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L to R: Randy Van Deven and Mike MacIndoe |
Mike MacIndoe, civil engineering '84, of Knoxville, Tenn., recently talked with TTU's Randy Van Deven about his pleasant experiences at Tennessee Tech.
Mike and his wife Lisa, human ecology ’84, enjoyed their time in Cookeville so much that they convinced their son Michael to attend their alma mater as well. Mike and Lisa enjoy visiting their son at football games and tailgating with the members of the FIJI fraternity.
Thanks, Mike and Lisa, for sharing your positive experiences about TTU and making a difference!
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L to R: Bob Bell and Ray Morris |
On Nov. 18, 2008, President Bob Bell presented Ray Morris, president of Venture Construction in Atlanta, Ga., with a photo composite commemorating the May 2008 groundbreaking of Ray Morris Hall, which will house the Millard Oakley STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Center.
The STEM Center is a campus-wide initiative to support the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics related fields. Success in these subjects requires collaboration and innnovation at all levels - from pre-school through college. The goal is to improve the teaching and learning of these subjects with faculty development, student enrichment, and learning process research.
President Bell would like to extend a special thank you to Ray and his employees for their hospitality during his visit.
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Bob Askew |
Bob Askew, industrial engineering ’71, is doing two things he loves: playing golf and living and working back in Panama. Bob came to Cookeville and TTU back in the fall of 1966, having been born and raised in the American-run Panama Canal Zone.
Why TTU? Bob’s dad was from Smith County, and he wanted to study engineering. Simple as that. After the culture and climate shock (he never saw snow until that first winter in Cookeville), he did well and earned his degree and a second lieutenant’s commission in 1971.
After 20 years as a uniformed Corps of Engineers officer, Bob retired a lieutenant colonel. The circle of life completed a little when he returned to live and work in Panama, only now the canal is owned and run by the Panamanians. And they're doing a fine job of it – one of the great unsung success stories of the good old USA.
The circle closed even more when Bob started working for CH2M HILL and the great multi-billion dollar expansion of the Panama Canal. Closing the circle, because his mother’s father arrived on the Isthmus of Panama in 1907 to work on the original historic American construction of the canal.
Oh, the golf? Bob’s an avid and skilled amateur golfer, playing for and representing Panama in various competitions in Latin America. The photo shows him hoisting the trophy for winning a regional senior tournament in Colombia in October.
The great expansion of the Panama Canal is due to be completed in 2014 – the 100 year anniversary of the original opening of the canal.
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L to R: Janice and Tommy Chisholm |
Tommy Chisholm, chemical engineering '63, and his wife, Janice, in Cashiers, N.C., completed their dream retirement home this year and now live comfortably amongst the mountain folk and compete daily for squatters rights with the deer and bear on their property.
Tommy enjoys playing golf and is blessed to be surrounded by an assortment of championship courses nestled in some of the most picturesque settings of the Appalachian mountains.
The couple particularly enjoys the solitude and peacefulness of their new home after spending many years in the big city of Atlanta.
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L to R: Paul Trussell and Randy Van Deven |
Paul Trussell, industrial technology '67, and TTU Development Director Randy Van Deven are pictured next to Paul’s latest toy - a modified 1957 Chevy that boasts more than 680 horse power. A true enthusiast, Paul was happy to take Randy on the ride of his life.
Paul runs a very successful construction company, which has done much of the utility work for the city of Columbia, S.C. He enjoys drag racing within the IHRA circuit during the summer and faithfully follows USC sports throughout the year.
To learn more about Paul and his passion for classic automobiles, visit his web page at www.trussellmotorsports.com.
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Retired Col. Danny Cox, business management '67, had a successful career in the Army — but that didn’t keep him from thinking frequently about his late friend Bill Steed, business management '67.
Upon their graduation from Tennessee Tech University in 1967, both had become commissioned military officers through their involvement with the university’s Army ROTC Advanced Program.
Steed became an infantry officer and, shortly after earning his degree, was stationed in Vietnam, where he was killed in the conflict.
“I had been so fortunate with my own military career, but I thought about my friend frequently, and I wanted to commemorate his sacrifice in a meaningful way,” Cox said.
A scholarship committee was formed, and in their research, they identified three other ROTC graduates from the university who had been killed while serving in Vietnam. They are Donald Stallings, agricultural science '54; Carl Gilbert, civil engineering '68; and Melvin Huffine, secondary education-English '60.
The university’s ROTC alumni were approached about giving to establish the memorial scholarship endowment, and “the response was absolutely incredible,” Cox said.
A total of $25,000 was raised for the memorial scholarship endowment, which will benefit promising ROTC students at TTU.
“This was one of my better ideas, I must say,” Cox said. “I was overwhelmed by how many people endorsed it, supported it and made it happen.”
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Richard Cox |
Tenor Richard Cox has become a familiar face on stage since graduating from Tennessee Tech in 1996 with a degree in music. The Chattanooga native has been heard at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Stanley Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center, to name a few.
In the 2006-2007 season, Richard debuted at the Metropolitan Opera as the Erste geharnischter Mann in Die Zauberflöte as well as several other productions. On the concert platform, he's participated in the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation Concert at Alice Tully Hall, and a duo recital with soprano Meagan Miller and pianist Thomas Bagwell at Brown University. In December 2007, he appeared at New York’s St. Bartholomew’s Church for their On Wings of Song recital series. In Spring 2008, he returns to the Staatsoper Dresden for Adolar in Weber’s Euryanthe, and will join the Washington National Opera for a production of Jenufa.
Richard has been the recipient of numerous awards, scholarships and grants. He holds degrees from Tennessee Tech University, Florida State University, and The Juilliard School.
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L to R: Robyn Markey and Tammy McCoy |
Robyn Markey has been working with Special Olympics for the past seven years and in her current job as senior manager of coach development with Special Olympics North America for the past four years. Her responsibilities focus on developing curriculum for colleges and universities and enhancing coach education for Canada, United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Prior to bringing her talents to Special Olympics, Robyn was a Division I college basketball coach for 17 years at Delaware, Vermont, Florida State and Ball State. She became the youngest head coach in America at the age of 24 when she took over the Vermont program.
At Tennessee Tech, she started for three years for the Golden Eaglettes basketball team that averaged 22 wins a season. She led the conference in steals and assists and finished ninth on the school's all-time list with 362 assists and sixth with 196 steals. Robyn, who now lives in Raleigh, N.C., is also a member of the South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame.
"It has been very rewarding; it has been an honor to be still around athletics," Robyn said. |
There is no better poster child for "Good Things Come to Those Who Wait" than Rodney Atkins. Ten years after signing his record deal, Atkins achieved back-to-back multiple week number one hits, ACM New Male Vocalist honors, a platinum album and a Top 5 single with "These Are My People." If that isn't enough, nearly 14 years after he left Tennessee Tech University, Atkins was awarded his college degree -- without cracking a book.
Atkins benefited from TTU's degree program -- a bachelor's degree program in interdisciplinary studies -- designed to help students with accumulated credits finish their degrees. While researching for former students who were within a few hours of completing a degree, the university found that Atkins was eligible for graduation as an interdisciplinary studies major without taking any additional course work. How lucky is that?
"When I was going to Tennessee Tech, my parents must have thought I was trying to become an astronaut with the way I was just taking up space!" laughs Atkins. "I think going to college was definitely a benefit to me (even before getting my degree), but it's very satisfying to finally have the degree in hand, especially after paying back all those student loans!" |
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L to R: Michael Coradini, TTU Development Officer Randy VanDeven and Janet and Michael Montgomery |
Alumni Michael Montgomery, chemical engineering ‘75, and his wife Janet, from Brookshire, Texas, near Houston, visited their alma mater. Michael made a presentation to the College of Engineering students about opportunities in the oil field industry. Janet, a financial planner, gave a presentation to a finance class in the College of Business on the fundamentals of financial planning.
Michael and Janet met current TTU student, Michael Coradini, a junior, majoring in mechanical engineering and president of the TTU Mini Baha team.
Tennessee Tech University encourages our alumni to come back to campus and help us in preparing our students for real world experiences.
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L to R: Trudy Harper and TTU Development Officer Randy VanDeven |
Electrical engineering grad Trudy Harper, ‘83, president of Tenaska Power Services Company in Arlington, Texas, was on campus to take part in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board meeting.
Trudy, who is originally from Soddy Daisy, Tenn., enjoys getting back to the Upper Cumberland region, visiting with TTU Development Officer Randy Van Deven and catching up on all the news associated with the College of Engineering and Tennessee Tech in general. |
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L to R: Chris and Keron Privon |
Mechanical engineering grad Chris Privon, '79, and his wife, Keron, industrial engineering ‘80, visited campus recently to observe how 10 new Hewlett Packard computers that the Privon’s were instrumental in securing were being utilized by the students in Mechanical Engineering. The Privon’s were pleased with the progress that the Mechanical Engineering Department had made and are working to supply another six units for a senior design project lab in Mechanical Engineering.
Chris is vice president of Hewlett Packard Imaging Division located in Boise, Idaho.
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