Torch, Fall 2004

Annual Cardboard Canoe Race Entertains Crowd O n October 1, Cedarville University freshman engineering students showcased their design skills in the 11th annual Elmer W. Engstrom Department of Engineering’s Cardboard Canoe Race. More than 30 teams of students designed and built canoes entirely from coated cardboard (the same cardboard used in canned soda packaging) and packaging tape. Each craft was launched from one end of Cedar Lake and paddled by two of its designers in a zigzag course to the other side. A third person acted as “baggage” in the canoe to make the race more challenging. This year’s winning canoe, the Moby Richard , was propelled across the lake by John Stefan and Justin Wells in just two minutes and nine seconds. Wells explained, “Our design was created to be long and big to displace enough water without sinking a lot. This way we could glide across the top of the water to victory.” The Cedarville Cup phase of the contest encouraged non-engineering students to compete as representatives of their respective departments. This year’s department of science and mathematics team took home the traveling trophy. Matthew Abraham and Evan Chiu paddled The Enquirer to the finish line in two minutes and 54 seconds. All teams which successfully crossed the lake were eligible to participate in the grand finale: the demolition derby. The last team with their canoe floating — The Boxen , paddled by Zack Flower and Jeremy Miller — was declared “King of the Lake.” Engineering Groundbreaking G round has been broken for the new Engineering Project Building, which will be constructed just to the west of the Engineering, Nursing, Science Center. The new facility will provide much-needed space for engineering students to conduct research and build competition projects. The 8,800 square-foot building is scheduled to open the first week of February 2005. Participants in the groundbreaking were (L to R) Bob Rohm, vice president for Christian ministries; Dave Ormsbee, vice president for advancement; John Anglea, vice president for business; Dr. Duane Wood, academic vice president; Dr. Bill Brown, president; Dr. Larry Zavodney, chair of the Elmer W. Engstrom Department of Engineering; and Dr. Stanley Baczek, dean of the School of Engineering, Nursing, and Science. Fall 2004 / TORCH 17 CU Leads Hurricane Relief Drive R honda Traylor remembers what it was like to live in Homestead, Fla., after Hurricane Andrew plowed through in 1992. She’s now at Cedarville University as an administrative assistant in the department of nursing, but the memory of those desperate times in Homestead were vivid enough to spur her to do something for this season’s hurricane victims. She had plenty of help. Traylor joined with co-worker Lois Cross and Cedarville University’s Christian Nurses Association chapter, Social Work Club, Student Government Association, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate a relief drive from the Miami Valley. Their efforts produced more than 13,000 pounds of food and supplies for the hurricane victims in Pensacola, Fla. Approximately 45 students, faculty, and staff members came to help load the donation truck, including members of Delta Omega Epsilon, a Cedarville University men’s service organization. Sophomore nursing major Susan Bosworth was a key leader in the donation drive. The Santa Clarita, Calif., resident stated, “We say we pray for the hurricane victims, but this drive was a way to physically, tangibly help. It’s neat to see how we can be involved in the lives of people in Florida.” Traylor concluded, “God has truly blessed us all, and what a joy it is to share that blessing. … [The drive] was a wonderful effort, and we just wanted to help the people in Florida.”