FENN ACADEMY
HIGHLIGHTS
A consortium of northeast ohio high schools, Corporations, Government and
the Washkewicz College of Engineering at Cleveland State University
Academic Year 2014/2015
MESSAGE TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS
Welcome to our Annual Highlights for Fenn Academy, Academic year 2014/2015 .
The Fenn Academy is a partnership among Cleveland State University’s
Washkewicz College of Engineering, local school districts, government agencies
and corporations. All of these groups collaborate to provide educational activities
designed to encourage high school students to pursue secondary education and
careers in engineering.
Thousands of students from fifty high schools in a five county region in NE Ohio,
and one in New York, currently benefit from our services. Activities include oncampus Engineering Activity Days, an annual job shadowing program, a faculty speakers program, curriculum
consultation with educators and engineering team competitions. When funding permits, we also operate the
Pathway to Engineering summer camp for teachers and students. Students also receive information about
scholarships to attend the Washkewicz College of Engineering.
The Washkewicz College of Engineering continues to experience unprecedented increases in enrollment. The
incoming engineering freshmen class for 2015/2016 is expected to increase from this past year. The overall
quality of our students and the number of engineering students enrolled in the University’s Honors College has
also increased significantly. There are more than 110 students currently enrolled that are involved in the scholars
and honors programs. We are pleased with these results; however, we are striving to pursue a greater number of
students, especially women and other underrepresented groups.
In 2014/2015 we added new school partners, including Perry High, John F. Kennedy High, Avon High, Midview
High, and Orchard STEM Middle School. Fenn Academy also welcomed Dansville High School from New York.
Clearly, the success and reputation of the program continues to create interest.
In addition, the support that we receive from corporate partners and government agencies also helps to drive our
success. The Academy’s mission resonates with those who share our vision to engage the community in an effort
to dramatically increase the number and diversity of students seeking engineering careers.
This report highlights some of our activities for 2014/2015 and how teamwork and community spirit have made
this endeavor so successful.
ANETTE M. KARLSSON, PH.D.
Dean
Washkewicz College of Engineering
MAJID RASHIDI, PH.D.
GREGG G. SCHOOF, M.S.S.A.
Director, Fenn Academy
Assistant Director, Fenn Academy
Professor, Mechanical Engineering Manager, Engineering Student
Programs
MISSION STATEMENT
To collaborate with member high schools in educational activities that stimulate and encourage 9th-12th grade
students to pursue careers in engineering and technology and to provide technical, and when possible, financial
support to those students
To share knowledge about engineering and technology with students, educators and parents
To assist high school science, mathematics, pre-engineering and technology teachers, as well as guidance
counselors, by providing them with information about engineering careers
To help students prepare for undergraduate engineering programs
To introduce high school students to college life
To educate the technical workforce for the region’s industry
BENEFITS FOR Local HIGH SCHOOLS*
Participation in Washkewicz College’s Engineering Activity Day on-campus activities
Small grants for high school engineering competitions or projects
Participation in the Engineer For A Day job shadowing program at local engineering organizations
Summer camp activities for students or teachers when funding is available
Access to CSU’s facilities
High school curriculum consultation with Washkewicz College faculty
Share information about Cooperative Education Programs
Participation of Washkewicz’s faculty, students and staff in high school sponsored college and career fairs and
STEM related competitions
Collaborative projects with Fenn Academy member school teachers
Joint proposals to acquire funding for engineering related educational initiatives
*Opportunities cited above may require advance notice, appointments, pre-registration or fees, as well as preapproval from parents, high school administrators or CSU/Washkewicz College officials.
Call (216) 687-5272 for details.
Fenn Academy Partner High Schools
Aurora High School
Avon High School
Bay Village High School
Beachwood High School
Beaumont School
Benedictine High School
Brecksville/Broadview Heights High School
Cleveland Heights High School
Cuyahoga Falls High School
Cuyahoga Heights High School
Cuyahoga Valley Career Center
Dansville High School (NY)
Early College Program at John Hay High School
Euclid High School
Garfield Heights High School
Hearts of Jesus Academy
Horizon Science Academy
Hudson High School
Independence High School
Jane Addams High School
John F. Kennedy High School
Lakewood High School
Lorain County Joint Vocational High School
Lutheran West High School
Max Hayes High School
MC2 STEM High School
Mentor High School
Midview High School
Nordonia High School
Normandy High School
North Royalton High School
Orchard STEM Middle School
Parma Senior High School
Perkins High School
Perry High School
Revere High School
Rhodes High School
Richmond Heights High School
Rocky River High School
Roosevelt High School
Shaker Heights High School
St. Joseph Academy
St. Martin de Porres High School
Stow-Munroe Falls High School
Success Tech Academy
Tallmadge High School
Twinsburg High School
Valley Forge High School
Westlake High School
Wickliffe High School
Woodridge High School
(Paper table building competition shown below)
Membership in the Fenn Academy is free. A Memorandum of Understanding must be signed by school
administrators in order to participate. To learn more, visit www.csuohio.edu/fennacademy or
call (216) 687-5272.
Reaching Diverse Students
Fenn Academy member high schools in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) include MC 2 STEM
High School, the Design Lab at Jane Adams High School, Max Hayes High School, John Hay Early College High
School, Rhodes High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Orchard STEM School and Horizon Science Academy
(part of a national charter organization, located in the City of Cleveland and predominantly composed of CMSD
students).
The Academy has partnerships with schools in several diverse inner ring Cleveland suburbs including Lakewood,
Shaker Heights, Garfield Heights, Cleveland Heights/University Heights and Euclid. In addition, the Fenn Academy
currently serves two all-female high schools including St. Joseph Academy and Beaumont School. The Fenn
Academy also partners with the HEARTS for Jesus Christ Christian Education Institute, a specialized school for
home schooling families in grades 1-12. Plus, the Fenn Academy welcomed its first out of state high school,
Dansville High, in New York. Additional schools are invited to join.
In addition, our staff works with College Now Greater Cleveland, a college preparatory program for high school
students, which houses their summer camp in Fenn Hall. We also collaborate with the ACE Mentor Program of
Cleveland, a nationwide program that prepares students for STEM careers. The Washkewicz College of
Engineering provides matching scholarship funds for ACE students who enroll in engineering at CSU. We also
partner with the Perry Initiative, a national program that encourages girls to pursue careers in engineering and
medicine.
We are committed to providing equal opportunities for all students and welcome new partner high schools to the
Fenn Academy.
For information, visit www.csuohio.edu/fennacademy or call Gregg Schoof, Manager of
Engineering Student Programs, at (216) 687-5272.
FIRST YEAR OF SMALL GRANTS FOR TEACHERS REACH over 600 DIVERSE STUDENTS
Over $6,000 in Fenn Academy small grants were distributed to high school teachers who submitted creative
proposals involving nearly 600 students. Each activity demonstrated interesting ways of engaging 9th – 12th
grade students in “hands-on” projects that stimulated the students’ interest in engineering careers. In addition,
projects were also selected which encouraged underrepresented students to explore engineering careers and
which enabled students to meet current engineering professionals.
Schools that were selected in the Fenn Academy’s first academic year of small grant funding were Villa Angela-St.
Joseph High School (Cleveland), Theodore Roosevelt High School (serving Six District Educational Compact schools
including Kent, Stow-Munroe Falls, Tallmadge, Woodridge, Hudson, Cuyahoga Falls), John Hay High School of
Architecture and Design’s ACE Mentor Program team (Cleveland/CMSD), Beaumont School (Cleveland Heights),
Shaker Heights High School, Design Lab Early College High School (Cleveland/CMSD), and the Cuyahoga Valley
Career Center (CVCC) (serving Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Cuyahoga Heights, Garfield Heights, Independence,
North Royalton, Nordonia Hills, Revere and Twinsburg).
Proposals were selected for funding in order to reach the broadest geographic region and the greatest number of
students with the available funds. Funded projects included an all girls’ school, well established pre-engineering
programs participating in Project Lead the Way, the Six District Educational Compact’s Engineering Academy and
other individual high school initiatives. The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) and additional high
schools with a significant number of underrepresented students were also selected.
In addition, one of the grants furthered our collaboration with the nationally acclaimed ACE Mentor Program.
Locally, ACE is a partnership supported by numerous corporations, University Hospitals, Gilbane Construction, the
Cleveland Engineering Society, CSU’s Washkewicz College of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Kent
State University, the University of Akron, Cuyahoga Community College, the Cleveland Foundation and the
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. Goals include advising students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School
District to pursue STEM careers and to encourage students to remain in Northeast Ohio.
Fenn Academy Small Grant Achievements

The Cuyahoga Valley Career Center targeted 64 ninth and tenth grade female students in a day long program
of five different engineering related “hands on” activities. Girls came from eight different high schools that
send students to CVCC. With the help of the architectural and mechanical design students, girls used software
to design a 3D object utilizing 3D printing. Students explored network collaboration tools through the Cisco
Networking Academy. Additional partners included the Society of Women Engineers and the Cleveland
Engineering Society. A luncheon with current female engineers followed and girls were be paired with career
professionals to learn more about possible opportunities in their respective fields.

Students at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School purchased bridge building kits and solar, wind and bio energy
kits for research. Some students will compete in the West Point Bridge Building contest. A matching grant is
being sought from Villa Angela St. Joseph alumni. CSU’s College of Urban Affairs also worked with the school.

The Six District Educational Compact’s Engineering Academy and Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing
Program purchased tools engineers would use to do measurements so that 70-80 students received related
instruction.

The John Hay High School of Architecture and Design used funds in support of ACE Program industry mentors.
They worked with student teams to design and build a model for a community facility in their neighborhood
identified as a priority by the students. The project focused on aspects of water conservation, water
management and waste water pollution and included sketches, drawings, computer models, photographs
and physical models. The project culminated in an awards banquet including scholarships for seniors.

The grant supported the robotics team at Beaumont School in Cleveland Heights, first place winners in the
regional competition and third place winners in the regional competitions in 2012/2013. Their “combat”
robot, also known as Thunder Bolt, is the creation of eight girls. Students learned about mechanical
engineering, including the creation of Computer Aided Design drawings. The team also learned how to
manufacture parts and gained skills in project management, mechanical troubleshooting, teamwork and risk
analysis.

The grant supported the Biospherics research project at Shaker Heights High School aimed at teaching
students how to work in teams to conduct biosphere research with possible ramifications for NASA missions.
Students designed a biosphere (a self-supporting and enclosed living environment) using engineering
principles to show how inhabitants of a future biosphere on the Moon or Mars would fulfill their need for
water, air, food, structure, energy, communications, entertainment and more.

At Design Lab Early College High School in Cleveland students experienced the engineering cycle and applied
physics concepts learned in their classes. Approximately 300 students, in four grade levels, worked in teams
to assemble circuits and eventually create rollerbots that will then be utilized in a competition. Teachers
from the school were aided by George Thomas, Electrical Engineering Master’s degree candidate at CSU.
On and Off Campus
Fenn Academy Activities—July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015
Engineering staff, faculty and students gave engineering presentations to local high school and middle school
students throughout the year, both on and off campus. The following list shows how many students were
reached during this academic year. Routine follow-up was done with all students using email, Facebook, Twitter,
postcards and telephone calls.
ACE Program
Avon High School
Beachwood High School
Beaumont School
Boys and Girls Club
Cleveland Clinic Pathway Program
College Now Greater Cleveland
Cuyahoga Falls High School
Ellet High School (Akron)
Engineer For A Day
Euclid High School
Fall Open House
First Robotics
Great Lakes Science Center Fair
Individual Student/Parent Visits
John F. Kennedy High School
John Hay High School
Junior Day
Lakewood High School
Lutheran West High School
Max Hayes High School
Midview High School
New Tech East High School
Orchard High School STEM Fair
Rocky River High School
Saint Joseph Academy
Shaker Heights High School
Shaw High School
Six District Educational Compact
Spring Break for Juniors
Spring Open House
Senior Scholars Day
Goodyear Career Day
Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School
Woodridge High School
80
38
9
7
6
9
22
84
36
77
35
30
6
12
26
10
12
32
20
11
35
48
55
12
53
25
160
59
54
18
50
13
12
36
13
Total . 1205
NASA Science on a sphere
This mesmerizing visualization system developed by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for NASA uses
computers and video projectors to display animated data on the
outside of a suspended, 6-foot diameter, white sphere. Four
strategically placed projectors work in unison to coat the sphere
with data such as "3-D surface of the Earth, Moon and Mars"
and "High energy X-ray."
Built as a vehicle for education and public outreach programs,
"Science on a Sphere" targets three audiences: walk in visitors
and scheduled event participants, students and
teachers participating in Engineering Activity
Day, and engineering students who use the
system as a platform for their Senior Design
project requirement.
The "Science on a Sphere" video library includes
a vast array of visualizations and animations, as
well as produced films.
205 students attended “Science on a Sphere”
presentations in CSU’s Michael Schwartz Library.
The Engineer For A Day Program
Since 1999, the Washkewicz College of Engineering has been coordinating the Engineer For A Day job shadowing
program for area high school students. Up to 100 students are selected to participate in the program annually.
Juniors and seniors are given first priority. Students are placed at up to 30 companies or engineering
organizations throughout Northeast Ohio.
During the application process
students are requested to provide
their
top
three
placement
preferences in the areas of civil/
environmental,
mechanical,
electrical/computer,
chemical/
biomedical
or
engineering
technology. Current engineering
students and staff then matched
students with engineers who
volunteered to spend a day with
the students during National
Engineers Week in February.
Students and parents attend a
Saturday orientation and open
house at CSU on a Saturday
morning prior to the shadowing
day. The open house enabled visitors to discover more about engineering requirements, available scholarships,
student activities, Co-operative Education, financial aid and student services.
Prior to the shadowing day, companies receive a printed guide that offers suggestions for how to make the
shadowing day an interesting experience. They are also provided with student’s contact information and
permission forms prior to a student’s visit.
Shadowing assignments are offered at both private and government based engineering organizations, including
the Cleveland Clinic, NASA Glenn Research Center, GM, Ford, Middough, Turner Construction, Lubrizol, Parker
Hannifin, First Energy, NALCO, ODOT, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, and many more. Additional
organizations are sought annually.
Employers are asked to keep the students on site for the length of a school day. They offer tours, hands-on
activities, video presentations, one-on-one discussions and useful information about the career paths of
participating engineering volunteers. In many cases, sponsoring organizations also provide lunch.
Students may also visit off-site projects like bridges or highway projects. Additional sites might include sewage
treatment plants, power plants, testing labs, medical facilities, auto assembly lines, data centers, design facilities,
and more. Visits inform the students about the wide range of available opportunities within each field. The
ability to work in teams is also emphasized.
For more information about the Engineer For A Day job shadowing program please contact Gregg Schoof,
Manager of Engineering Student Programs, at (216) 687-5272 or at g.schoof@csuohio.edu.
2015 Engineer For A Day Sponsoring Organizations
The 2015 Engineer For A Day Job Shadowing Program has provided opportunities for more than 80 students in
grades 9-12 to spend a day with volunteer engineering sponsors. Students come from 50 high schools in
Northeast Ohio. We thank all of the organizations, both public and private, as well as sponsoring engineers for
helping to prepare the next generation of engineering professionals.
Regency Construction Services, Inc., Robbins Company, Ohio Department of Transportation, Nordson
Corporation, NASA Glenn Research Center, CHA Consulting Inc, General Motors, AECOM, Turner Construction,
American Greetings, Cleveland Clinic, Lubrizol Corporation, Channel Products, Donley’s, Keithley Instruments,
Nalco, First Energy, Middough Inc., Parker Hannifin Corporation, Burgess and Niple.
Thanks to members of the Washkewicz College Visiting Committee who encouraged participation in the Engineer
For A Day job shadowing activity. We also gratefully acknowledge Lincoln Electric, Middough Inc., Lubrizol, and
the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District for their financial support for the 2015 Engineer For A Day orientation.
Special Thanks For Services and Partnerships
The Fenn Academy works closely with the following organizations in education and outreach activities:
Cleveland State University – College of Education and Human Services
Cleveland State University – Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs
Cleveland State University – Office of Admissions
Cleveland State University – OPSTEM/LSAMP
College Now Greater Cleveland & Upward Bound
Cuyahoga Community College
First Robotics
Goodyear Tire and Rubber – “Picture Yourself as an Engineer”
Lorain County Community College
Parma City Schools – “Full STEaM Ahead”
Project Lead the Way
The ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland
The American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)
The Cleveland Engineering Society (CES)
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD)
The Cleveland Technical Societies Council (CTSC)
The National Science Foundation (NSF)
The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
The Ohio Board of Regents (OBOR)
The Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN)
The Six District Educational Compact
The West Shore Career Technical Education District
VEX Robotics
We also thank students from the following engineering chapter organizations for
their support, including student shadowing, presentations, open houses and tours:
Engineers Without Borders
Eta Kappa Nu – Electrical Engineering Honor Society
Joint Engineering Council
Tau Beta Pi – The National Engineering Honor Society
The American Institute of Aerospace and Aeronautics
The American Institute of Chemical Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers
The Joint Engineering Council
The National Society of Black Engineers
The Society of Automotive Engineers
The Society of Hispanic and Professional
Engineers
The Society of Women Engineers
Thanks from educators and students
[My son] Mason has accepted his Provost Scholarship and will be enrolling this
fall. He plans on studying Computer Engineering. I want you to know that thus far
we’ve been very impressed with CSU’s focus on the student. This is our first child
entering college and while I certainly remember when I did it, it’s such a different
experience as a parent. Thank you for all of your efforts.
Dr. Jim Lloyd, Superintendent
Olmsted Falls City Schools
I will admit, when I signed up for the trip, I was only trying to get out of classes
for a day, but that trip actually had a big hand in helping me decide that I wanted to
go into engineering. That was the event that planted the seed in my mind that
would later blossom and end up helping to lead me here. Thank you for instilling in
me the excitement about math and science and engineering.
Christine U.
Rocky River High School Student
The experience was both fun and enlightening and allowed me to explore
engineering as a future career.
Billy V.
Villa Angela St. Joseph High School Student
Thank you for organizing the job shadowing at General Motors. I really enjoyed
my day and the experience.
Vincent R.
CVCC Engineering Program Student
Thank you so much for the grant. I greatly appreciated it because I really love
robotics and engineering.
Margaret S.
Beaumont School Student
Recognition of Engineering Faculty,
Staff & Student Support
Our faculty, staff and students make our community outreach possible and provide stimulating lessons that
engage visitors in fun, informative “hands on” activities. We also thank others at CSU for their support.
Dr. Michael Adams
Mackenzie Albach
Dr. Charles Alexander
Serreta Archer
Rose Begalla
Dr. Joanne Belovich
Zakaria Benmerzouga
Ranjeet Bomman
Kevin Candow
Duane Crockrom
Dr. Pong Chu
Akshata Datar
Dr. Norbert Delatte
Dr. Lili Dong
Sandra English
David Epperly
Dr. Zhiqiang Gao
Dr. Jorge Gatica
Firas Helou
Dr. Murad Hizlan
Dr. Nolan Holland
Joanne Hundt
Dr. Mounir Ibrahim
Dr. Jacqueline Jenkins
Dr. Anette Karlsson
Annalise Kelleher
Becky Laird
Vesniana Liskovich
Meghan McCarthy
Anaamika Maddipati
Ankur Mantri
Katy Marshall
Brianna McKinney
Zack Nichols
Lachen Parks
Paul Pawlaczyk
Christopher Pestak
Ryan Polder
Special thanks to all Engineering Student Chapter Organizations.
2014/2015 FUNDING PROVIDERS:
Lubrizol Corporation
Middough Inc.
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Lincoln Electric Company
Goutham Rao Punagoti
Dr. Majid Rashidi
LaQuita Rouse-Germany
Carly Schaaf
Gregg Schoof
Dr. Dhananjai Shah
Dr. Eric Schearer
Dr. Dan Simon
Dr. Nigamanth Sridhar
Dr. Ana Stankovic
Diane Tupa
Dr. Ton van den Bogert
Danielle Vath
Dr. Eugenio Villaseca
Jim Watson
Dr. Woodrow Whitlow
Audrey Wiggins
Dr. Fuqin Xiong
Dr. Chansu Yu
Support Fenn Academy
Fenn Academy relies on donations from corporations,
foundations, alumni and individuals to conduct yearround outreach and programming and to offer
student scholarships to attend CSU’s Washkewicz
College of Engineering.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to
the Cleveland State University Foundation. Gifts of
all amounts are greatly appreciated to support the
operation of Fenn Academy. Named scholarships
require an annual donation of at least $5,000 and are
a great opportunity for individuals or companies to
have a lasting impact on current and future
engineering students.
Membership AND DONATIONS
To discuss Fenn Academy activities and membership,
please contact:
Gregg Schoof
Manager of Engineering Student Programs
Washkewicz College of Engineering
Cleveland State University
216.687.5272
g.schoof@csuohio.edu
To discuss making a donation to Fenn Academy,
please contact:
Paul Pawlaczyk
Director of Advancement
Learn more about Fenn Academy at
www.csuohio.edu/fennacademy
Washkewicz College of Engineering
Additional information about the Washkewicz
College of Engineering may be found at
Cleveland State University
www.csuohio.edu/engineering
216.687.5522
p.pawlaczyk@csuohio.edu
Editor: Gregg Schoof
Asst. Editor: Audrey Wiggins
Designers: Ankur Mantri, Brianna McKinney
2121 Euclid Avenue, FH 104
Cleveland, ohio 44115-2214
Csuohio.edu/engineering
Cleveland State University is an Equal Opportunity Educator and employer