Call for Alumni of Year nominations

Alumni are invited to submit nominations for the Engineering and Science Alumni of the Year for 2009. The College is looking for alumni/nae who are not only widely recognized as leaders in their fields, but also those who have made outstanding contributions to the community, church and University in the spirit of their Jesuit and/or Mercy roots.

Please download the nomination form (PDF) or contact Melanie Dara at darame@udmercy.edu or 313-993-1218 for a form. Nominations must be received before Jan. 5, 2009 to receive full consideration.

UDM robot wins contest

UDM Engineering students, competing against 47 teams from around the world, won the First Place Grand Award at the 16th annual Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC), held at Oakland University in Rochester, May 30 - June 2. Intelligent ground vehicles are not remote-controlled; rather, they must sense their environment and compute their way through it.

The UDM Engineering students and faculty of the winning CERATOPS team

The UDM team designed and constructed an autonomous robot, CERATOPS, which achieved the best overall performance. The competition included navigation and obstacle negotiation challenges as well as a presentation of the vehicle design. For more, see the UDM news release and the IGVC objectives and rules.

Chemistry Club to Celebrate 70th Anniversary

The Chemistry Club is celebrating its 70th Anniversary on Friday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. in the McNichols Campus Fountain Lounge. Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails will be followed by a buffet dinner at 7 p.m. Alumni tickets are $60. Please RSVP in advance.

For more information, please contact Joseph Furgal at furgaljc@students.udmercy.edu or 313-993-1188.

Golfing event scores another success

Approximately 80 golfers participated in the sixth annual E&S Golf Outing held July 14 at Shenandoah Golf Club in West Bloomfield. The event, supported by corporate sponsors, raised nearly $10,000 to assist UDM College of Engineering & Science student scholarships and organizations.

Congratulations to the winning foursome for the second year in a row: John Ciulis, Dan Ciulis, Mike Harmon, and Bill Darin (representing National Precast, also one of our Closest to the Pin Sponsors). Senior Champions were James Schembri, Rudy Persico, Mike Rokosz, and Don Maes.

Next summer's Golf Outing is scheduled for Monday, July 13 and will be held at Shenandoah Golf Club. To reserve a spot, arrange sponsorship, make a contribution or for more information, call 313-993-1218.

Alumni foursome (from left) Hank Nichol, Jack Schoelch, Jim Quinlan and John Colletti enjoy the E&S Golf Outing, July 14.

Dodgeball event serves community

The Engineering & Science Student Council organized a campus-wide dodgeball tournament, Oct. 16 in Calihan Hall to help local charities. As a result of the fun, Focus: HOPE received $1,000 and Gleaner's Community Food Bank received many food items.

Left: Leo Hanifin, dean of the College of Engineering & Science, in a toga and sandals at the dodgeball event. Right: The winning team, Biohazard, with Hanifin presenting $1,000 check to Focus HOPE.

E&S people

Mahoney

Moira Mahoney has joined the College of Engineering & Science as the assistant dean for Development. In this role, she is responsible for fundraising and advancing the needs of the College with individual and corporate donors and foundations. She was previously the director of Alumni Relations and Communications for the School of Dentistry.

Mahoney has 25 years of business experience that includes alumni relations, event planning, school program management, marketing, fundraising and development with area public schools and the City Convention Bureau. She earned two business degrees from Detroit College of Business and is a Certified Program Planner.

Paul R. Shefferly '75, has been named the interim director of the Master in Product Development (MPD) and Master in Engineering Management (MEM) Programs. He previously served as the College's Executive in Residence to develop new and expanding collaborations with industry and government partners.

Shefferly joined the College last year following more than 33 years with Chrysler LLC, where his positions included director of Vehicle Build and Electrical/Electronic Laboratories, director of the Truck Program Management, and director of Truck Vehicle Development when the Ram Heavy Duty won the 2003 Motor Trend Truck of the Year.

Shefferly received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Detroit and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan. He is a longtime and active member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and the UDM Engineering & Science Advisory Council. He can be reached at 313-993-1579 or sheffepr@udmercy.edu.