assistants Excellence in Teaching Award recipients are selected by each academic department for their commitment to undergraduate education. Departments may select one recipient for every 50 graduate teaching assistants they support. Recipients are: 
Scott R. Winter, aviation technology; Jing Pan, building construction management; 
Teresa Shanklin, computer and information technology; 
Thomas Haley-Hermiz, computer graphics technology; 
Samuel A. Bertsch, electrical and computer engineering technology; and 
Craig A. Zehrung, mechanical engineering technology.
• Graduate Teacher Certificate: 
Robert D. Winkworth IV, computer and information technology.

The annual Student Activities and Organization awards were presented April 19. Two Technology  undergraduates received The Class of 1937 endowed scholarship to reward students who show leadership and leadership potential while at Purdue: Michael Mattern, building construction management, ($3,000) and James Douglas Camanse ($2,000), technology leadership & innovation.

Award recipients were:

Faculty Awards:

• James G. Dwyer Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching: Brad Benhart, building construction management. He was also honored as one of six recipients of the 2012 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Awards in Memory of Charles B. Murphy.
  Departmental nominees: Tom Carney (AT), Ray Hassan (CGT), Eric Matson (CIT), Dan Lybrook (TLI)
• Outstanding Discovery Award: Bedrich Benes, computer graphics technology
  Departmental nominees: Dave Stanley (AT), Kirk Alter (BCM), John Springer (CIT), Jeff Evans (ECET), Jenny Daugherty (TLI)
• Outstanding Engagement Award: Denver Lopp, aviation technology
  Departmental nominees: Brad Benhart (BCM), Eric Dietz (CIT), Gene Harding (ECET), Andy Schaffer (TLI)
• Outstanding Learning Award: Donald Petrin, aviation technology
  Departmental nominees: Bryan Hubbard (BCM), Pat Connolly (CGT), Dawn Laux (CIT), John Denton (ECET), Bill Krug (TLI)
• John P. Lisack Award for Early Career Engagement: Haiyan “Henry” Zhang, mechanical engineering technology

Staff Awards:

• Academic Advisor: Rose Delong-Bolyard, lead academic advisor, aviation technology
• Customer Service: Devona Gangwer, administrative assistant for the associate dean for academic affairs and diversity
• Leadership: Vanessa Buntin, manager of special events and alumni relations
• Statewide Excellence: Matthew Ferrell, learning systems coordinator, College of Technology at Indianapolis

Staff service anniversaries:

• 10 years: Beth Helton, administrative assistant for the Office of Advancement; Jill Kelley, secretary, College of Technology at Columbus; Valorie Moorman, student services coordinator, College of Technology at Greensburg; Kathy Reel, secretary, College of Technology at Kokomo
• 15 years: Matthew Ferrell, learning systems coordinator, College of Technology at Indianapolis ; Patti Keen, flight operations dispatcher, Department of Aviation Technology; T.R. O’neal, academic advisor, Department of Computer Graphics Technology; Mike Swain, student services coordinator, College of Technology at Richmond
• 25 years: Fred Campbell, electronics technician, College of Technology at Columbus; Mark Hopkins, director of quality control, Department of Aviation Technology; Matt Johnson, building deputy and AET technician, Department of Aviation Technology

Student Awards:

• Undergraduate: Benjamin Doll, CIT
• Graduate: Christopher Brock, AT

University awards

• 2012 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Awards in Memory of Charles B. Murphy: Brad Benhart, building management and construction technology (read a profile on Benhart)
• Continuing Education’s Award for Excellence in Distance Learning: Erin Bowen, technology leadership and innovation
• Fellowship for Study in a Second Discipline (2012-13): Nicoletta Adamo-Villani, computer graphics technology
• Outstanding Commercialization Award: Lonnie Bentley, computer information technology

Faculty service recognition awards

• 30 years: Zarjon Baha, building construction management; Bruce Harding, mechanical engineering technology; Alka Harriger, computer and information technology
• 25 years: Terry Burton, computer graphics technology; John Denton, electrical and computer engineering technology; Nancy Denton, mechanical engineering technology; Philip Mick, aviation technology; Anthony Oxtoby, electrical and computer engineering technology; JoDell Steuver, technology leadership & innovation (Columbus); Michele Summers, technology leadership & innovation (Lafayette)
• 20 years: Brian Alenskis, mechanical engineering technology (Richmond); Thomas Capozzoli, technology leadership & innovation (Kokomo); Terrence O’Connor, electrical and computer engineering technology (New Albany); Matthew Stephens, technology leadership & innovation; Kevin Taylor, electrical and computer engineering technology (Kokomo); J. Mark Thom, aviation technology; Bernard Wulle, aviation technology
• 15 years: Clark Cory, computer graphics technology; John Finnegan, computer graphics technology (New Albany); Michael Leasure, aviation technology; Julie Mariga, computer and information technology
• 10 years: Nicoletta Adamo-Villani, computer graphics technology; Dennis Depew, technology leadership & innovation; Ronald Glotzbach, computer graphics technology; Mark Shaurette, building construction management

The ceremonies and their student speakers are:

• College of Technology at Richmond and Anderson: Friday, May 4, 6:30 p.m.; Danylle Harman, organizational leadership and supervision, student speaker
• College of Technology at Lafayette, Saturday, May 5, 2:00 p.m.; Michael Smith, organizational leadership and supervision, student speaker
• College of Technology at South Bend, Monday, May 7, 6:00 p.m.; Kevin Miller, engineering technology, student speaker
• College of Technology at Columbus and Greensburg, Tuesday, May 8, 6:00 p.m.; Jacob Rutan, computer and information technology, student speaker
• College of Technology at Kokomo, Wednesday, May 9, 6:00 p.m.; Tyler Imbierowicz, computer and information technology, student speaker
• College of Technology at Vincennes, Thursday, May 10, 11:30 a.m.; Vance Perry, industrial technology, student speaker
• College of Technology at New Albany, Thursday, May 10, 6:00 p.m.; Munkhtsetseg Nandigjav, computer graphics technology, student speaker
• College of Technology at West Lafayette and Indianapolis, Saturday, May 12, 9:30 a.m.; Ellen Zouras, building construction management, student speaker. A posthumous bachelor of science degree will be awarded to Timothy D. Patterson, a former student in the College of Technology.

This is the second year I lent my judging services to the annual Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium (April 10), featuring student research from the colleges of Technology, Science, Engineering and Agriculture.

It’s the first year, however, that I decided to visit every poster created by a College of Technology student. I’m so glad I did. The students who were able to share their research in person were engaging, excited by their projects, and, most important, working to solve problems big and small (see bolded items throughout).

Four of the CoT posters won awards.

The College of Technology Dean’s Award winner was “Modeling by Design” by Hilde Thayer, who is majoring in engineering/technology teacher education. As a research assistant to Nathan Mentzer, assistant professor in the program, she is helping identify the different ways high school students model design projects. Results of the study will help teachers understand their students better and help them craft better teaching methods to take advantage of the modeling techniques students use.

A four-person team working on improving construction safety won the College of Technology Student Award. Jeremiah D. Miller, Manuel Campos, David Foreman, Matthew Huff presented “Solutions in Construction Management Safety Applications.” These computer graphics technology students are working on a mobile app that will help construction workers track safety protocols and efforts at the work site.

Another four-person team won second place in the Innovative Technology/Entrepreneurship and Design category with their work on “Development for Construction Graphics Center.” The team — computer graphics technology students Katie Gentry, Laura Sutter, Kaylee Oliver and Wesley Young — is researching the computer-modeling needs of the construction industry. Their final report will provide the foundation for a possible University center for building information modeling (BIM).

Adam Landers won third place in the Innovative Technology/Entrepreneurship and Design category for his poster titled “Research and Development of Testing Methodology for Use in Preparation of an ASTM Guidance Material and Support of Alternative Aviation Gasoline Acceptance.” As an undergraduate researcher for Purdue’s National Test Facility for Aerospace Fuels and Propulsion (NaTeF), Landers is creating ways to test non-petroleum aviation fuels without using them in engines. He will present his findings to the American Society of Test and Measurement this summer, where he hopes to influence the creation of new fuel testing specifications.

I can’t write extensively about all of the other 14 posters, but here is an overview of what I gleaned from my 90 minutes of talking with today’s problem solvers.

• “Epiphany Link: Connecting entrepreneurs and skilled professionals together to create innovative business solutions through an online networking site,” by computer graphics technology students Christina Caldwell, Hwee Sann Choo, Derek Hill and Spencer Wolf. The team is working with a sponsor to create a social media networking site for entrepreneurs: StartupTeamBuilder.com.
• “Eastern Indian Information Kiosk,” by computer graphics technology students Jennifer M. Maxwell, Laura West, Becca Bogusz and Eric Kaiser. They are designing an energy-efficient information kiosk for residents of eastern India.
• “Novel Ink,” by computer graphics technology students Duskie Rowland, Nick Hamby, Tracie Borror, Matt Amos and Joe Kapusta. The team is researching the most effective way to display a large amount of text on electronic devices for user enjoyment and information retention.
• “Comparative Analysis Between Fish Tank Virtual Reality and Stereoscopic 3D,” by computer graphics technology students Joshua McCollum, Stephanie Malek, Eric Wright, Matthew Sackley and Kelly Fan. Using a qualitative research method, this study aims to validate fish tank virtual reality as a possible alternative to stereoscopic methods.
• “Ovation LLC” by computer graphics technology students Brian Fu, Lauren Corley, Nicholas Jacobs and Pearl Kuo. The students are working on a video marketing campaign to help their department celebrate its 20th anniversary.
• “Beyond Code,” by computer graphics technology students Amy N. Hoag, Ethan Wolfe, Cole Went, Zack Meredith, and Jow Wilcox. They are working with a construction company to translate their PowerPoint safety training into more engaging animation with hopes of proving that it is more effective.
• “GPU Raytracer” by computer graphics technology students Joe Ferfecki, Grant Windes, Kayla Steckel and Andrew Kennedy. The group is exploring the viability of an interactive GPU ray tracer in a 3-D production environment.
• “Evaluating the Effect of Using 3D Task Cards on a Mobile Platform in Aviation Maintenance,”  by computer graphics technology students Patrick McGuire, Nate Christopher, John Pourcho and Shawn Ruemler. The students are creating a prototype of 3-D product definition task cards for aviation maintentance workers increase their efficiency, accuracy, and mental workload.
• “Web and crowd funding methods in physical therapy video game development,” by computer graphics technology students Juan Carlos Orendain, Joshua Balcitis, Dalonte Keemer, Matthew Wilson. The group researched the best ways to fund-raise through online crowd-sourcing.
• “The Use of Digital Data Analysis in Flight Training,” by aviation management students David S. Turek and Jonathan Reed. To better train pilots in simulators, the students are collecting digital data from real flights and downloading the information into a flight simulator program to recreate the flight.
• “O-Ring Leakage Study for AircaftSythetic and Bio-Synthetic Fuels Development,” by aeronautical engineering technology students Rex Pan, Nathan Kaney and Tim Jeffery. The students have created an O-ring testing fixture to identify interactions between alternative fuels and aircraft seal materials.
• “Assessing performance in a high-technology, high-risk environment: A user perspective,” by aviation management student Clay Wildt. He is working to collect opinions of frequent travelers related to airline quality to identify attitudinal patterns. This information will be compared to the National Airline Quality Rating.
• “Human/User-Centered Design,” by Lisa Beckwith and Cameron Nunan, engineering/technology teacher education majors. The goal of their study is to understand how high school students use the human centered design process during an engineering design challenge.

The festivities run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

In the CoT tent, look for:

• TecKNOWLEDGEy Quiz Game, with prizes
• Cotton candy machine
• Glitter tattoos
• Summer camp information
• Small sand box area with remote control construction equipment (Department of Building Construction Management)
• Interactive digital painting display with printouts of art available (Department of Computer Graphics Technology)
• 3-D printer demonstration and gift (Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology)
• EcoCAR 2 display, including a Chevy Volt (Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology)
• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) display and experiment setup (Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology)
• Automated popcorn machine with free popcorn (Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology)

The College of Technology is Tent #32. It will be set up on the north end of Memorial Mall next to Oval Drive.

SpringFest activities kick off the college’s 2012 Tech Week celebration. Follow Tech Week updates on Twitter: #PurdueTechWeek.

See the full list of Purdue SpringFest activities.

Faculty who received funding (all are principal investigators unless otherwise noted) were:

• Melissa Dark, Computer and Information Technology, IPA between Purdue and NSA/ADET, Center for CNO, Cyber and Information Assurance, National Security Agency, $38,620
• Tom Hacker (Co-PI), Workshop Focusing on Global Policies for Infrastructure Monitoring & Management: A Paradigm Shift in Lifecycle Cost & Optimization of Resources, Purdue University, $1,000
• Nathan Hartman, Computer Graphics Technology, Product Lifecycle Management Center of Excellence (PLM), General Motors Foundation, $15,000
• Alejandra Magana, Computer and Information Technology, Research Initiation Grant: Integrating Computation into the Materials Science and Engineering Core, Johns Hopkins University, $37,900
• Vahid Motevalli, Mechanical Engineering Technology,  Center for Technology Development Consortium membership, Multi-Sponsored Industrials, $50,000
• Edie Schmidt, Industrial Technology, True Flex, Tru-Flex LLC, $20,000
• Henry Zhang, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Allison-Purdue Projects: Allison 4000 Series Modeling for Software In Loop (SIL), Allison Transmission, $44,634

The amounts listed are disbursements in a specific month and may not reflect the entire amount of a project’s funding.

Students and faculty provide insights into the College of Technology and its majors in a new video posted to the college’s YouTube channel this month.

Created primarily with prospective students in mind, the video provides an overview of the college’s academic programs, the types of careers students can expect after graduation, and personal insights from those who experience Technology every day. The video will be used by recruitment personnel as an introduction to the college and its programs.

“This video will serve as a great introduction to the college for students who are exploring their futures,” said Jason Mucher, director of communications for the college. “We hope this video answers some of the initial questions a prospective student may have about what technology is and what the College of Technology experience will be like.”

Watch the video.

by Steven Lincoln, senior writer/editor for the College of Technology

The TED phenomenon came to the Purdue campus March 22 as TEDx PurdueU brought together a wide array of speakers focused on innovation. It is a testament to the TED brand that all seats for two sessions were spoken for before the speaker roster was even released. And those attendees were treated with great ideas, inspiring stories, and good advice to take with them.

The College of Technology was one of the sponsors for the event, and we had ties to four of the presenters. But the event showed that our college is just one part of a bigger, innovative whole that is connected by the Purdue name. Innovative ideas are not relegated to the fields technology or engineering. They can be found wherever a challenge presents itself. Innovation comes from a person’s passion for a cause, idea or discipline.

Here’s an overview of what I took away from my first TEDx experience (I wasn’t able to fit in all speakers, though they are all worthy of noting):

Several speakers talked about what it took for them to be successful in their businesses.

• Jason Tennenhouse, director of Purdue Christian Campus House and founder of Greyhouse Coffee and Supply Co., asked us to look at innovation in a new way. Some people pursue new challenges because they “have to” or “want to”. Tennenhouse believes a more telling way is to pursue something when you “can’t not do it”, when “the present looks broken in light of the new idea.”
• Michael Fry, founder of Fancy Fortune Cookies, inspired us all to be INSANE (Ingeniously Not Safe and Normal Entrepreneur), giving examples of people with outlandish ideas that changed the way business is done.
• Bill Sinunu, co-founder of Globally Hip, talked about how his multicultural upbringing helped inspire his work on improving communication across cultures. When he realized  he had some deep-seated animosity toward Turkish people, he wondered how he could get rid of that. Someone told him that he would need to find a Turkish person who is fighting for peace. It helped and should be a lesson to us all.

Others talked about their specific innovative ideas and the motivations behind them:

• Amanda Schoolcraft, a senior in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, is focused on a project she calls “Amaguru”, which is a Rwandan word for “legs.” She wants to create prosthetic legs that grow with their wearer so that they don’t need to be replaced every six months. Her motivation is Jeanette, an 8-year-old girl who lost both of her legs during recent violence in Rwanda. Two other Purdue students are working with Amanda to achieve her goal. Read more at www.giveamaguru.org.
• Tahira Reid, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, took a third grade science project from “what she wants” to a working prototype later in life.  It was an automated double-dutch jump rope machine – something she needed, as an only child, to continue her favorite activity at home. She benefited from constant encouragement from teachers, friends and family.
• Steve Werely, professor of mechanical engineering, helped quantify the size and scope of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. The nature of the spill, coming from deep water and mixed with dispersant, made the normal calculations based on surface measurements inaccurate. He showed his initial calculations, scribbled on a pharmaceuticals notepad, that changed the way the spill was viewed. Werely focused on clouds of oil coming from the pipe, tracked their speed and volume, and used that information to calculate the pipe’s flow rate.
• Kyle Bowen, director of informatics for Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP) discussed his motivation for creating useful mobile and web applications to improve student success in the classroom. Why can’t the classroom evolve with the outlook of digital natives (aka today’s students), he asks. The products he has worked on have shown success in keeping students engaged, which leads to better learning.
• Philip Low, professor of chemistry and chief science officer for Endocyte, excited the audience with the possibilities of treating cancer, heart disease and more. His company is able to target cancer cells with flouresence, which in turn glow enough for surgeons can find them for easier removal.
• Erica Morin, a Ph.D. candidate in history, provided the rationale for her innovative approach to teaching history. History is more than just the headlines, which is what we are usually taught. She goes over the headlines, and then focuses most of her lecture on the rest of the stories in the paper, which more often reflect the wants and needs of a society or subset of the population. “Students are learning a more inclusive historical narrative behind the headlines,” she says.
• Mike Kane, associate professor of computer and information technology, talked about his work with personalized medicine based on a person’s genetic makeup. His work can help reduce adverse drug reactions and improve the efficacy of medicine.

Favorite quotes from the day

• “Get a passport. It’s the most important asset you’ll ever have (except for a child),” Art Norins, CEO of Nor1
• “Do something everyday. Be humble. Break free [of others’ expectations],” Matt Barnes, professional free-runner
• “You have something to contribute. What are you sitting on that only you can do to make a difference?” Tahira Reid, assistant professor of mechanical engineering
• “We live in science fiction. It can inspire a new classroom,” Kyle Bowen, director of informatics for Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP), CGT ‘99
• “There’s more to history than wars and white guys,” Erica Morin, Ph.D. candidate in history
• “It is important to tell stories of people who don’t make the front page – these people are also creating history,” Erica Morin, Ph.D. candidate in history