For years now, Grand Valley State University engineering students have taken what they learn in the classroom out into the community to work on projects that teach both engineering principles and the value of service. Now, with a new endowment from Rockford Construction, that work will get a boost.
A donation from Rockford Construction will establish the West Side Service Projects Endowment. The endowment will enable engineering students and faculty in Grand Valley's Padnos College of Engineering and Computing to carry out projects that will benefit the neighborhood that borders the university's Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Those projects are aimed at building a sense of responsible citizenship and leadership in engineering students.
COVERAGE DETAILS: A signing ceremony will be held Wednesday, June 8 at noon in the Keller Engineering Building, Conference Room 204, 301 W. Fulton St. Representatives from Grand Valley and Rockford Construction will be present, as will representatives from some of the organizations who have benefited from the projects, such as Sibley Elementary School, The Other Way Ministries and Westside Jubilee Housing. Media coverage is encouraged.
Professor Shirley Fleischmann has led the charge toward encouraging service learning. Previous projects have included:
"In engineering we teach the language of design using the precision of mathematics as well as concepts from many areas of engineering and applied science," Fleischmann said. "With community service, we hope to teach students the language of the heart and of the soul in order to complete their preparation to enter the engineering profession as responsible citizens and accomplished engineers. The neighborhood bordering the Pew Campus has many needs that can effectively be met with an engineering approach, however such needs are seldom presented in the way that textbook problems are presented. Students must learn to see the needs of people who are different from them -- and to see those needs with both their intellect and their heart."
