What does Dr. Bahram Roughani, department chair for Physics at Kettering University, have in common with Harry Belafonte, Lech Walesa, Spike Lee, Cesar Chavez and Margaret Meade? He will join the ranks of featured speakers for the Ballenger Eminent Persons Lecture Series at Mott Community College (MCC), funded by the Foundation for Mott Community College.

Roughani will be part of a two-day event focused on Nanotechnology that is open to the public free of charge. On the second day of the event, he and Dr. James Hamilton of the University of Wisconsin, Platteville, will provide scientific viewpoints on nanotechnology while Dr. John V. Stone, professor at Michigan State University will discuss the effects on humans and the environment Thursday, Nov. 5, from Noon to 4 p.m.

The event kicks off with “Nanotech...Inspiring the Exceptional,” an evening with nanotechnology experts, Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the MCC Event Center from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (located on the East side of the Mott College Library), featuring Dr. James Hamilton, distinguished professor of Chemistry and Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin at Platteville.

For more details on the two-day event visit http://www.mcc.edu/10_alumni/af_ballenger_lecture_series.shtml#history

Ballenger Eminent Persons Lecture Series at Mott Community College was created in 1955 through a generous gift by the Ballenger Trust to enhance educational opportunities for students of MCC as well as create a public discussion of issues facing the greater Flint community.

In 2005, after a nine-year hiatus, the Foundation for Mott Community College announced the return of the Ballenger Lecture Series, that has included national and international leaders such as Rocket Scientist Werner Von Braun, Journalists Alistair Cooke and Peter Jennings, Art Critic Stanley Kaufman, Talk Show Host Geraldo Rivera, Writers Alex Haley and William Buckley, Humorist Art Buchwald and Black Activist Julian Bond.

Michael M. Wood, who is originally from Flint and is the former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, will offer the Commencement address when Kettering University hosts graduation ceremonies at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 13.  The event is open to the public in the Connie and Jim John Recreation Center.

Kettering will graduate 198 undergraduate and 97 master’s candidates during graduation services.  About 180 undergraduates and 55 graduate students are expected to march at the ceremonies.  University President Stan Liberty will preside and Dr. Henry Kowalski, professor of Mechanical Engineering, will be the grand marshal.  Undergraduate student speaker will be Tyler Finnegan of Elyria, Ohio, who will earn a bachelor’s degree in Management. 

Here are the highlights of the upcoming ceremony:

Saturday, June 13, 2009, 11 a.m.
Connie and Jim John Recreation Center 
No tickets required to attend Commencement 
The event is free and open to the public
Allow 1 1/2 hours for the ceremony 
Presiding: Kettering University President Stan Liberty
Parking is free and available in all campus parking lots 
Information center will be located on the 1st floor of the CC (outside BJ's Lounge, behind the elevators) from 8:30 - 10:45 a.m.
There is no graduation rehearsal
Total graduates: 198 undergraduates, 97 master’s candidates 
Graduates expecting to march: 180 undergraduates, 55 graduate 
Expected number of guests: 1,600 
Faculty will host a light breakfast in the International Room, Fifth Floor of the Campus Center, 8:30-10 a.m. 
Recreation Center doors open at 9 a.m. for visitors to arrive and be seated 
Faculty and staff members assemble for the Processional between 10-10:55 a.m. in the Third Floor, Recreation Center 
Graduates assemble on the first floor of the Campus Center (just outside BJ's Lounge) between 10:30-10:55 a.m.  
Formal processional begins at 11 a.m.

HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT: 1
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Michael M. Wood
Former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden
Chair, Redwood Investments, LLC 

Michael M. Wood is a son of Flint.  He grew up in the area and attended Flint’s Whittier Middle School.  After graduating from Yale University, he helped found the leading media company for the housing and construction industry.  His national service included organizing a housing industry round table in 1984 for U.S. President Ronald Reagan and representing the United States during the presidential inauguration in Ecuador in 2003.  In 2006, Mr. Wood was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden.  

Ambassador Wood was very helpful in developing the international collaboration between Kettering, Linkoping University in Sweden and others that is currently creating a waste-to-energy bio-methane center at Flint's wastewater treatment facility. Mr. Wood was also instrumental in hosting the royal visit of His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, to campus on Sept. 26 last year.  Kettering will award Mr. Wood an honorary doctor of Humane Letters.  Read his bio (http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2882) and more about the “Crowning event” that brought a king to Kettering’s campus (http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2805). 

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT SPEAKER: 1

Tyler Finnegan of Elyria, Ohio, is the undergraduate student speaker and will offer comments on “Resilience and Revolution” to his graduating class.  He will receive a bachelor’s degree in Management.  His co-op was at Delphi Corporation.  He is a 2005 graduate of Elyria Catholic High School in Ohio.     

A student leader and outspoken advocate for cooperative education, he has often represented Kettering in the media, including being interviewed by the New York Times for a national news story on the University.  At Kettering, Finnegan has been involved in Robot Leadership Honor Society, he was president of the Professional Leadership Honor Society, director of KSG Academic Council, a team leader for Student Ambassadors, an RA in Thompson Hall, an active employee at the Recreation Center, a regular contributor to the SuccessZone incoming student portal as the StickMan, College DECA, and a volunteer in the Flint community as part of Junior Achievement and Michigan High School DECA.  He also has served on numerous committees including the Friends of the Library and Archives, Commencement Committee and the WAG-GPA Task Force.   

He has accepted a full-time job at Guardian Industries and will join its leadership development program in Geneva, N.Y. 

OUTSTANDING THESIS AWARD: 1
The Outstanding Thesis Award winner for Spring 2009 goes to Brian L. Dorney of Holly, Mich. He is an Applied Physics major, whose co-op was at Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Ill.  His thesis is "Hydrogen Storage by Adsorption in Polymer Materials.” His faculty adviser is Dr. Yuri Sikorski of Physics.  Dorney will be among those feted during the Commencement Honors Breakfast on June 13. 

PRESIDENT'S MEDAL WINNERS: 4
Willy Joseph, Freeport, Bahamas
Kelly Lynn Okapal, Sylvania, Ohio
Scott Michael Skelton, Belleville, Mich.
Abdrahamane Traore, Bamako, Mali, Africa

SOBEY SCHOLARS: 6
Willy Joseph, Freeport, Bahamas
Kelly Lynn Okapal, Sylvania, Ohio
Jarrad Pouncil, Flint, Mich.
Tracy Schmitz, Shelby Township, Mich.
Abdrahamane Traore, Bamako, Mali, Africa
Angela Tremble, Detroit, Mich. 

ACADEMIC HONORS:
Summa Cum Laude (97.0-100): 9
Magna Cum Laude (94.5-96.9):  18
Cum Laude (92-94.4): 28 

TOTAL GRADUATES, BY DEGREE:
Bachelor's Degrees
Applied Mathematics: 1
Applied Physics: 1
Biochemistry: 1
Business Administration: 4
Chemistry: 2
Computer Engineering:11
Computer Science: 2
Electrical Engineering: 31
Industrial Engineering: 20
Management: 4
Mechanical Engineering: 115
Dual Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics: 1
Dual Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics: 2
Dual Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering: 2
Dual Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: 1
BACHELOR'S TOTAL = 198

Master's Degrees
Engineering: 23
Engineering Management: 6
Information Technology: 5
Manufacturing Management: 8
Manufacturing Operations: 38
MBA: 9
Operations Management: 6
Dual Engineering Management and MBA: 1
Dual Operations Management and Manufacturing Management: 1
MASTER'S TOTAL = 97

FOR MORE ON COMMENCEMENT, visit:
http://www.kettering.edu/registrar/commencement_information.jsp  

HOTELS/RESTAURANTS: Contact the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau: 1-800-24-FLINT or (810) 232-2211.

CAN WE HELP? 1-800-955-4464, ext. 9585, or 810-762-9585. 

Written by Patricia Mroczek
810.762.9533
pmroczek@kettering.edu

Kettering University honored seven faculty members for outstanding teaching, research and citizenship during the institution’s University Conference for employees in September. Provost Dr. Michael Harris congratulated the recipients and thanked members of the committee that made the recommendations to him. He indicated this is the first time that faculty recognitions have been based on recommendations submitted by a faculty committee. “Recognizing faculty for outstanding teaching, research and citizenship is a reflection of the entire faculty's commitment to academic excellence," said Harris.

The seven honorees were:

Dr. Ilya Kudish, professor of Mathematics, who received the 2008 Rodes Professorship, for his project entitled, “Design of stable numerical methods for elastohydrodynamic lubrication.”  The Rodes Professorship honors Kettering faculty for breadth and depth of knowledge, commitment to diligence in terms of academic research, and leadership in developing and applying an area of knowledge, among other attributes.

The award includes a grant of $5,000 to provide the recipient with opportunity for continued professional development and a chance to disseminate the results of their research to Kettering students, alumni, University clubs, industrial groups and other colleges and universities.

Dr. Petros Gheresus, professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, who received the 2008 Faculty Distinguished Citizenship Award. This award is conferred upon a faculty member who serves the University through sustained engagement in activities such as leadership in departmental or university committees, participation in activities that contribute to the strategic mission of the university, activities that contribute to the recruitment, retention, and satisfaction of Kettering students, and performance in leadership positions in local, regional, state, national, and/or international professional organizations.

Three faculty won the 2008 Outstanding Teaching Awards:

Dr. Yuri Sikorski, assistant professor of Physics;

Dr. Stacy Seeley, interim head of Chemistry/Biochemistry and Pre-Med coordinator; and

Dr. Bassem Ramadan, professor of Mechanical Engineering.

The Outstanding Teaching Award honors faculty who have demonstrated outstanding teaching and support for students.

Dr. Peter Stanchev, professor of Computer Science, received the 2008 Outstanding Researcher Award for his substantial contributions to the area of medical imaging and multimedia systems recognized throughout the world.

Dr. Gianfranco DiGuiseppe, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering, received the 2008 Outstanding New Researcher Award for his work in fuel cell research.

Dr. Ilya Kudish was also honored with the 2008 Distinguished Researcher Award for his contributions to the science of tribology and contact mechanics that are recognized worldwide.

Kettering’s Section A freshman class will have almost 260 fresh faces in it!  They will be joined by the second half of the freshman class (Section B) in October – welcome!

Many of the incoming freshmen are the finest students of their high schools from around the country.  There are at least nine valedictorians and three salutatorians in the entering class.  Kettering’s new freshmen arrive on campus a few weeks after a campaign visit by Sen. Barack Obama (see coverage at: http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2770.)  Entering students are also being greeted by several new academic programs, including a Pre-med course of study (http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2754) and a new BBA (http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2746).

Freshman Class at a Glance:

Section A freshmen: 259 students

Male: 210; Female: 49

Gender: 81% male; 19% female

African American: 15 (6%)

Hispanic: 9 (3%)

Michigan residents: 66%

Midwest residents: 82%

Number of states represented: 26

There are more women in the freshmen class than there has been in a number of years. Of the 259 freshmen, 49 are female (or 19 percent of Section A). That’s up from 13 percent a year ago.

More than 66 percent of new freshmen are from Michigan and 82 percent are from the Midwestern states.  Other states represented include seven students from New York, six from Texas, four from Florida, three from California, and two each from Alabama, Colorado and Kansas.  In all, 26 states are represented with students also coming from Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oregon, South Carolina and Utah.

Physical Facility Upgrades

A number of updates and renovations will greet the new class and returning students:

• Kettering’s International Office will soon be located in the Academic Building, near rooms 1-817 and 1-819 in the southwest hallway.  International director Luchen Li and student coordinator Heidi Schmoll will relocate from the Campus Center to their new offices soon.
• A new tiered crash sled classroom is now available in the Mott Center, dedicated to general classroom space and geared to the scientific research being done in Kettering’s crash safety lab.  New electronics will transfer data collected during crash sled runs in the nearby laboratory on to laptops in the new classroom, increasing research options for students at Kettering.
• The general computer laboratories in 3-501 and 3-503 Academic Building have been updated with new carpeting and technology.  The popular spaces are available for individual and group study sessions for students, and other uses.
• There is new carpeting in a number of classrooms of the Academic Building.
• The gymnasium floor has been resurfaced at the Recreation Center, plus the Prox Card system is now available at recreation facility.
• The stairwell in Thompson Hall’s south middle section was renovated and freshened up with new paint and a new floor.
• Some recent aesthetic changes on campus include the refurbishing of flower beds in the front of the Campus Center and Academic Building.  About a dozen volunteers turned out for the recent “spring clean up and flower day” on campus.  They worked side-by-side with physical facilities employees to clean up several flowerbeds and help plant colorful flowers around the main entrances of Kettering’s biggest buildings.
• Parking Lot 3, behind Thompson Hall, has been resealed and restriped with fresh paint.
• There’s a new curbcut at the Academic Building for easier access.   

The new academic year begins with two special events – Orientation and the first day of school.  Orientation is Thursday, July 10 – Sunday, July 15.  Classes begin Monday, July 16.

MEET SOME OF THE NEW FACES …

FIRST WITH FIRST:  About one of five students now coming to Kettering have had experiences in FIRST – For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.  The international robotics contest for high school students was designed almost 20 years ago to showcase career options in Science, Math and Engineering.  Kettering has been actively involved for about a decade.  Kettering awarded 10 $22,500 scholarships (for 4 ½ years of study) to these 2008 FIRST Scholars:

• Andrew Breed, Tech Fusion (Team 279) of Toledo, Ohio;
• Jonathan Bushkuhl, the Rat Pack (Team 830) of Ann Arbor, Mich.;
• Bryan Coburn, the Dragons (Team 1243) of Swartz Creek, Mich.;
• William Hancock, Mech Warriors (Team 573) of Ortonville, Mich.; 
• John Lawniczak, GRR (Team 340) of Rochester, N.Y.;
• Nathan LeBlanc, PhyXTGears (Team 1720) of Muncie, Ind.;
• Ryan Masica, the Enginerds (Team 2337) of Grand Blanc, Mich.;
• Troy Russell, the GRAYT Leviathons (Team 1322) of Holly, Mich.;
• Steven Zimnie, the Hammerheads (Team 226) of Troy, Mich.
• Michael Pogue, The Gearheads (Team 1189) of Grosse Pointe, Mich.

Clean water is one of Michigan’s most precious natural resources and one freshman was among 30 Breckenridge High School students doing their part to make sure it stays that way.  Matt Myers conducted water quality tests at three locations in Gratiot and Midland counties under the direction of Chemistry Teacher Malena Marr. The students were part of a program organized by the American Chemical Society in Midland.   "It sounded like it would be a lot of fun," he said. "I wanted to learn stuff about the environment."  

Kristen Rose Bartkowiak, an honors student at Howell High School, was active in the Lansing Junior Symphony/Mid-Michigan Youth Symphony. She played on the tennis team, was the programmer for the school's robotics team and was a member of the National Honor Society. She tutored middle school and high school students and helped with various community organizations.  She plans to study Computer Science.

An honors student and Eagle Scout at Fowerlerville High School in Michigan, Jared Sanders earned three academic letters and also lettered in band. He belonged to the National Honor Society, Boy Scouts and Sanchin-RYU Karate.  He is interested in Science.

Keishawna M. Baker of Belleville High School is an honors student who has been involved in the National Honor Society since tenth grade. She was active in the Interact Club, earned Student of the Month honors and is listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students. She has been listed on the National Honor Roll and will study Computer Engineering.

Jacob Hassold, who is the son of Kettering Faculty Moderator Greg Hassold, a professor of Applied Physics, is joining the campus in Section A.  He has worked on the set crew for the University of Michigan’s Gilbert & Sullivan Society and was an honors student at Flushing High School.  Jacob has studied the violin for 14 years and was awarded the 2008 Flushing High School Outstanding String Player.  In his spare time, he enjoys fencing lessons.  He plans to study Industrial Engineering, with a particular interest in robotics.

Other Kettering community members sending children to campus are Dr. Laura Sullivan of Mechanical Engineering, whose son Andrew Sullivan, a graduate of Grand Blanc High School, is joining the campus.  And former employee Tammy Loud’s son, Andrew, is coming to study Industrial Engineering and Computer Engineering.

James Alan Beattie, an honors student at Whitmore High School was a member of the regional All-Star Quiz Bowl team. He played football and was a member of the National Honor Society.  He will study Mechanical Engineering.  Also planning to study Mechanical Engineering is Ronald Smith of Vermontville, an honors student at Maple Valley High School in the Lansing area.  He was active in wrestling and loves motorcycles.  And Justin Swartz, an honors student at St. John’s High School is also from the Lansing area.  He was active in the school’s industrial co-op program and he will also study Mechanical Engineering.

So welcome Class of 2013.  Have a good year and start saving your pennies on behalf of the Food Bank of East Michigan.  Kettering hopes to donate lots and lots of pennies toward the food bank’s $75,000 goal and fill the Penny Garden constructed by the Kettering realSERVICE design team of Erin Torchala of Macomb, Jeff Nolen of Dewitt, and Kennet Magnus of Clarkston, assisted by Professor Massoud Tavakoli of Mechanical Engineering, who have already kicked off the new academic year in the Kettering way!! 

Written by Patricia Mroczek
810.762.9533
pmroczek@kettering.edu

Empty bottles create interesting tones. Why? Place one to your lips and blow. Hear that resonance? Not music, but an interesting quality nonetheless.

The sound of a beefed-up car engine—a 1969 GTO or 2008 Mustang GT—is music to some people. May not be melodic in a musical sense, but try convincing a gearhead that their professionally tuned 302 cubic inch, V-8 chromed engine doesn’t sound like a symphony and you may receive a sparkplug to the side of your head. But what these gearheads don’t like is unwanted whines or tones in their carefully tuned sound.

Oddly enough, bottles, some musical instruments and cars utilize the same device to control sound frequencies and improve performance.

Dr. Dan Ludwigsen, associate professor of Physics, and several Kettering students are currently examining the acoustics of Helmholtz resonators, which act as sound filters and amplifiers. The primary focus of Ludwigsen’s research efforts deals with standard estimates of the resonance frequency of Helmholtz resonators, which are based on the geometry of the cavity and neck.

For example, a classic example of a resonator is a soda bottle. The air in the bottle neck oscillates as a unit of mass and compresses the air in the cavity, which behaves like a spring. As a result, if one knows the geometry of the bottle and its neck, predicting the frequency at which the “mass” oscillates on the “spring” is fairly easy.

Ludwigsen is specifically looking for an improved correction factor that takes into account any sound that exists beyond the opening in the intake duct, or in the case of the bottle, the neck. Ultimately, what he hopes to achieve is a correction factor for the cavity that’s related to the springiness of air in the neck. The aim is to predict more accurately the frequencies filtered or amplified by a resonator.

To reach this goal, he engages students in several research activities that take place in the Acoustics Laboratory on the second floor of the Academic Building.

For example, senior Pierre Phou worked on a research project in late 2006 that required him to construct a Helmholtz resonator that would measure the ratio of pressure contained inside the cavity and outside of it. Phou constructed his device with a moveable piston that changes volume and with alternate neck lengths, both of which alter resonance frequency. He then placed small microphones inside the resonator to measure the ratio of pressure inside and outside the device, and used a subwoofer to drive the device.

When Phou headed back to his co-op employer—Valeo Climate Controls in Auburn Hills, Mich.—Sophomore Linda Hunt of Shelby Township, Mich., later picked up the project and began examining this question: why do changes in the volume of the Helmholtz resonator affect frequency?

But do this, Ludwigsen said, one must include a correction factor related to the open ends of the neck. Hunt’s work on the project revealed the possibility of an improved correction factor that takes into account the sound wave driving the opening (in the intake duct, for example). The jury is still out in terms of the results of her work. According to Ludwigsen, more refinement is necessary, but they are finding promising results from tests in the lab.

Although the project is rather complex, Hunt finds the research challenging and a compelling compliment to her academic experience.

“I started this project with Dr. Ludwigsen during my on-campus work term in the winter of 2008 because it is an area of interest of his and I was eager to get a feel for what research is all about,” Hunt said.  “He provided me with a lot of tools and started me with the basics, but I started asking questions that we did not have answers for, so we started researching them.  The plan is to write describe our work in a series of papers and perhaps submit them to the Acoustical Society's conference scheduled for November.  I have really enjoyed the project because it is something a lot different then I have ever done and there is never a dull day.  I have collected the same set of data four or five times and made improvements to my setup each time to produce more accurate results.  In collecting and analyzing data this way, we’re able to figure out if there are any issues with the data and we can then go back and correct what we did wrong. I like being able to drive it how we want or we decide,” she added.  

Perhaps an easier way for a reader to understand this complex project is to view it in terms of musical instruments, which provide more examples of resonator applications.

The djembe is a skin-covered hand drum in the shape of a large goblet that is played with bare hands. According to several sources, the name of this African drum translates to “everyone gather together,” which also defines the purpose of the instrument. The drum shell is covered by a drumhead composed of rawhide, which is also secured to the instrument with metal rings, rope and skin. The djembe originated in West Africa and is a critical part of the regions musical tradition and culture.

“The instrument uses the Helmholtz resonance as part of its playing style and tone,” Ludwigsen said. He demonstrated the various tones produced by the drum in the Acoustics Laboratory. Specifically, the drum uses a rounded shape with an extended tube for the body which forms the Helmholtz resonator.

The notes produced by the drum are called the bass, tone and slap. As one can imaging, the slap has a high, sharp sound and the tone is more rounded and full. The bass is the lowest tone and players manipulate these sounds by positioning the drum between their thighs and angling the instrument when striking the skin.

In addition, the air induction system of a car’s engine often adds to the noise level, according to the Society of Automotive Engineers International (www.sae.org). This is an issue since vehicle noise quality is one consideration a buyer might examine when choosing a car. Helmholtz resonators are often used to reduce noise in vehicle induction and exhaust systems. They’re especially helpful in the elimination of particular frequencies that cause annoying tones or whines.

Ludwigsen noted that several other students, some of whom have recently graduated, provided an extensive amount of help to this project. These people include Wes Haveman ‘02 and Chaz Ott ’07. These students specifically worked on the djembe with Dr. Dan Russell, associate professor of Applied Physics.

The majority of work for this project takes place in Kettering’s Applied Physics Acoustics Laboratory (http://www.kettering.edu/acad/scimath/physics/acoustics/acs-lab-renov.html), which the University recently renovated to create more space. Ludwigsen also has a website that explains the theory and helps visualize what is happening with Helmholtz resonators and other acoustical phenomena that readers can access. The site is http://www.kettering.edu/~dludwigs/researchport/other.html.  For more information on this project, contact Dr. Dan Ludwigsen at (810) 762-7488 or via email at dludwigs@kettering.edu.  

Written by Gary J. Erwin
810-762-9538
gerwin@kettering.edu.

Commencement is June 14

Innovation and technology will be the theme for Kettering University’s Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, June 14, in the Connie and Jim John Recreation Center.

Kettering President Stan Liberty will preside at the 11 a.m. graduation services for 315 graduates (238 undergrads and 77 master’s candidates).  The grand marshal will once again be Dr. Henry Kowalski, professor of Mechanical Engineering. 

Two technology innovators, who helped propel their industries to new heights, will receive honorary degrees.  They are: Dr. Curtis R. Carlson, president and chief executive officer of SRI International, and the late David W. Hermance, a 1970 graduate of Kettering/GMI, who has been called “the ambassador for green cars” and “a giant in advanced vehicle technologies.”

Two graduates of Kettering’s Academically Interested Minorities program (AIM) are the undergraduate student speakers.  They are Gadryn Higgs and Stephanie Thach.  Higgs is from Freeport, Bahamas, and will receive a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.  Thach is from Flint and will receive a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. 

James Bendert of San Diego, Calif., will receive the Outstanding Thesis Award and a bachelor’s degree in Applied Physics.  His co-op was at Argonne National Labs in Argonne, Ill.  Bendert's thesis title is: "Diagnostics of PEM Fuel Cell Electrolytes by Raman Spectroscopy and AC Impedance Spectroscopy". It covers diagnostic study of cation impurities in PEM fuel cell electrolytes by Raman spectroscopy and AC impedance spectroscopy both in the pure membrane form and within the electrode. He was nominated by his faculty adviser Dr. Bahram Roughani, interim department head of Physics.

Here are the highlights of the upcoming ceremony:

Saturday, June 14, 2008, 11 a.m. 

• Connie and Jim John Recreation Center 
• No tickets required to attend Commencement 
• Allow 1 1/2 hours for the ceremony 
• Presiding: Kettering University President Stan Liberty
• Grand Marshal: Dr. Henry Kowalski of Mechanical Engineering
• Parking is free and available in all campus parking lots 
• Information center will be on the first floor of the Campus Center (behind the elevators), outside BJ's Lounge, from 8:30 - 11 a.m. 
• There is no graduation rehearsal
• Total graduates: 238 undergraduates, 77 master’s candidates 
• Graduates expecting to march: 144 undergraduates, 30 graduate 
• Expected number of guests: 1,600 
• Faculty will host a light breakfast in the International Room, Fifth Floor of the Campus Center, 8:30-10 a.m. 
• Recreation Center doors open at 9 a.m. for visitors to arrive and be seated 
• Faculty and staff members assemble for the Processional between 10-10:55 a.m. in the Third Floor, Recreation Center 
• Graduates assemble on the first floor of the Campus Center (just outside BJ's Lounge) between 10:30-10:55 a.m.  
• Formal processional begins at 11 a.m.

HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS: 2
Dr. Curtis R. Carlson

HONORARY DOCTOR OF SCIENCE
President and Chief Executive Officer
SRI International
Menlo Park, California 

Carlson will present the Commencement address.  He helped start and lead the high-definition television (HDTV) program that became the U.S. standard and won an Emmy Award for outstanding technical achievement.  Another team started and led by Carlson won an Emmy in 2000 for a system that measures broadcast image quality.  See his entire bio at: http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2765

David W. Hermance ’70

HONORARY DOCTOR OF ENGINEERING (Posthumous Award)
Executive Engineer for Advanced Technology Vehicles
Toyota Technical Center, USA
Gardena, California

Hermance has been called “the point man for an entire technology – the gasoline-electric hybrid.”  He died in November 2006 when his single-engine stunt plane crashed into the ocean near Los Angeles.  Hermance’s wife, Mary, and family members will accept a posthumous award.  See his entire bio at: http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2766.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT SPEAKERS:  2
Gadryn Higgs of Freeport, Bahamas (AIM graduate), Mechanical Engineering
Stephanie Thach of Flint (AIM graduate), Industrial Engineering

ACADEMIC HONORS:
Summa Cum Laude (97.0-100) - 6
Magna Cum Laude (94.5-96.9) - 12
Cum Laude (92-94.4) - 29

PRESIDENT’S MEDALISTS: 5
Gadryn Higgs, Freeport, Bahamas;
Ken Luiten, Tucson, Ariz.;
Kristin Rice, Albany, N.Y.;
Robert Riggs, Spring, Texas; and
Ryan Sullivan, Ada, Mich.

SOBEY SCHOLARS: 4
Gadryn Higgs of Freeport, Bahamas;
Kristin Rice of Albany, N.Y.;
Ryan Sullivan, Ada, Mich.; and Stephanie Welch of Clio, Mich. 

OUTSTANDING THESIS AWARD:  1
James Bendert of San Diego, Calif.  

TOTAL GRADUATES, BY DEGREE: 315
Undergraduate Degrees:
1          Applied Mathematics
4          Applied Physics
1          Biochemistry
2          Chemistry
5          Computer Engineering
4          Computer Science
35        Electrical Engineering
0          Engineering Physics
14        Industrial Engineering
14        Management
150      Mechanical Engineering
4          Dual (Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering)
2          Dual (Computer Science and Computer Engineering)
1          Dual (Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics)
1          Dual (Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering)
238     TOTAL

Master’s Degrees:
9          MBA
5          Engineering Management
9          Engineering
1          Information Technology
5          Manufacturing Management
33        Manufacturing Operations
12        Operations Management
2          Dual (Operations Management and MBA)
1          Dual (Engineering Management and MBA)
77        TOTAL  

FOR MORE ON COMMENCEMENT, visit: http://www.kettering.edu/registrar/commencement_information.jsp

HOTELS/RESTAURANTS: Contact the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau: 1-800-24-FLINT or (810) 232-2211.

CAN WE HELP? 1-800-955-4464, ext. 9585, or 810-762-9585.

Written by Patricia Mroczek
810.762.9533
pmroczek@kettering.edu

Some old-timers still refuse to get rid of their “twigs.” For them, nothing can replace the feel of a hockey puck on a wood stick.

Maybe they played minor league hockey before face masks were a required piece of equipment. Others might have had a crack at the NHL, back when helmets suggested unmanliness among those who dared to wear them. Years ago, a good two-hander with a wood stick could break wrists, fracture fingers, or cause concussions.  

The sport of hockey has changed. Checking a player with his face to the boards from behind is no longer allowed. All players must wear helmets. And one-piece composite sticks, which can produce faster and heavier shots, are the primary choice of players. But alas, even these can break inexplicably and manufacturers have yet to find a process that allows them to last longer than a dozen games during the NHL season.

But one Kettering student wants to know why. Sophomore Linda Hunt of Shelby Township, Mich., recently approached Dr. Dan Russell, associate professor of Physics, about studying the impact of stick vibration on performance. At the time of her query with Russell, she had begun working an on-campus co-op with Dr. Dan Ludwigsen, associate professor of Physics.

The project deals with Helmholtz resonators, which act as acoustic filters or amplifiers.  Many automobiles use Helmholtz resonators as part of the intake manifold to filter out particular frequencies from the engine noise. There are standard estimates of the resonance frequency for these devices, based on the geometry of the cavity and the neck—a pop bottle is a classic example.  The air in the neck oscillates as a unit of mass and compresses the air in the cavity, which acts like a spring.  As a result, if one knows the geometry, predicting the frequency at which the "mass" oscillates on the "spring" is fairly easy. 

Ludwigsen and Hunt, who majors in Applied Physics and Math, are investigating an improved correction factor, taking into account any sound that exists beyond the opening (in the intake duct, for example).  The two are also looking into a possible correction factor for the cavity, related to the springiness of air in the neck as well.

So how does this project relate to the idea of studying hockey sticks?

Physics is the science of matter and energy, and the interactions between the two grouped into traditional fields such as acoustics, optics and mechanics among others. Since a hockey stick is used to shoot a puck, you have matter in the form of the puck and energy in the form of a slap shot movement to fire the puck.

In addition, much of the work on Ludwigsen’s project took place in the Applied Physics Acoustics Laboratory on the second floor of the Academic Building, where Hunt first saw all of the bats used in testing the “sweet” spot. In the corner of the lab stood a hockey stick, which caught Hunt’s eye and eventually prompted her query of Russell about the project idea.

Russell was willing to work with Hunt because the idea sounded interesting and because of her enthusiasm. “This is purely an extracurricular research interest that’s not tied to any class project,” he noted, adding that currently, “we’re at the beginning of the project and don’t have much data to report on yet.”

But, he said, this project, which will span several years during Hunt’s academic career, does have the potential to produce some interesting results.

As a recreational hockey player, Hunt initially wondered if any researchers had conducted studies on hockey sticks to determine why they break the way they do. “Dr. Russell and I did some research and found only a few minor studies on hockey sticks, primarily from a researcher at a university in Montreal,” she explained.

“There really isn’t much available in terms of studies that investigate the vibrational properties of composite and wood hockey sticks,” Russell said. “But the idea of using physics and acoustics to see if we can learn anything useful about hockey sticks is very compelling,” he added.

The initial question the two hope to examine is this: is there anything about how a hockey stick vibrates that influences its overall performance?

“We’re going to take an open-ended approach at first,” Russell said. “We’ll study vibration modes of different blades—wood and composite—and hopefully speak with hockey players, perhaps from the Flint Generals and ask them questions about hockey stick performance that might lead us in a specific direction.”

Overall, Russell and Hunt hope that they achieve important results, which could help stick manufacturers when developing new products for the sport.

And although this project is just beginning, Russell is pleased with Hunt’s desire to study the vibrational properties of sticks.

“It’s nice when a student comes to you and asks if they could talk about a potential research subject, especially when it has nothing to do with their classes,” he said.

As data becomes available, more stories on the progress of this research project will appear on the Kettering website in the approaching months. For more information about Kettering’s Physics program, visit http://www.kettering.edu/futurestudents/undergraduate/appliedphysics.jsp. For more information on the Applied Physics Acoustics Laboratory, visit http://www.kettering.edu/futurestudents/undergraduate/appliedphysics_acoustic_lab.jsp.

 Written by Gary J. Erwin
810.762.9538
gerwin@kettering.edu

A total of 11 faculty members volunteered for the gooey duty:
David Poock (IMEB)
Terri Lynch-Caris (IMEB)
Brent Lewis (SM)
Karen Cayo (IMEB)
Boyan Dimitrov (SM)
Ken Morrison (IMEB)
Matthew Sanders (IMEB)
Ada Cheng (SM)
Laura Sullivan (ME)
Daniel Russel (SM)
Dan Ludwigsen (SM)

"We were fortunate that many faculty and staff members made generous donations in the spirit of fun," said Ryan Martter, IIE member. "It was an event for students and faculty to have fun at the end of the summer term. We didn't expect to make a fortune doing it." Martter said. The money raised will be used toward the IIE chapter general operating fund, which provides food at meetings and helps in planning events like tours of plants and trips such as conferences, conventions, and seminars.

IIE is a national professional organization for the industrial engineering profession and is based out of Norcross, Georgia. Information on the national organization can be found at www.iienet.org. There are approximately 20 active student members in the Kettering IIE chapter.

Students following the prescribed program and achieving satisfactory academic progress at WSCC can transfer those credits to Kettering and enter with junior level status, according to Robert Nichols, vice president for Enrollment Management at Kettering.

The program leads to a bachelor's of science degree in one of the following areas of study: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Management, Computer Science, Environmental Chemistry, Applied Mathematics and Applied Physics.

An additional goal of the articulation agreement is the possible cooperative work experience WSCC students can participate in during summers between academic semesters. Students would be matched with local companies during their tenure at WSCC and continue their co-op work experience with that company after transferring to Kettering.

Kettering University is a national leader in cooperative education. The co-op program at Kettering consists of students alternating 11 weeks of study and 12 weeks of hands-on work experience, related to their field of study, with a co-op employer.

Enhancing the articulation agreement is the new math and science center at WSCC, offering area high school students advanced college preparatory classes in math and science.

The agreement also reacquaints Dr. Dillon with his alma mater. A 1973 graduate of Kettering/GMI with a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Dr. Dillon also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Ohio State University.