Kettering University

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A few weeks ago I received an interesting package and a nicely-penned letter from a member of the class of 1966. Dr. Robert Degeneff, president of Utility Systems Technologies Inc. in Niskayuna, N.Y., asked if I could return a treasure that was borrowed back in 1961. That “treasure” was “Sparky,” a 1932 drinking mug from Alpha Gamma Upsilon fraternity.

Robert’s story begins at 3 a.m. on a spring morning in 1961 when 10 pledges of Phi Sigma Phi (now Sigma Chi) stopped at the Alpha Gamma Upsilon house (now Phi Gamma Delta) after an evening of comparative fluid research at a Flint watering hole. When the pledges entered the fraternity house, Robert said they found everyone asleep and the watch dog friendly. So the pledges raided the refrigerator, fed the dog and appropriated only enough items to prove that their raid had been successful. Pledge Andy Kram grabbed “Sparky” on his way out of the house. Andy kept pencils in “Sparky” for three years before willing it to Robert when he graduated. Andy died in Vietnam in 1968.

Robert took “Sparky” with him when he graduated and moved the treasured glass around the world for the next 40 years. “During all that time, the memories of my brothers and friends from GMI have always been an immense source of joy,” Robert wrote in his letter. “Every time I went into my living room I would see old ‘Sparky’ and often think about those guys and those years. As such, please find enclosed one mug borrowed for all the right reasons 46 years ago by 10 really wonderful men who were on their way to the rest of their lives.”

I am sure Robert’s story also stimulates memories for you. Kettering University is on its way to the rest of its life, too. Kettering has newly articulated mission and vision statements that appear on the next page. These statements convey a much clearer picture of a university with a multi-faceted mission – one committed to: empowering active learning, innovation and assisting in socio-economic development.

As members of the Kettering community execute this mission, they collectively embrace a culture that values: student success and leadership, excellence and quality, diversity and mutual respect, collaboration and teamwork, creativity and innovation, agility and flexibility, and openness and honesty.

The University is also updating its strategic plan and is working on several new initiatives that lie under four overarching strategic goals that we hope to achieve by 2010: create a student-centered learning environment that enhances student satisfaction, retention and gradation rates; engage in collaborative partnerships built on Kettering University’s strengths; develop a sustainable resource base to support full execution of our mission and initiatives; and rebalance and revitalize our commitment to all facets of our mission. You’ll see more detail on our strategic initiatives in subsequent issues of “Kettering Perspective.”

I hope you enjoy this issue of “Kettering Perspective” and as always we enjoy hearing from you.

Sincerely,

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