Theta Tau Educational Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Theta Tau
Executive Council determined that the establishment of the Theta Tau Educational Foundation would enable members of the Fraternity to work together in support of those who have the skills and discipline to create technical marvels; those who are best able to solve complex problems of critical importance to our planet; those leaders, coordinators, organizers who effectively work with others; those who have a solid ethical foundation that serves them well in making the important decisions required of those with responsibility.
With the assistance of the Foundation, Theta Tau
chapters are being recognized on their campuses for helping recruit high school students for the engineering school; welcoming and orienting new students to their campus; leading engineering or university student government and other organizations; tutoring underclassmen in core subjects; helping instructors with research projects; working with administrators, faculty, and other student groups to further the educational mission of the engineering school; setting high standards of scholarship and academic achievement for others to follow.
The Theta Tau Educational Foundation can achieve all this and more. The Foundation will promote education and training for leadership, teamwork, professionalism, responsibility, decision-making skills, and development of others.
The Foundation sponsored the Fraternity’s first Leadership Academy in 1999 replacing the National Conferences held in odd-numbered years since 1983.
The Foundation created the Second Century Society in the summer of 2001 to recognize those alumni who remember Theta Tau in their estate plans. In 2004, the Theta Tau Educational Foundation endowed its first named/permanent fund in honor of George P. Kalv, Gamma Beta ’47. In 2007, the Iota Beta permanent fund was established by the Theta Tau Educational Foundation as a result of the sale of the Iota Beta chapter house on McNichols in Detroit. In 2008, the Simon Ramo, Lambda '33, scholarship fund was established followed in 2010 by the Robert L. Miller, Οmicron '41, and William S. Johnson, Rho '42, scholarship funds.
In addition to scholarships, the Educational Foundation has graduated over 1,000 student members from its signature leadership academy training based on the Kouzes-Posner Leadership Challenge model.
At the 2009 Leadership Academy in St. Louis, the Alumni Hall of Fame inducted its 100th honoree.
is sponsored by the Theta Tau Educational Foundation with financial support from Dell Computer and other sponsors. Local contests are held at various universities throughout the country, and local winners are eligible to compete in the national contest. The national contest is administered by Phi Chapter and held near Purdue University
in West Lafayette, Indiana
. The 2006 national contest will be held April 1 with the task of cutting or shredding into strips 5 sheets of 8.5" x 11" 20 lb paper individually with a shredder in 20 or more steps. Visit RubeMachine.com for more information.
to enable them to continue their engineering education. The recipients are selected on the basis of their academic achievements, their participation in campus and community activities, and/or on financial need. Theta Tau
's goals of assisting our Brothers and recognizing and fostering high academic achievement among members is strengthened through this program.
Theta Tau
ΘΤ Fraternity was founded in 1904 by four engineering students at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. As defined by the fraternity, the purpose of Theta Tau is to develop and maintain a high standard of professional interest among its members, and to unite them in a strong bond of...
Executive Council determined that the establishment of the Theta Tau Educational Foundation would enable members of the Fraternity to work together in support of those who have the skills and discipline to create technical marvels; those who are best able to solve complex problems of critical importance to our planet; those leaders, coordinators, organizers who effectively work with others; those who have a solid ethical foundation that serves them well in making the important decisions required of those with responsibility.
With the assistance of the Foundation, Theta Tau
Theta Tau
ΘΤ Fraternity was founded in 1904 by four engineering students at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. As defined by the fraternity, the purpose of Theta Tau is to develop and maintain a high standard of professional interest among its members, and to unite them in a strong bond of...
chapters are being recognized on their campuses for helping recruit high school students for the engineering school; welcoming and orienting new students to their campus; leading engineering or university student government and other organizations; tutoring underclassmen in core subjects; helping instructors with research projects; working with administrators, faculty, and other student groups to further the educational mission of the engineering school; setting high standards of scholarship and academic achievement for others to follow.
The Theta Tau Educational Foundation can achieve all this and more. The Foundation will promote education and training for leadership, teamwork, professionalism, responsibility, decision-making skills, and development of others.
Foundation History
In 1998, the Theta Tau Executive Council determined that the establishment of the Theta Tau Educational Foundation would enable members of the Fraternity to work together in support of those who have the skills and discipline to create technical marvels; those who are best able to solve complex problems of critical importance to our planet; those leaders, coordinators, organizers who effectively work with others; those who have a solid ethical foundation that serves them well in making the important decisions required of those with responsibility.The Foundation sponsored the Fraternity’s first Leadership Academy in 1999 replacing the National Conferences held in odd-numbered years since 1983.
The Foundation created the Second Century Society in the summer of 2001 to recognize those alumni who remember Theta Tau in their estate plans. In 2004, the Theta Tau Educational Foundation endowed its first named/permanent fund in honor of George P. Kalv, Gamma Beta ’47. In 2007, the Iota Beta permanent fund was established by the Theta Tau Educational Foundation as a result of the sale of the Iota Beta chapter house on McNichols in Detroit. In 2008, the Simon Ramo, Lambda '33, scholarship fund was established followed in 2010 by the Robert L. Miller, Οmicron '41, and William S. Johnson, Rho '42, scholarship funds.
In addition to scholarships, the Educational Foundation has graduated over 1,000 student members from its signature leadership academy training based on the Kouzes-Posner Leadership Challenge model.
At the 2009 Leadership Academy in St. Louis, the Alumni Hall of Fame inducted its 100th honoree.
Accomplishments of the Foundation
- To provide student scholarships (including named, memorial, academic, need-based, or based on other desirable characteristics)
- Host a biannual, high-quality Theta Tau National Leadership Conference encouraging high attendance of student members from every chapter
- Encourage excellence through the continued operation of the Theta Tau Alumni Hall of Fame
- To increase availability of housing loans for chapters and their house corporations
- Assist chapters that desire to make educational improvements to their chapter houses
As the Foundation resources grow
- Traveling National Leadership Trainers will visit chapters enabling more students to gain through participation in presentations, workshops, and projects to develop their professional and leadership capabilities
- Attendance at the National Leadership Conference will be made more affordable for all student members through Foundation financial support
- Use of Foundation funding for nationally recognized "outside" speakers and for "named" lecture series
Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
Rube Goldberg Machine ContestRube Goldberg Machine Contest
The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest is a contest that seeks to be "a way of helping students transcend traditional ways of looking at problems", by using a challenge that "must be completed in as creative a way as possible"...
is sponsored by the Theta Tau Educational Foundation with financial support from Dell Computer and other sponsors. Local contests are held at various universities throughout the country, and local winners are eligible to compete in the national contest. The national contest is administered by Phi Chapter and held near Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
in West Lafayette, Indiana
West Lafayette, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 29,596 people, 12,591 households, and 3,588 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,381.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 74.3% White, 17.3% Asian, 2.7% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.03% Pacific...
. The 2006 national contest will be held April 1 with the task of cutting or shredding into strips 5 sheets of 8.5" x 11" 20 lb paper individually with a shredder in 20 or more steps. Visit RubeMachine.com for more information.
Theta Tau Educational Foundation Scholarship Program
The Theta Tau Educational Foundation Scholarship Program has been established and regularly awards scholarships to student members of Theta TauTheta Tau
ΘΤ Fraternity was founded in 1904 by four engineering students at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. As defined by the fraternity, the purpose of Theta Tau is to develop and maintain a high standard of professional interest among its members, and to unite them in a strong bond of...
to enable them to continue their engineering education. The recipients are selected on the basis of their academic achievements, their participation in campus and community activities, and/or on financial need. Theta Tau
Theta Tau
ΘΤ Fraternity was founded in 1904 by four engineering students at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. As defined by the fraternity, the purpose of Theta Tau is to develop and maintain a high standard of professional interest among its members, and to unite them in a strong bond of...
's goals of assisting our Brothers and recognizing and fostering high academic achievement among members is strengthened through this program.
Board of directors
- Janice L. Wiitala, Omicron '90,
- Jeffery S. Blake, Epsilon Beta '88
- Mark R. Janssen, Omega '88
- Brad S. Besmer, Omega '86
- Lee C. Haas, Rho '62