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↓ Pursuing the next dream ↓ Prof. Kudos

Alumni Bolts

Lifelong Learning

Sgt. Maj. Jeff Aldrich has a lifetime of military experience, but hopes for another experience, the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, in December–holding his bachelor′s degree in criminal justice in his hand.

With Trine Virtual Campus (TVC) on his side, he is well on his way to realizing that dream. The highly decorated soldier from Pleasant Lake, Ind. has served the Army since age 17 — in Kuwait, Panama, Iraq and Korea. Among the over 20 military awards pinned to his jacket are the prized Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for an injury sustained in Iraq. Now five weeks away from the date he can request retirement, he values the relationship established with Trine two years ago when he took advantage of the university′s online scholarships for Iraqi and Afghanistan war veterans.

Transferring credits from four universities and his military schools, he began his criminal justice degree at Trine. "Trine North Director Dave Wagner took all the credits I had, and told me what I needed to do to become a student," he said. Trine chipped in 24 semester hours on scholarship.

The online advantage has clearly aided Aldrich. "It helped me tremendously, because I travel all the time, and if I had to show up for live classes twice a week, I would have missed a lot of classes. If it hadn′t been for the online courses, I wouldn′t be graduating when I am," he said.

With Trine financial aid from several sources and help with transfer credits, Aldrich is on course to graduate on schedule. "We are pulling all the details together and wrapping it up for him," Wagner said. Aldrich may move into the new School of Professional Studies criminal justice master′s program after his military retirement in a year.

To show his gratitude, he helps out with football practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays. "I love Trine, and the football team has been a great experience for me," he said. "It′s another dream–an extra one."

Kudos to profs

We are proud of the following accomplishments by our talented faculty members:

• Dr. Dolores Tichenor, Assistant Vice President of Study Abroad, Director of Institutional Planning and Development and professor of mathematics chaired a National Science Foundation panel, "Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics" Nov. 4–6, directing discussion on proposals and leadership.



• Dr. Pavan K. Karra, an assistant professor in mechatronics, dynamics and control systems for the Wade Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, earned the Spring 2009 Research Excellence Award as a University of Iowa graduate student.



• Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. David Finley, engineering technology professor Tom Trusty and Allen School of Engineering & Technology Dean VK Sharma presented "Project Lead the Way and New Tech High School Initiatives at Trine University" at the American Society of Electrical Engineering North Midwest Section Conference at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. on Oct. 9. The presentation was well received by peer engineering educators from Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa, who were intrigued to learn of Trine′s novel K–12 outreach efforts.

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