FORT WAYNE, IND. – Indiana Tech has been awarded a grant of $1.34 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund an innovative geothermal research project on the university’s Fort Wayne campus. Indiana Tech will partner with Fort Wayne-based WaterFurnace International, a world renowned manufacturer of ground source heat pumps and geothermal systems, to research an innovative 130-ton geothermal project using technology not yet available commercially and never implemented at this scale in the United States.

“This is such an important project, not only for our university, but for the United States and the world,” said Indiana Tech President Arthur E. Snyder. “WaterFurnace is pioneering technology that will make strides in alternative and renewable energy sources. To have our faculty and students working alongside them in this research is very exciting.”
 
Indiana Tech offers a bachelor’s degree in energy engineering, and professors and students in the program will work with WaterFurnace’s research and development scientists to monitor and test equipment and analyze the findings. The research results will help WaterFurnace further its development of geothermal products and processes, and data will be shared publicly to advance knowledge of the benefits of ground source heat pumps worldwide.

“We are developing innovative and cost effective compressor and control technologies, as well as a system that uses carbon dioxide as a refrigerant,” said WaterFurnace President and CEO Tom Huntington. “Coolant sources that have traditionally been used, like Freon, can be harmful to the environment, so this is an important step forward. Indiana Tech is the perfect university for us to work with to conduct research that can offer significant advances in the energy industry.”

The unique five-year project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The geothermal field will be connected to the university’s administration center, converting it from a gas-fired boiler system. The new energy source is integral to a larger renovation project for that building. Originally constructed in the 1850s, the building is being modernized with green technology to achieve silver certification from LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Other buildings on campus also will be connected to the new geothermal system.

“The geothermal field and the green renovation of the administration building will offer our engineering students a living laboratory to investigate cutting edge developments in alternative and renewable energy design with leaders in that field,” said Dave Aschliman, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences.

The project will be implemented immediately. Installation of the geothermal equipment is expected to begin in spring 2010.

Also involved in the geothermal system and building projects are the architectural firm, Viridian Architectural Design, and Primary Engineering, the mechanical and electrical engineers. Michael Kinder and Sons is the construction manager. 

The total cost of the geothermal project is $2.68 million. In keeping with governmental requirements, the university will contribute half of the total cost. The conversion to geothermal energy will result in increased energy efficiency on campus and ultimate cost savings.

In support of the Momentum: Accelerating Excellence comprehensive campaign, two local foundations have awarded substantial grants to Indiana Tech. The Ian and Miriam Rolland Foundation has made a pledge to the teacher education program, and the McMillen Foundation has made a commitment to the library.

The Rolland gift will provide for scholarships, as well as equipment, classroom materials, and other essentials for the university’s unique degrees in elementary education and physical education K-12. Through agreements with many public and private school corporations, Tech students majoring in education spend a minimum of 60 hours every semester working with students at the elementary, middle and high school levels. The Rolland Foundation funds will also provide computers for the education department.

The McMillen gift will supply the university’s library with additional state-of-the-art technology and new books for the physical collection. The grant will fund computers, online delivery methods such as video tutorials and live chats with librarians, and online databases in multiple disciplines. These resources will enable Tech students and professors to research the most recent developments in their fields. Through Internet access, Tech’s students at our 23 locations throughout Indiana, as well as our online students throughout the world, will be able to use these resources.

The commitments from the Rolland Foundation and the McMillen Foundation bring the total raised thus far in the campaign to $13 million of the $19 million goal.

Indiana Tech has been awarded a $375,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to sustain current initiatives and establish a new endeavor to retain graduates in the state of Indiana.

The new program, called the Career Leadership Institute, is a collaboration among the university’s Career Planning and Development Center, local businesses, schools, and community organizations. Three components of the program will be:

• A Career Exploration Camp to provide information on career and educational opportunities to middle school and high school students
• A speaker series to present career development topics to the campus and community
• A corporate council of local employers to serve as an advisory board to the Career Planning and Development Center and the university as a whole

The existing initiatives which will be supported by the grant include:

• Continuation of support for the Career Planning and Development Center
• Continuation of participation in the Graduate Retention Program of Northeast Indiana and the IndianaINTERN program
• Continuation of subsidies for student internships

In addition to the Endowment funding, Indiana Tech will contribute more than $400,000 toward the new and existing initiatives to support students in achieving fulfilling careers in the state of Indiana.

“With the support of Lilly Endowment, we can serve both our students and our community neighbors through career development programs,” said Dr. Arthur E. Snyder, Indiana Tech president. “Our mission defines Indiana Tech as career-focused, and programs like these are at the heart of that mission.”

The Endowment grant covers a four-year period from October 1, 2008 through October 31, 2012.

We would like to thank the following supporters of Indiana Tech for their faith in our vision for the future. These individuals constitute the campaign cabinet and will help guide us in our efforts to secure the financial resources to achieve our goals:

Donald and Doris Willis, Campaign Chairs, Fort Wayne, IN

James and Joan Bard, Bryan, OH

Simon and Donna Dragan, Fort Wayne, IN

Robert and Lois Gill, Boulder, CO

Dan and Nancy Kline, Fort Wayne, IN

Larry and Linda Lee, Fort Wayne, IN

Rear Adm. David and Carolyn Nash, Birmingham, AL

The Rev. Arnold Pierson, Chicago, IL

Robert and Elsa Wagner, Fort Wayne, IN

Heinz and Nanalee Wegener, Atlanta, GA

Indiana Tech is unique, and so is our fundraising campaign. Our campaign is focused not on bricks and mortar, but on hearts and minds. Our campaign is focused on our students.
The Momentum campaign embodies our vision for our university and our students. We aim to provide the challenges and resources that foster true education, both inspiring the drive to succeed and paving the road to success.

Momentum identifies key needs of programs, places, and people at Indiana Tech. Additional financial resources in these areas can have significant impact in changing the lives of our students.  Through support of academic program development, facility enhancements, and scholarships you can make a difference in these lives.
We are committed to continuously improving all that we offer.  However, you can help accelerate excellence by supporting Momentum. We promise to be good stewards of your gifts.

Thank you,

Dr. Arthur E. Snyder, President of Indiana Tech	Don Willis Momentum Campaign Chair