NEWS · 2019. 12. 21. · engıneerıng Winter 2000 Managing Editor Nathan Cloud Copy Editor & Contributing Writer Diane S. Kukich UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE High-Tech Melon Thumper Developed

The Chair’s Cornerby Dr. Tsu Wei-Chou

It has been a very eventful year in theMechanical Engineering Department

as well as the College of Engineering.First, Dr. Eric W. Kaler was appointedDean of the College last August. Forthe past four years, Eric was Chair ofthe Chemical Engineering Department.Dr. Andras Szeri, who served as theInterim Dean for the past two years, hasreturned to Mechanical Engineering.We are all thankful for his service andcontribution to the College. Afterserving as Acting Chair for a year, I wasrecently appointed Chair of MechanicalEngineering. I appreciate very muchthe support of the faculty during thepast year, and I am excited about theopportunity to work with the faculty,staff, and alumni to continue our effortin building a strong department.

We are also very excited to welcome ournew faculty member, John E. Novotny.Dr. Novotny received a bachelor of sci-ence degree in mechanical engineeringfrom Yale University in 1989. He thenserved as a research fellow for one yearat the Wilhelm Schultess Klinik inZurich, Switzerland, performing studieson the human spine. After moving tothe University of Vermont, he received amaster of science degree in biomedicalengineering in 1992 and a doctoraldegree in mechanical engineering in1997. Dr. Novotny also spent threeyears as a post-doctoral associate withthe Department of Orthopedics andRehabilitation at the University ofVermont. Dr. Novotny’s research inter-ests include orthopedic and sports bio-mechanics of the shoulder, spine, andknee. Other recent work has focused onboth experimental and analyticalmethods to study tissue and cellularmechanics within ligaments, tendons,and cartilage. The arrival of Dr.Novotny further strengthens our bio-medical engineering program.

We have also initiated the search for twonew faculty members in the solidmechanics and fluid mechanics areas.These are positions vacated byProfessors Anthony Wexler and JohnLambros, who left Delaware for theUniversity of California-Davis andUniversity of Illinois-Urbana, respec-tively. You may recall that Dr. Wexlerinitiated ME News six years ago and hasmade a wonderful effort in strength-ening our tie with alumni. We wish Drs. Wexler and Lambros all the best intheir new jobs. It is our plan to conductseveral faculty searches in the comingyears in order to increase the totalnumber of faculty from the current 19 to 23 by 2004.

I am very pleased to report that Mr.Nathan Cloud (64EG, 70M/EG) hasagreed to be coordinator of alumni rela-

tions for the Department. Nate retiredfrom DuPont Company two years agoand has been a very active contributorto our Senior Design program. Natewill work closely with the departmentalAlumni Relations Steering Committeeand me and with Wanda Mock, the newCollege Development Officer. Nate hasalso taken over the responsibility ofManaging Editor of this Newsletter.

This fall semester we welcome the forty-six students of the class of 2004, whichinclude eleven women, and fifteen inthe Honors Program. Also, this fall wewelcome sixteen new graduate students.The department has fifty-three graduatestudents, thirty-one of whom arepursing the Ph.D. degree. There arealso eight postdoctoral fellows, visitingscholars, and research associates.

In last fall’s newsletter, I reported thevisit by a team from the AccreditationBoard of Engineering and Technology(ABET) to the College of Engineeringand the evaluation of our undergraduateMechanical Engineering program. Iwas very pleased to receive the ABETevaluation report in September and thewonderful news that we have beenaccredited for a full six-year term. Thefaculty are now preparing for a strategicplanning meeting, to be held in theWinter Session. I hope to report to youin the next issue of ME News our visionof the future of the department.

I would urge you to continue to be anactive member of the department’salumni community. Please keep usapprised of your own activities (e-mail:[email protected]) and log on tohttp://www.udel.edu/alumni/alumad-dress.html to update your contact information. Finally, on behalf of thestudents and faculty of MechanicalEngineering, I want to express our sin-cere appreciation of the support andencouragement from our many alumniduring the past year and wish you all thebest for the New Year!

NEWSmechanıcal engıneerıngWinter 2000 Managing Editor

Nathan CloudCopy Editor &Contributing WriterDiane S. Kukich

UNIVERSITY OF DELAWAREHigh-Tech Melon Thumper Developed by Student Designersby Ginger Pinholster reprinted with permission from The University of DelawareMessenger, Vol. 8 No. 4/1999

Forget thumping watermelons to check for ripeness. Unripened watermelons—aserious economic threat to farmers and a disappointment for consumers—may

be quickly and automatically rejected by a new machine invented by four formerUniversity of Delaware engineering students.

The UD watermelon ripeness sensor was developed by Matt Behr of Towson, Md.,Dave Bartoski of Camp Hill, Md., Allan Cohen of Wyckoff, N.J., and Jason Firko ofClaymont, Del., as part of a senior design class focusing on real industry problemsand customers. All are members of the class of ’99.

“But, the technology isn’t simply a student project,” says UD faculty member JamesGlancey, who helps supervise student design teams, with colleague Michael Keefeand class coordinator Dick Wilkins.

“These students have come up with a technology that’s absolutely viable,” saysGlancey, an associate professor of bioresources engineering and mechanical engi-neering at UD. “It would be very useful to growers.”

The computer-controlled ripeness sensor ultimately could result in huge savings forthe global watermelon industry, according to Ed Kee, a UD extension specialist, andWilliam J. Watson, executive director of the National Watermelon Association, basedin Orlando, Fla.

A prototype version of the UD device cranks out a ripeness reading in just 12 sec-onds. It’s also durable, easy to use, weighs about 18 pounds and costs less than$1,100.

“This is the first generation of a very promising new machine,” Kee says. “Down theroad, we envision a hand-held microprocessor to replace the laptop computer we’recurrently using with the device. Such a device could prove essential for farmers,” hesays, “and it might be handy for consumers, too.”

“Watermelon growers need an automatic ripeness sensor,” Kee says, because “it’s notat all unusual for a 40,000-pound truckload of watermelons to be rejected at the mar-ketplace. An entire load can be rejected if 10 melons are green,” he explains.

How does the UD machine work? Its central feature is a platform where the water-melon rests. Sandwiched between the platform and the melon, a piece of foamrubber holds the fruit steady. A mallet attached to a metal arm protrudes from theright side of themachine, while amicrophone sits closeto the melon, on theleft.

When Behr swingsthe metal arm, themallet strikes themelon. The micro-phone picks up thesound and transfers itvia electric signal to alaptop computer. Thevoltage signal is thenconverted into digitalinformation, which is analyzed.

Because the hollow thunk of a ripe melon echoes, it produces an acoustical signalthat shows up as a peak on the computer screen, which dies down gradually. Onmelons tested thus far, the frequency of the signal, when normalized using volume,has shown a promising correlation to the actual sugar content of the melon,according to Kee. (The size of the watermelon influences the frequency of its signal

and, therefore, is taken intoaccount during analysis, Behrnotes.)

Melon characteristic frequen-cies have ranged from 100 to250 hertz, corresponding tothe desired sugar content of 8to 12 percent. These findingswere put to the test thissummer, as researchers inves-tigated more melons.

Delaware’s watermelon har-vest for 1997 came to 64.6million pounds, making it the

nation’s 12th largest water-melon-growing state, just behind Maryland, U.S. Department of Agriculture statisticsshow.

Other top watermelon states include California, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Arizona,Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Worldwide, theUnited States ranks fourth in global watermelon production, behind China, Turkey, and Iran.

Editor’s Note:

The seeds of this Senior Design project have helped fertilize a ripe future for the tech-nology of automating the science of fruit and vegetable growing and harvesting. TheNational Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) has budgeted funds for a two-yearproject with the University of Delaware to develop a commercially viable version ofthe ripeness sensor. If the project is approved, work would begin in January 2001.

Testing the tester

Class Notes

Alumni Relations Coordinator Named

William H. Just 63BME of Atlanta,CEO of Total Association ManagementServices, Inc., has been appointed to theinternational board of directors of theConvention Liaison Council (CLC) for atwo-year term. He also is one of six pro-fessionals to be recognized by the CLCfor contributions to the meetings, con-ventions, and trade show profession witha bronze head plaque at the Washington,D.C. Convention Center andMcCormick Place in Chicago.

Mark J. Donald 71BME of Lakeland,Fla., has joined Rodda Construction Co.,there as director of project management.

John R. Lombardo 82BME of Chicagois procurement manager for BP AmocoCorp. there.

Stephen Ellery 83BME of Gilbert,Ariz., is a plant manager for HexcelSatellite Products, an advanced structuralmaterials company there.

Alan W. Flenner 86BME of Camp Hill,PA received a degree from the DicksonSchool of Law at Pennsylvania StateUniversity in Carlisle.

Lee Ahlstrom 89BME, 91MME ofHouston, joined the consulting firm ofMcKinsey & Co. there as an energy spe-cialist on the upstream side of the petro-leum practice.

Robert W. Hooley 94BME ofScottsdale, Ariz., is director of marketingand business development forLightLogic Inc. in Santa Clara, Calif.

Jessica Broderdorp 96BME of Exton,Pa., is an energy engineer at Honeywellin Ft. Washington, PA.

Larissa Nichelle Easom 96BME ofLargo, MD, is an engineer at BellAtlantic in Washington, D.C.

Alexander T. Dee 98MME has beennamed Manager of Engineering atFujikura in San Diego, Ca. The golfshafts that he has designed are now #1in the Ladies Professional GolfAssociation (LPGA) and are the fastestgrowing in popularity in the ProfessionalGolf Association (PGA). He is currentlydesigning all of the shafts for the TaylorMade’s new line for 2001.

DOUBLE DELSLinda (Scarborough) Craven 72AS ispresident of Studio Graphics Inc., inLexington Park, Md. and Thomas E.Craven 70BME, 83MME is a mechan-ical engineer working for the U.S. Navy.They live in Port Republic, Md.

Jim Dick 59BME of Houston, retired asvice president of H&W Petroleum there.He had retired earlier from Exxon Co.,USA, where he was manager of mar-keting technical services. LouiseLattomus Dick 59CHEP published anew book, Old College Reflections: AFamily Story, about her great-grandfa-ther, who was president of UD 100 yearsago.

Tanya (Woloshin) DeLussey 97AGworks at the University of PennsylvaniaNew Bolton Center in Philadelphia, as aresearch technician for the retinal dis-ease studies facility, and Edmund J.DeLussey 97BME is a consultant atAnderson Consulting, They live inWilmington, DE.

MARRIAGESMichael Vari 86BME, 95MME toElizabeth M. Haiss, May 6, 1999

NEW ADDITIONSJulia Nicole, born Dec. 6, 1998 to Pattieand Lee Ahlsltrom 89BME, 91MME ofHouston.

Alyssa Lauren, born Jan. 12, 1999, toGina-Marie Jacobs Regan 92BME andJames Regan of Washington, N.J.

DEATHSWilmer K. Benson 37BME ofGaithersburg, Md, July 19, 1999

Robert J. Kee 41BME of Chadds Ford,Pa., Sept. 15, 1999

Joseph E. Thompson Jr. 51BME ofNewark, Del., April 30, 1999

Alfred J. Lezenby 51 BME of CherryHill, N.J. September 18, 1999

Garry W. Hoffman 57BME of Hershey,Pa., August 2, 1998.

Henry L. Morris 70 BME of RehobothBeach, Del., Jan 4, 2000.

Nate Cloud, PE, (64EG, 70M/EG)has agreed to be coordinator of

alumni relations for the Department,filling a rolepreviously car-ried out by DrTony Wexler.

Nate wrappedup a 35-yearengineeringcareer with theDuPontCompany in1998 and

started an engineering and consultingbusiness, Cirrus Engineering, Inc. Inearly 1999, he extended his professional

activities by joining the Department’sSenior Design Team Staff, focusing ongetting project sponsors for studentteams. (As this issue of the newslettergoes to press, nine projects, all sponsoredby local industrial businesses, are being completed under a new single-semester format).

When Nate initially wears his AlumniRelations hat, he will focus on developingcommunication networks with andamong alumni using traditional meanssuch as this newsletter, as well as theInternet. (See signup request in thisissue). Plans to gain broader participa-tion in the ME Alumni Association arealso being formulated. An underlyingtheme of the new alumni relations pro-

gram is “creating a community environ-ment where mutually beneficial relation-ships can develop among alumni, andwith students, and the Department”.

Financial support of the department is anessential ingredient for this theme tobecome a reality. “As I took the reins asmanaging editor of the newsletter andbegan to review articles for inclusion inthis issue,” Nate says, “I realized, withembarrassment, that my name wasn’tamong the list of 1999 contributors!Fortunately, I will be able to see myname on the list for 2000 and also havethe experience of helping to create anenvironment where contributions can bemore effective!”

Other items being considered are plan-ning social events around Homecomingand other University activities and pro-viding a mechanism for assistance inalumni job hunting.

More information on alumni relationswill be forthcoming, so look for it in thisnewsletter and in other University publications. If you are interested in par-ticipating in ME Alumni activities, checkin on the Web page at and fill out theinformation requested there on the sign-upform see (“Get Connected” below), or con-tact Nate Cloud by phone 302-778-7567;302-831-1501 or [email protected].

Feedback

We would very much like to haveyour feedback. Please let us

know what you would like to see in thisnewsletter; and please, if you haveinformation about yourself or fellow

alums, or if you have articles andphotos that you would like to share,send them to us for possible inclusionin the next newsletter. We will also beencouraging other means of sharing

this information to help build the com-munity of alumni. E-mail informationto Nate Cloud ([email protected])or to Diane Kukich([email protected]) or send it to

Nate Cloud by “snail mail” at 126 Spencer Lab, University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716.

Alumni Get Connected

All Alumni are urged to “sign up” onthe Mechanical Engineering Web

Site. This is a great way to get in touchwith each other and with theDepartment! Simply log on to the WordWide Web athttp://www.me.udel.edu/Home/, andfollow the following “click” path: Alumni;Alumni Sign Up Form; Sign Up (atbottom of list)

A picture of the Alumni web page isshown – look for new and excitingimprovements in the future!

Built on a stretch of farmland onceowned by Joshua M. Clayton, the

first governor of Delaware, the BackCreek Golf Club is making a little historyof its own.

Its creation on the outskirts ofMiddletown, Del., is the work of AllenLiddicoat 71BME, and co-designer DavidHorn. The Back Creek business mix alsoincludes three other alumni—limitedpartners Bruce White, 55BME, and RickWoodlin 76BME as well as marketingdirector Phil Hernandez, 91AS.

Liddicoat, a developer of custom homesfor nearly 20 years, tried his hand at trans-forming an old crop farm into a dazzlinggolf course in 1996.

He succeeded. Big time. In a March 1999issue of Golfweek, one of the nation’s pre-mier golf publications, the Back CreekGolf Course was tabbed as one of the“Top 100 Modern Golf Courses inAmerica.” Ranked No. 98, Back Creekwas one of a handful of courses that werehighlighted in the article: “...the market ischanging—or at least, making room formodestly scaled style and substance bylesser-known designers. Witness theappearance of a real-estate-related, dailyfee course in Middletown, Del. Therouting of Back Creek allows plenty ofhome frontage, but the holes also hew tothe native contours, circumvent wetlandswithout imposing awkward forced carriesand are walkable rather than requiring across-country highway to get from greento next tee.”

It was sweet praise for a first-time ama-teur course designer.

The Back Creek project is a golf commu-nity that began in 1989 with the purchase

of the land. Today, the community consistsof more than 200 homes. The courseweaves its way through the developmentbut, unlike many courses, gives no feelingof being hemmed in by the houses.

When it opened in fall 1997, the $2.4 mil-lion Back Creek was the first public golfcourse built in New Castle County, Del.,in 25 years.

Because of its location and reasonablegreen fees, Back Creek attracts playersnot only from the booming southern NewCastle County area, but also fromWilmington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, andsouthern New Jersey.

When Liddicoat initially began costing outthe design of the course, he came to theconclusion that he was the most promi-nent golf course designer he could afford.

“I read every book on course architectureI could find and attended every seminar I could get into,” says Liddicoat, a lifelongDelaware resident. “Then I got togetherwith David Horn [an architect fromAllentown, Pa.], and we came up withwhat we believed was both good and feasible.”

Given that it was essentially a flat, run-of-the-mill piece of land, Liddicoat and Hornworked wonders to create a 7,003-yard,par-72, links-style layout loosely modeledafter The Royal & Ancient Gold Club of St. Andrews, the legendary Scottishcourse that has hosted many British Open championships.

“I went on trips to Ireland and GreatBritain to analyze those courses,” recallsLiddicoat. “What I found was gentlyrolling terrain, sandy soil and plenty ofwind. It really gave me an idea of what thegame was like when it first started.”

Liddicoat made the most of the lightlywooded site. Its challenging “open air”layout features an illusion of many dra-matic elevation changes and landing areas,from wavy fairways and contoured greensto an assortment of sculpted mounds andknolls and thickets of spongy wetlands. Bydiverting water, Liddicoat created ripplingponds that come into play on six holes andvariable winds, along with 83 bunkers,that spice up the lay of the course.

Four sets of tees situated on enormous tee areas allow for a variety of play posi-tions for each round of golf. Up to 30,000rounds are projected for Back Creek this year.

“Since there hadn’t been a golf coursebuilt in Delaware for so long, it was not aneasy approval process,” remembersLiddicoat. “We worked with the countyDepartment of Land Use to develop anapproval process, which ultimatelyincluded a turf management program andwater quality and quantity standards.”

Initially, the pair didn’t have much luckwith the weather. The course projectstarted in the spring of ’96, which turnedout to be one of the wettest years onrecord. The following two years wereunseasonably dry, which hindered thedevelopers’ ability “to grow the course in.”A good player knowledgeable about thegame, Liddicoat did much of the designwork himself, as well as supervising con-struction of the course and making allfield changes.

“The shapes of the greens, as well as theputting and chipping areas, are unique tothat part of the county,” Liddicoatexplains. “They complement each otherand offer a lot of shot options. It’s builtmore like a course from the 1920s. It’s

more strategic than penal. The players hitaround the hazards and weave their wayto the hole. It provides a variety of shotoptions due to the varying contour ofcourse. Our goal was to make it playableand fun.”

To complete the project, the builderswere required to move 350,000 yards ofdirt. The course is aesthetically pleasingwith plenty of tall grass areas that cater to wildlife and aid the water quality and quantity.

Liddicoat’s next venture is a second golfcourse in Middletown, The Legends atFrog Hollow. Set to open in spring 2000,it will feature one of the premier playingsurfaces in the mid-Atlantic region,Liddicoat says.

A golfer since age 14, Liddicoat, who is currently overseeing three separate golf courses (he’s an owner/business man-ager of Chantilly Manor in North East,Md.), says he’s lucky to get in one round a month.

So, what’s the key to his success as a golfcourse designer?

“Some of it came from building homes forpeople and listening to what they reallywanted,” he explains. “I learned an enor-mous amount from reading the books ofold-time architects. It also comes down toa feel for the landscape. You need a keeneye and the ability to blend a stiff chal-lenge for even the best golfers with anoverall harmony of the land.”

Back Creek Boysby Terry Conway Reprinted with permission from The University of DelawareMessenger, Vol. 9, No. 1/1999

A Marathon InvestmentBy Nicole Pensiero, reprinted with permission from The University of Delaware Messenger, Vol. 9, No. 1/1999

New graduates are faced with lots ofchoices about a career path, including

whether to sign on with a large company or a small one. In the case of more than 40 ME alumni, their choice — W. L. Gore& Associates—represents the best of both worlds.

“Gore is a big company with lots of little‘pockets,’” says Tony DelNegro. “We canmove from plant to plant, which keeps usfrom getting bored with what we’re doing.”

DelNegro was one of eight ME alumninow working at Gore who attended areunion dinner at the Blue & Gold Club inMay. The dinner was also attended by sev-eral faculty members and other ME’s activein alumni affairs (see sidebar).

Mark Cirino, a footwear product specialistat Gore, echoes DelNegro’s feelings whenhe says, “Gore is a large company with asmall spirit.” The company’s 14 local sitesprovide employees with the opportunity to

work in areas ranging from machine andprocess design to fabrics to prototyping.The ME contingent at Gore is contributingto the development of better fuel cells,running shoes, and portable phones.

Years after graduation, education continuesto be an important theme with thesealums. Darlene Gorton 96BME, a processengineer, has spent the past four yearsworking in a number of business units atGore on a variety of products, includingEMI gaskets for cell phones. She is alsotaking courses toward a master’s degree inmaterials science. DelNegro teachesmachine design at Delaware Technical &Community College, and Cirino is active ina community group working to establish acharter school in nearby Kemblesville, PA.Cirino credits his education at Delawarewith laying a strong foundation for his cur-rent position.

With the dinner’s captive audience ofpotential “customers,” Prof. Dick J. Wilkins

took the opportunity to pitch the MEsenior design program. Run like a con-sulting firm with real customer problemsfor the students to solve, the program isalways in search of project sponsors. “Forthose who have already completed seniordesign projects as students, it’s a valuableexperience to be on the other side of theprocess,” says Wilkins.

Gore has repeatedly been named amongthe “100 Best Companies to Work for inAmerica.” Based on their comments at thedinner, the ME alumni who have chosenGore as their workplace would agree.

Editor’s Note: The following attended thealumni dinner:

ME Alumni OrganizationWilliam R. Chambers Jr.Nathan CloudKenneth S. GrierMark W. HopkinsRobert J. Shoemaker

Alton P. Smith, Jr.

Alumni with W. L. GoreDr. Mark CirinoKevin J. CresswellJ. Anthony Del NegroDarlene GortonMutza M. HaddadinMrs. Terri L. KellyKevin M. Purdue

University of DelawareDr. Tsu-Wei ChouDr. Michael D. GreenbergDr. Andras Z. SzeriDr. Jack R. VinsonDr. Anthony S. WexlerDr. Dick J. WilkinsKevin O’Brien, Esq.Diane Kukich

W.L. Gore: More Than 40 ME Alums Can’t Be Wrongby Diane Kukich

From the time they first met 30 years ago in line in Kent Dining

Hall, Michael Boyle, EG ’69, and Joanne Monaghan Boyle, CHEP ’69,clicked immediately.

Today, their partnership is still goingstrong—both on a personal and now, pro-fessional level. Mike who for yearsworked as an attorney, and Joanne whoran a successful retail art and framingbusiness, launched a successful SanFrancisco Bay area mutual fund in 1998called the Boyle Marathon Fund.

“We couldn’t be in a more competitive

business than we are now,” says MikeBoyle. “But, one of the things we learnedwell at Delaware was how to set goalsand go for them.”

On the surface, the manner in which theBoyles started their business—movingcross-country from Florida to SanFrancisco without jobs in place—mightseem risky to others.

“We had a lifetime goal to live in the citythat we most loved and be our ownbosses,” says Joanne, who majored inphysical education at UD. “It was just aquestion of when we’d get to that point.”

The big move west occurred 10 monthsafter Mike took part in the U.S. MarineCorps Marathon in Washington, D.C., in1996, finishing the race in a respectable 4hours and 23 minutes. “Taking part in amarathon is about going for the longhaul, making it to the finish line,” hesays. “It seemed natural that we woulduse that word ‘marathon’ for the name ofour mutual fund.”

Though not professional investors, theBoyles have been buying and sellingstocks for more than 20 years and foundthemselves doing quite well. So well in

fact, that both Mike and Joanne werelooking for a challenge that “would be agood fit for the second half of our lives.”Once settled in San Francisco, the twodecided to create a career niche thatwould mesh their personal and profes-sional goals.

“We wanted to be our own bosses andwork together,” Mike says. “We knew,when we moved out here, we could continue investing on our own or letother people join us and do just as well aswe are.”

Hot Wheelsby Jerry Rhodes, with permission from The University of Delaware Messenger, Vol. 9, No. 3/2000

Think of it as an engineering lab onwheels—a mechanical engineering

class with an attitude. It’s UD car No. 51, a one-half scale formula race car builtby UD-SAE, the University chapter ofthe National Society of AutomotiveEngineers.

UD-SAE was established in 1996 throughthe efforts of a handful of car enthusiastsand John Lambros, assistant professor ofmechanical engineering, who agreed toserve as the group’s faculty adviser afterseeing how serious the club memberswere about putting a race car together.

“I got involved through the efforts ofSuhas Malghan, EG ’99, the person who started the club,” Lambros says. “I like cars, and I was impressed withwhat he showed me, so I agreed tobecome faculty adviser.”

Last summer, club members beganworking on a vehicle to enter in nationalcompetition against other SAE clubs,held each May at the Silverdome, inPontiac, Mich.

The car that recently made the trip toMichigan is a sleek, dark blue formulastyle vehicle, complete with UD logo.Powered by a 610 cc, 0.6 liter engine thatcranks out 65 horsepower, the car iscapable of going from zero to 60 mph inabout 4 seconds.

“Driving this car is like no other car youhave ever driven,” club president AndyParke, EG 2000, says. “When people getout of the car after driving it, their handsare usually trembling.”

For most club members, joining UD-SAE

represents a continuing love affairbetween car and driver.

I got involved with this through the engi-neering outreach program,” graduate stu-dent Dan Skilkitus says. “My dad alwaysfollowed car racing, so it was just sort ofpassed on to me.”

Although he claims not to have knownmuch about cars, club secretary WilsonSteele, EG 2002, says he appreciates thechance to learn about the world of racecar driving through his involvement withUD-SAE.

“My brother and my dad have beeninvolved with cars all through the years,”Steele says. “I just wanted an opportunityto do this for myself.”

Before student members get to sit behindthe wheel, much work has to be done,from coming up with an initial race cardesign to getting the car ready to pass thepreliminary safety checks at the Michigannational championships.

“The basic plans are sketched on paper,”Mike Hawley, EG 2001, club vice presi-dent, says. “After this, the design is modi-fied on the computer through the use of acomputer-aided drafting program.”

From the drawing board to the driveway,each step of the assembly process is per-formed by individual members united in ateam effort.

“You plan as much as possible, then youstart to put things together,” Parke says.“You work out from the center, and youare constantly changing things as you go along.”

Such a team effort is vital in assemblingthe various subsystems that include thechassis, drive train, steering and suspen-sion, wheels, shock absorbers, tires,brakes, and electrical systems.

“We have a wide variety of talent in ourclub,” treasurer Alexis Cox, EG 2001,says. “In building the car, every personlends a hand where it is needed.” Cox fab-ricated the car’s fiberglass body throughthe use of vacuum-assisted resin transi-tional molding.

The contributions made by individualmembers are put to the test during thechampionships, where more than 100clubs from the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, andJapan gather to showcase their auto engi-neering expertise.

The competition consists of technicalinspections complete with a thoroughsafety check followed by static events andactual driving contests.

Among the static events are the presenta-tion, where team mem-bers try to attractinvestments from busi-ness representatives,and the cost event, inwhich the judges aregiven full detailsinvolving the cost foreach item used inbuilding the car.

In the design event,team members sit downwith industry experts todemonstrate their

expertise and explain their creative deci-sions. UD-SAE placed well in bothevents, finishing 22nd in the cost eventand 23rd in the design event, but did notplace in the driving category.

While team members recognize theimportance of these competitions, allagree that nothing is quite like the thrill ofdriving against the clock and their fellowcompetitors.

“The car is really quick, and you just can’tcompare driving it to anything else,” Coxsays. “The car handles nicely, and theacceleration is incredible.”

Plans for next year include the use of afuel-injected FZR 600 Yamaha engineand the shedding of about 100 pounds incar weight through the use of a carbon-fiber body.

“Each year, we build a whole new car,”Hawley says. “And, with different designfactors and new rules due out inSeptember, you need to start on the pro-ject during the summer.”

Setting up the Boyle Marathon Fund tookabout six months, starting with just$100,000 and four stocks. Today, theBoyles track between 30 and 40 stocks intheir $3.7 million fund. Their top holdingsinclude Cisco Systems, Dell Computer,Microsoft, Merck, Gap, and Schwab andthe funds rank at or near the top in rate ofreturn in the categories for large capgrowth funds.

Joanne handles marketing, Mike doesadministrative duties and together theyselect the stocks for the fund. “We selectstocks using fundamental analysis, byrelying on our own personal knowledge ofcompanies and markets,” Mike says. “Weselect large, medium or small capitaliza-tion companies wherever we see thegreatest potential for capital appreciation.”

As for their professional partnership, theBoyles say they’re having a blast.

“Our work styles mesh well together,”Joanne says. “We each bring something tothe table in terms of running the business.”

Emphasizing companies based in the SanFrancisco Bay area, the Boyles havefocused on four sectors where consumertrends and demographics promise stronglong-term growth—health care, tech-nology, retailing and financial services.

From the start, Joanne says there, “seemedto be a natural link,” between the couple’smanagement style and the mutual fundindustry. “In college, I learned aboutteaching others how to be physically fit,”Joanne says. “Now, I teach them how to be financially fit. This mutual fund is

about fiscal fitness, taking care of yourfuture financially.”

Mike, who earned his undergraduatedegree in engineering, says as major share-holders in the fund, he and Joanne work“shoulder-to-shoulder with the otherstockholders.”

The Boyle Marathon Fund requires a min-imum investment of only $500. “The goalis to make it easy for anyone to invest,”says Joanne, adding that the word-of-mouth fund has more than 200 share-holders, many of them friends of thecouple. “The word’s really starting to getout now and we’re growing quickly.”

Despite its small size the Boyle MarathonFund has garnered plenty of attention,especially in the media. The Boyles were

the focus of a lengthy feature in a Julyissue of Mutual Funds magazine whichsays their fund, “has the big professionalcompetition eating dust.” The ContraCosta Sunday Times, meanwhile, praisedthe fund’s “stellar performance.”

The Wall Street Journal noted that theBoyle Marathon Fund has registered aone-year return of 48.20 percent, com-pared with 25.59 percent for the averagegrowth and income fund. LipperAnalytical Services, meanwhile, rated theBoyle Marathon Fund as fifth best among846 growth and income funds for the 12-month period that ended August 26.

The Boyle Marathon Website is http://www.boylefund.com.

Burlington Couple Opens Home and Heartby Sharon Huss Roat, AS ’87 with permission from The University of Delaware Messenger, Vol. 9, No. 1/1999

Four years ago, Roxane and JonathanLeopold were talked into a life-

changing decision by their 17-year-olddaughter, Sarah. After watching an OprahWinfrey show about bad foster parents,Sarah came to the dinner table and sug-gested they open their home to foster children. “She always wanted us to havemore children and was able to convince usthat this was something we should do,”says Jonathan.

Along with son, Jesse, EG 2002, now asophomore at the University, the familydecided to become a part of Vermont’sfoster parenting program. In the four yearssince then, they have welcomed eightfoster children. The experience has been“challenging in many ways, but wonder-fully rewarding,” Jonathan explains. “Forpeople who have room in their lives andtheir hearts, it is a tremendous opportunityto make a difference.”

The first children cared for by theLeopolds were siblings, a 6-year-old girland 4-year-old boy. With their family incrisis, the two were sent to the Leopolds

for one night, but ended up staying sixmonths. Other children were placed withthe family for lengths of time as short asone night and as long as three months.“Three have been infants,” says Roxane.“They came to us because, by Vermontstatute, there is a 21-day waiting period fora birth mother to change her mind beforean adoption can be processed.”

Sharing their lives with these children—many of whom have been abused orneglected in some way—seems to be aneven greater commitment when you con-sider the busy careers that the Leopoldsjuggle as well.

Since 1975, Roxane has served as execu-tive director of the King Street YouthCenter, which provides a range of servicesto children from Burlington’s poorestneighborhoods. Most of the children sheworks with come from single-parent fami-lies dealing with drug or alcohol abuse,unemployment, physical abuse and neglectand other social problems.

Jonathan is chief financial officer of Global

Health Care Communications, a London-based publisher of health-care magazinesthat is preparing to launch a major, closed-circuit satellite broadcasting system. Healso runs his own Leopold FinancialGroup, which will soon break ground onan international health-care trainingfacility, conference center and wildlifesanctuary in the Bahamas.

If that isn’t enough, the two volunteer fornumerous civic, political, social service,and cultural organizations in their community as well. In their spare time,they also study T’ai Chi, the Chinese mar-tial art of moving meditation. “It gives us30 to 50 minutes of quiet time together,”Roxane notes.

How then do they find time for foster chil-dren? Roxane explains that they usuallytake children only during the summermonths, when Sarah and Jesse are home tobe a part of their “parenting team.” It alsohelps that Jonathan works out of a homeoffice. The Leopolds are careful to takechildren only when they are certain that

they can offer the time and love that isneeded. “They can call us any time, andwe can say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ any time. We’re notinclined to do it unless it’s going to be agood experience for the child,” saysRoxane.

“Every child has an unlimited capacity toabsorb love,” Jonathan adds, “and fosterchildren have an even more overwhelmingneed. It can be complicated sometimes, soyou really have to be ready and able toopen your home.”

The Leopolds have encouraged others tobecome foster parents as well, includingneighbors and friends. In the civic-mindedcommunity of Burlington, it hasn’t beendifficult to find people who are willing togive back, says Jonathan.

“Vermont is such a wonderful placebecause there is such a tradition of beinginvolved in the community,” he notes. “If you have an experience like foster children, you just make it part of your life. There’s not a question of how to find time.”

Honors Day Awards

Engineering Junior Receives Goldwater Scholarshipreprinted from The University of Delaware Messenger, Vol. 9, No. 3/1999 “Heard on the Mall”

Jennifer M. Buckley of Wilmington,Del., a junior at the University,

has been awarded a prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. More than 1,700 college students appliednationwide for the 309 scholarshipsawarded this year. The awards supportcareers in mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering.

A mechanical engineering student with a4.0 grade point average, Buckley grew upin her parents’ Ninth Street Bookstore.As the first scientist in a family of Englishmajors, she has an irreverent sense ofhumor and says she has endured a lot ofteasing from her politically liberal rela-tives over the “Republican” nature of thescholarship—something she is very

willing to endure.

Buckley has conducted research on the fracture of nonhomogeneous mate-rials, which are found in plant and animal tissue as well as adhesive layersand matrix regions of fiber-reinforcedcomposites.

An athlete who rows on the UD crewteam and participates on Team DelawareCycling, Buckley says she hopes to com-pete in a triathlon or biathlon thissummer.

“I think my athletics complement myacademics,” she says. “Balance is impor-tant. I’d be even more of a psychopathabout my schoolwork if I didn’t have ath-letics to bring me down a notch. I’m

able to get everything done and stillmaintain my sanity because of my family.They give me a lot of support. I’d be areal mess without them!”

Those family members, all with UD ties,include Buckley’s father, James J. (Jack)Buckley, AS70; her mother, GemmaMarsilii Buckley, CHEP71; and herbrother Matthew, currently a sophomoreat UD, majoring in civil engineering.

A self-described homebody, Buckley saysshe wants to stay in the area for graduateschool and is considering the Universityof Pennsylvania. For the summer, shewill be working for the DuPont Co. in itsengineering consulting division, possiblydoing troubleshooting at nylon plants.

SENIOR YEAR AWARDS

W. Francis Lindell MechanicalEngineering Award to theDistinguished SeniorFor the extraordinary senior MechanicalEngineering student who has demon-strated creativity, academic accomplish-ment and achievement as determined bythe faculty of the department.Krishan K. BhatiaJeffrey R. FochtJason P. Landry

Mary and George Nowinski Awardfor Excellence in UndergraduateResearchFor demonstration of originality in astimulating senior research project asjudged by the Mechanical Engineeringfaculty.Jeffrey R. Focht

Delaware Section of the AmericanSociety of Mechanical EngineersSenior Design ProjectFor achievements in the senior designproject based upon the final design pre-sentation as judged by members of theDelaware Section of the ASME with theconcurrence of the faculty.

First Place: Flight Demonstrator:Jeffrey R. Focht, Peter Peno, JeffreyRoby

Second Place: On-The-Go ShifterWilliam Boyle, Jason P. Landry, Ryan Meers, Andrew Smith

Third Place: Radiographic Array SupportMatthew Beecy, John King, Chad Stover

MEEG 101 UNDERGRADUATETEACHING ASSISTANT AWARDIn recognition of selected Senior MEstudents, who developed their leader-ship, communication and teaching skillsby providing support to new ME stu-dents in the Introduction to MechanicalEngineering class.David G. HendersonJohn G. MercurioEric J. MorrisonDorrie A. Pistor

JUNIOR YEAR AWARDS

W. Francis Lindell MechanicalEngineering Award to theDistinguished Junior

For the extraordinary junior MechanicalEngineering student who has demon-strated creativity, academic accomplish-ment and achievement as determined bythe faculty of the department.Jennifer M. Buckley

W. Francis Lindell MechanicalEngineering Achievement AwardFor the junior Mechanical Engineeringstudent in recognition of scholarship andcreativity in engineering as recom-mended by the students and faculty ofthe department.Alex Kelly

Cordant Technologies ScholarshipFor the junior Mechanical Engineering

student in recognition of outstanding academic achievement.Pat Downey

SOPHOMORE YEAR AWARDS

W. J. Renton Award for OutstandingSophomoreA monetary award for outstandingsophomoreDawn M. Cintavey

American Society of Heating,Refrigerating and Air-ConditioningEngineers (ASHRAE) DelawareChapter ScholarshipFor a Mechanical Engineering studentwho has demonstrated an interest in thethermal sciences and/or environmentalacademic course work as judged by theDelaware Chapter of the AmericanSociety of Heating, Refrigeration and AirConditioning Engineering.?????

OTHER DEPARTMENT AWARDS

Delaware Section of The AmericanSociety of Mechanical EngineersOutstanding StudentTo the outstanding student in theDelaware section of the ASME.Eric J. Morrison

American Society of MechanicalEngineers Student SectionA certificate to an outstanding memberof the ASME Student Section for goodacademic standing and valuable contri-butions to the chapter.

David M. ChandleeRobert T. Bosworth ScholarshipTo a student majoring in MechanicalEngineering with both outstanding acad-emic achievement and financial need.Gilbert P. Ledebur

Redden ScholarshipTo a student majoring in MechanicalEngineering with both outstanding acad-emic achievement and financial need.Michael F. Puchtler

Motiva Enterprise ScholarshipTo a student majoring in MechanicalEngineering with outstanding academicachievement.Gilbert P. Ledebur

GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS

The Helwig Mechanical EngineeringGraduate FellowshipGlenn C. GardnerBryan M. Connell

COLLEGE AWARDS

Liston Houston ScholarshipGilbert P. Ledebur and Michael F. Puchtler

Boeing ScholarshipJennifer M. Buckley

Panel of Distinguished SeniorsJeffrey R. Focht

Student Turns Down $50,000 Modeling Contract to Study Engineering at UDby Diane Kukich

When high school senior AladrianCrowder of Owings Mills, Md.,

entered a contest to be an “Essence” covermodel last January, she never dreamedthat she would be selected out of the morethan 7,000 candidates to actually appearon the magazine cover and be offered a$50,000 modeling contract.

As it turns out, Crowder accepted thecover assignment, which ran in August,but turned down the modeling contract–tomajor in engineering at the University ofDelaware.

“It would have demanded too much of meas a student,” she said, “especially an engineering student.” As a freshmanmechanical engineering major at UD,Crowder does do some modeling througha small Baltimore-based agency, but onlyon weekends.

“I’m trying to be especially careful not to

take on too much during my first semesterhere,” she said. “I want to get a strongfoundation in school.”

Crowder is modest about her accomplish-ments, but word about her cover modelingassignment has gotten out through herfriends, who show none of Crowder’sreluctance to brag.

“People come up to me now and ask me ifI’m going to pursue a career as a model,”she said. “I tell them I’m going to be anengineer. Modeling is just another hobby Ihave, along with playing the piano,painting and writing poetry.”

Originally enrolled in the Department ofChemical Engineering, Crowder changedher major when she realized that she wasmore interested in the mechanical side ofher intended career—biomedical engi-neering—than in the chemical aspects.Right now, she said she thinks she would

like to work on prosthetic development,but she admitted that could change at anytime. “I originally wanted to be a forensicscientist. Then I considered epidemiology,but after I did an internship and didn’t likeit, I crossed that off my list.”

Crowder had to be more than just tall,slim, and attractive to win the “Essence”contest—along with the other finalists, she had to answer some tough questionsfrom a panel of judges. “They were looking for more than just outer beauty,”she says. “They wanted someone who wasalso articulate.

NEWSmechanıcal engıneerıngDepartment of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of DelawareNewark, DE 19716-3140

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AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER—The University of Delaware is committed to assuring equal opportunity to all persons and does not discriminate onthe basis of race, color, gender, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, age, or disability in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment prac-tices as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, other applic-able statutes and University policy. Inquiries concerning these statutes and information regarding campus accessibility should be referred to the Affirmative Action Officer, 305 Hullihen Hall,(302) 831-2835 (voice), (302) 831-4552 (TDD). 67/2500/1200/L

Individuals $1,001 - $10,000:Dr. Donald R. McCoy, 1975

Individuals $101 - $1000:Mr. James T. Bueche, 1955Mr. Bruce A. Campbell, 1991Dr. Tsu-Wei Chou Mr. Donald L. Crouch, 1958Dr. Christian F. Davis, 1960Dr. Richard S. Feltman, 1996Mr. Robert E. Haley, 1954Mrs. Constance A. Helwig, 1973Mr. David R. Helwig, 1973Mr. Robert U. Johnson, 1951Mr. Steven R. Kiss, 1973Frederick H. Kohloss, 1951Mrs. Margaret G. Kohloss, 1951Dr. Herman R. Leep, 1967 Mr. Jon P. Martin, 1982Mr. William T. Morris, 1961Dr. William J. Renton, 1974Mr. Richard C. Rhodes, Jr., 1950Dr. Andras Z. Szeri

Individuals $1.00 - $100:Dr. M. Cengiz Altan, 1989 Mr. Charles App, 1989Mrs. Paulette App, 1989Mrs. Susan F. Barr, 1989Mr. and Mrs. Robert Behr, 1989Mrs. Ellen Fletcher Benedict, 1975Mr. Watson S. Bullock, 1967Dr. Joonhyung Byun, 1991Mr. Domenick Cannatelli, 1949Mr. Edward Hughes Carey, 1949Mrs. Pamela H. Carey, 1949Mr. Timothy P. Clark, 1998Mr. Mark L. Cording, 1983Mr. Edward Darlington, Jr., 1966Mr. Richard E. Fisher, 1953Mrs. Rosa I. Flickinger, 1987Mrs. Christine M. Foster, 1992Mr. Sean M. Foster, 1991Mr. Marvin L. Gingrich, 1971Mrs. Katherine Ries Haley, 1971Mrs. James S. Hanna, 1954Captain James S. Hanna, 1954

Mrs. Polina M. Harik, 1995Dr. Vasyl M. Harik, 1993Mr. Thomas K. Hersh, 1973Mrs. Thomas K. Hersh, 1973Mr. Arthur J. Holveck, 1955Mrs. Beatrice M. Horrobin, 1955Mrs. Doris E. Johnson, 1958Mrs. Jamie H. Linton, 1990Mr. Frederick G. Ludman, 1969Mrs. Lois V. Ludman, 1965Mr. Safwat S. Makar, 1965Mr. Jon P. Martin, 1982Mr. John McCandless, 1954 Mr. Dennis E. McClure, 1954Mrs. Frances A. McClure, 1954Mr. Matthew M. McGovern, 1996Mr. John S. McWilliams, 1990Mr. Dale D. Murray, 1972Mr. Mayank S. Patel, 1985Mr. D. Thomas Peterson, 1969Mr. Jerome C. Posatko, Jr., 1997Mr. William D. C. Richards, 1963Mrs. Barbara A. Rhodes, 1974Mr. Linwood C. Robinson, 1951Dr. Leonard W. Schwartz, 1951Mrs. Theresa Schwartz, 1951Ms. Laura P. Smith, 1991Mr. John D. Spargo, 1959Ms. Ellen A. Stallings, 1959Mr. Arthur D. Starr, 1959Mrs. Lyn Book Starr, 1959Mr. George F. Starzmann, 1959Dr. Swaminathan Subbiah, 1989Mrs. Mary J. Szeri Mr. John S. Thackrah, Jr., 1979Mrs. Julia R. Thackrah, 1978Mr. Rene J. Van Caneghem, 1959 Dr. Albert S. D. Wang, 1967 Dr. James N. Zaiser, 1957Mrs. Marilyn S. Zaiser, 1956Mr. Howard J. Zwick, 1988Mrs. Robin L. Zwick, 1996

Corporations/ Corporate Foundations $1,001 - $10,000:E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co.

Motiva Enterprise New Holland North America, Inc.The Air Products Foundation

Corporations/ Corporate Foundations $50.00 - $1000:AlliedSignal Foundation, Inc. Amoco Foundation, Inc.Anholt Technologies, IncFord Motor Company Fund Hewlett-Packard CompanyKirkland Cleaners Lockheed Martin Corporation

FoundationLucent Technologies FoundationThe Cordant Technologies

Foundation United Technologies Corporation Vulcan Materials Company

Private Foundations $100,000 - $200.00:Unidel Foundation, Inc.

DonorsDevelopment: Campaign for Delawareby Neil ThomasThe Campaign for Delaware has beena great success, having reached 86percent of its $225 million goal lessthan 18 months after the announce-ment of the public phase of the mostambitious fund-raising effort in thehistory of the University of Delaware.

As of mid-February, the Campaignfor Delaware had raised $193 millionfor scholarships, endowed professor-ships, academic improvements, andcapital projects. In the College ofEngineering, nearly 54 percent of the$45 million goal had been met, withgifts and commitments totaling morethan $24 million.

The College will be a major benefi-ciary of the Campaign through con-struction of an addition to its flagshipbuilding, P. S. du Pont Hall. Thearchitect for the project is AllanGreenberg, who also designed nearbyGore Hall. The project will expandthe west side of the building, bringingits entrance in line with the front ofneighboring Wolf Hall and providinga complement to Gore Hall, which itwill face.

The University has received severalmajor gifts—the largest being $10million from the LongwoodFoundation—to fund the $20 millionproject.

However, while major gifts arehelping make such construction pos-sible, a key objective of the Campaignfor Delaware is to involve as many

alumni and friends as possible in thespirit and excitement of this fund-raising effort, which is designed toposition the University as a nationalleader in higher education in the 21st

century.

According to Robert R. Davis, VicePresident for Development andAlumni Relations, “The Campaign forDelaware is about more than justraising the money. It is aboutengaging alumni in the support of theUniversity at whatever level is appro-priate for them given their personalcircumstances. Our goal is to getmore people involved in the philan-thropic life of the University.”

Davis said alumni support has a directimpact on the national standing of theinstitution because many rating sys-tems consider alumni giving as a mea-sure of alumni satisfaction. Thehigher the percentage of alumni whogive, the better chance the Universityhas of maintaining and improving itsnational standing.

For information on how you canbecome part of the Campaign forDelaware, contact the Office ofUniversity Development at (302) 831-2104 or go to the Universityof Delaware home page atwww.udel.edu and push theCampaign button found in the bottomleft portion of the page. There youcan learn more about the fund-raisingeffort or make a gift online.