The Engineering Alumni Association –
Reaching Out and Serving our
Alumni and Students

Upon graduation from the College of Engineering, all alumni become members of the University of Delaware Engineering Alumni Association (EAA). For many, their involvement will go no farther than their automatic membership. Others, however, choose to become actively involved in this service and social organization. They’re usually glad they did.

Linda Myrick and Rob Allen, current President and President-Elect, respectively, represent very different ends of the alumni spectrum, but both are equally committed to the organization. Myrick earned her BChE in 1977, while Allen graduated just five years ago with a BME degree.

Their leadership is supported by a board with representatives of classes ranging from 1950 to 2001. “Our goal is to represent alumni from all years and all disciplines,” says Myrick. “During the past couple of years, the Board has become very active, with much broader representation, and enabling us to serve all our alumni.”

The Association’s activities range from the functional to the fun and include fundraising for scholarships, participating in National Engineers Week, and hosting a reception at a UD basketball game, a wine dinner at the Blue & Gold Club, and a trip to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

“With each of these events,” says Myrick, “we hope to draw new people and increase participation. We really want to encourage alumni to stay connected with the University.”

For Myrick, that connectedness has spanned a quarter century during which both she and her husband Steve (also BChE77) have earned degrees at other schools: Linda holds an MBA and her husband is an M.D. But their primary loyalty has remained at Delaware, and both credit their degrees at UD with giving them the strong foundation that led to their success.

Although she finds value in all of the EAA-sponsored activities, Myrick points to the annual scholarship as the most worthwhile part for her. “I really enjoyed interviewing the candidates. They are outstanding individuals who are balancing a very difficult curriculum, extracurricular activities, and the financial responsibilities of tuition and expenses.” An annual golf tournament, usually held in October, helps to raise money for the scholarship fund.

For Allen, who earned his degree in mechanical engineering but now works as a civil engineer and holds a P.E. license in that field, the alumni-student networking event held to kick off the College’s National Engineers Week celebration is especially noteworthy. The event includes a panel discussion and a reception.

The alumni panel comprises professionals from civil, environmental, electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering backgrounds. “Last year,” says Allen, “the group included a surgeon, a lawyer, and a manager. This diversity lets students see the many career paths they can take after they leave the University with an engineering degree.”

Both Allen and Myrick see the alumni association as a way not only to stay connected but also to “give back.” They are also particularly enthusiastic about activities that involve current UD students and would like to see the organization expand and do more.

In addition, Allen points to the potential to coordinate with other alumni associations. “We have alumni organizations at the departmental, college, and university level,” he says. “It would be nice if we could link to some of the larger alumni-related projects and events.”

Deirdre Smith (BCE86), Director of Development for the College and a former Board member, urges alumni to become active. “Please let us know if you’re interested in becoming a Board member, joining a committee, or helping plan the annual golf outing,” she says. “You’ll probably find out that you get more out of it than you give,” she says.

Allen and Myrick would agree with that.

For more information about the Engineering Alumni Association, visit the web site at http://www.engr.udel.edu/alumni/alumniAssociation.html or contact Deirdre Smith by phone at (302) 831-8694 or by email at dsmith@UDel.Edu.

by Diane Kukich