CEAS Takes Center Court

On Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014, the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science hosted CEAS Night at Fifth Third Arena.

The UC men’s basketball team won, and the action-packed night celebrated CEAS’ top student achievers—the engineers of the month—along with exemplary high school professionals within the college’s signature Dual Enrollment and CEEMS Programs.

With 12 minutes on the clock at the start of the game, Provost Beverly Davenport, Interim Dean Teik C. Lim and Academic Director Anne Hoehn were proud to escort the Engineers of the Month out to center court during the second timeout. Waving to the wild crowd were Engineers of the Month:

Nicholas Schwartz

, aerospace engineering and ACCEND;

Michael Cline

, mechanical engineering and ACCEND;

Cameron Ingram

, biomedical engineering;

Thaddaeus Voss

, electrical engineering;

Peter Strawman

, construction management;

Elizabeth DeBenedictis

, mechanical engineering; James Lucas, chemical engineering; Ryan Stanley, mechanical engineering and ACCEND; Paul Keppler, electrical engineering technology; Yue Zhao, computer engineering;

Brandon Cook

, aerospace engineering and ACCEND; and

Adam Lennartz

, electrical engineering and ACCEND. Kyle Flenar (aerospace engineering and ACCEND) and Alex Stenger (construction management) were unable to attend due to co-op rotation but plan to join us next year.

As the clock rang in eight minutes in the first half, Provost Davenport, Interim Dean Lim and CEAS Academic Director Eugene Rutz accompanied the college’s education partners from the

dual enrollment program

and the NSF

CEEMS

program. Dual enrollment program honorees included: Dan Boles, Oak Hills High School; Brian Lien, Princeton High School; and Michelle Schafer, Mt. Notre Dame High School.

NSF CEEMS program honorees included: Curt Blimlime, Williamsburg High School; Thomas Haas, Norwood High School; Valecia Kelly, Schroder High School; Kevin Metzger, Milford High School; Katie Powers, Winton Woods High School; Jim Schad, Clark Montessori High School; and Lillian Sims, Schroder High School. CEAS’ NSF CEEMS efforts are led by Director of Engineering Outreach Anant Kukreti and Program Academic Director Julie Steimle.

Also in attendance were Osman and Sunu Polat, strong CEAS supporters who’ve generously partnered with the college, in conjunction with the Middle Eastern Technical University, to create the Suna and Osman Polat Graduate Fellowship.

CEAS’ presence resonated throughout the arena as the UC Robotics Club, along with their faculty advisors Dan Humpert, director of the UC Center for Robotics Research and CEAS mechanical engineering associate professor, and Paul Talaga, CEAS assistant professor educator, joined aerospace engineering students, Bryan Brown and Jeff Bennett, in wowing crowds from the concourse. The Robotics Club brought their t-shooting cannon robot to the show while Bryan and Jeff presented their quadcopter and explained SIERRA, the ‘Surveillance for Intelligent Emergency Response Robotic Aircraft.'

The night had officially kicked off prior to the game as guests gathered at the faculty club for a reception followed by a delectable dinner provided by the extraordinary Chef David and his skilled staff. Students, teachers, alumni, and supporters alike chatted over their meal about what it takes to ENGINEER BETTER™.

Interim Dean Lim closed the dinner by stating, “I’m honored to represent a college that excels and continues to attract growing numbers of top-notch students from year to year. As I look around the room, I see tomorrow’s leaders, today’s innovators, and our partners who take us everywhere in between. We are truly the world’s future— WE ENGINEER BETTER™.”

The Bearcat’s 69-51 victory capped what was a memorable evening for all. Look for an even greater celebration next year.