WSU homecoming 2005, engineering style
On a sparkling fall Saturday morning, College of Engineering alumni of all ages returned to campus -- many for the first time in decades -- for Wayne State University's 2005 Homecoming Day. Meeting at the college, they mingled and took a tour of the college's Smart Sensors and Integrated Microsystems lab, taking in all the changes that have occurred since their graduation.
After a brunch in the Engineering courtyard and a parade featuring the college's first place float, the 50-plus engineering alumni moved to Tom Adam's Field where they were treated to the icing on the cake - WSU's 34 to 17 football team triumph over the University of Findlay. It was the Warriors first Homecoming Day win since 2001.
The world-ranked SSIM lab has developed rapidly since its beginnings in the 1990s after most of the returning alumni graduated. Many were not aware of the lab's groundbreaking research and development of bio-sensors with many applications in the health field. SSIM Director Greg Auner's tour and presentation left Alexander Kade, BSEE'74, MSEE'76, impressed. "The program is outstanding," said the GM engineering manager. "I love to see results that help people."
Tom Chapman, BSME'76, and Dan Craig BSME'66, both engineering managers at Ford Motor Company, enjoyed the day. Chapman and Craig first met at Ford when they discovered they shared a similar past. They graduated from the same high school and as well as from the WSU College of Engineering.
Chapman and Craig said they were extremely impressed by the changes they saw. "I look at Wayne to be a factor in changing the Detroit area," said Craig. "The city and community need WSU to develop and progress. We see TechTown and NextEnergy, and our students work for these companies. We need more engineers in the area to expand technological development."
The alumni said they were pleased with the events of the day, but most enjoyable was renewing old friendships. Many exchanged phone numbers and emails, and departed saying, "See you next year."