More than an award for UC engineering students

Mantei/Mae Award offers support and community

By Julia Mace Email Julia

7 minute read July 7, 2023

More than 13 years ago, Jim Goetz, BSEE ’88, anonymously set up an award program benefiting University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science students. He quietly named the awards after his beloved grandmother, Mae, and favorite UC professor, Thomas Mantei, PhD, wanting to assist high-achieving students in electrical engineering, computer engineering and computer science programs.

The Mantei/Mae Award provides financial support, as well as funding for learning experiences such as conferences and networking events. Since its inception, more than 150 individual awards have been given to a distinguished group. In 2013, Goetz endowed the award, ensuring it in perpetuity.

The Mantei/Mae community

Thomas Mantei, PhD, and Anusha Chitranshi, CEAS ’24.

This act of generosity has blossomed into a lifelong camaraderie for its recipients. While extremely grateful for the financial support, students and alumni say the Mantei/Mae Award community is just as beneficial.

“It’s been helpful for me as a motivation to do better,” says three-time beneficiary Anusha Chitranshi, CEAS ’24. “This is a very select group of people that get this award, and it is an honor. It’s provided me with a community that I’m very proud of.”

Anusha has made the most of her time on UC’s campus. She is currently working on a dual bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science. She has served as a peer tutor, worked as a residential adviser, is her college’s University Honors Program ambassador and held a co-op at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. Anusha will be in San Francisco this summer, completing her second internship with Levi Strauss & Company. The company has offered her a position in New York City upon graduation.

Through the award community, Anusha met Adam Hauke, CEAS ’15, PhD ’18. He and his wife, Larissa, have helped her make academic and career decisions.

“They helped me define expectations about stepping into my career and gave me general tips about moving to New York,” she says. “I was much more clear about everything with their support, and I truly appreciate them for it.”

This is a very select group of people that get this award, and it is an honor. It’s provided me with a community that I’m very proud of.

Anusha Chitranshi CEAS ’24

Adam, among the first Mantei/Mae award recipients, is now senior manager of product strategy and Innovation at Gentherm Medical. He says the honor made an incredible difference in this career.

“What the award did for me was create a bar and I had to meet it,” he says. “Anything less was a failure. And it’s been with me throughout my career.”

Adam, Laura Stegner, CEAS ’19, a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Laura Tebben, CEAS ’19, a software developer at IBM, were instrumental in creating the Mantei/Mae Society in 2021. The group connects alumni and students and has grown to include professional fellowship and mentorship. Society members keep in touch through a newsletter, LinkedIn and WhatsApp.

In 2021, recipients were invited to a university event celebrating formerly anonymous donor Goetz and his $25 million gift to the university. This donation, the largest in UC’s history, was made in honor of Mantei, Goetz’s mentor.

Annually, past and present awardees gather at a ceremony with loved ones and Mantei/Mae Award co-trustees Mantei, now professor emeritus, and Jason Heikenfeld, PhD, professor of biomedical engineering, electrical engineering and materials science engineering.

Sister act

Mackenzie Novean, CEAS ’24, and Morgan Novean, CEAS ’26.

For sisters Mackenzie Novean, CEAS ’24, and Morgan Novean, CEAS ’26, engineering, the Mantei/Mae Award and the Bearcats is a family affair. Mackenzie, an electrical engineering major, says the financial support of the award has allowed her to explore her interests and goals, whereas before, she focused on paying tuition. The fourth-year student has completed two co-ops at Northrop Grumman and is a member of several student organizations—the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (SWE) and UC Intramural Soccer. She’s also the co-founder of Smiley Goat LLC, a company that creates adaptive board game products.

“The money itself is incredibly helpful,” reflects Mackenzie. “But the connections you keep with this network is even bigger.”

Mackenzie and Morgan were on a family vacation when they learned they both received the award; Mackenzie for the second time, Morgan for the first. They recall the exact moment they discovered the good news—they were playing frisbee on the beach and simultaneously received notifications on their watches.

“It’s such a great network to be in,” says Morgan, a computer engineering major and second-year student. “It’s good to meet other people who have gotten this award and talk to them about their experience.”

Morgan joins the Mantei/Mae cohort with an impressive list of experiences and successes. She has completed two co-ops at Northrop Grumman, and is a member of the IEE, SWE, Phi Sigma Rho and the UC Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team.

Heart of the award

Now that recipients know the name of the Mantei/Mae donor, they are eager to express their gratitude.

“As for Jim Goetz, I would say, thank you,” says Adam. “He gave me the drive and determination for academic achievement.”

“I would say thank you for doing this really noble thing,” adds Anusha. “It helps a lot of students financially and a lot of students stay motivated. We’re just grateful.”

I’d also like to honor Tom Mantei and Mae for inspiring the heart of the award which grows more special every year. Their simple acts of generosity continue to spread as ripples from the center point at UC to far reaches of the globe with the awardees who always carry it with them.

Adam Hauke CEAS ’15, PhD ’18

After this year’s Mantei/Mae Award ceremony, Adam posted a congratulations to the 40 recipients on LinkedIn. He commended these hardworking students, 18 of them new, and welcomed them to the community.

He also pointed out the individuals that inspired Goetz’s philanthropic gift.

“I’d also like to honor Tom Mantei and Mae for inspiring the heart of the award which grows more special every year. Their simple acts of generosity continue to spread as ripples from the center point at UC to far reaches of the globe with the awardees who always carry it with them.”

Featured image at top: Mantei/Mae Award recipients with Thomas Mantei and Jason Heikenfeld. Photo/UC Foundation.

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