Personal Growth Through Service Learning
Since 2007, Viking Expeditions (VE) has been helping CSU graduate and undergraduate students broaden their worldview through local, national and international service opportunities.
During spring break, 40 students participated in VE experiences. In Cuyahoga Valley National Park, they restored trails and helped with recreation programs. In Georgia’s Chattahoochee Valley, they renovated houses for those in need. And in Houston, they worked alongside social service agencies to aid residents who continue to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
Martin Barnard was one of those students. A sophomore double-majoring in film and music, he is president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, a Presidential Student Ambassador and a senator-at-large in the Student Government Association. He shares his firsthand account of his Viking Expedition.
I cannot put into words the amazement I experienced during my week in Houston. I have participated in several VE service trips before, but none of them made me feel as connected to my CSU volunteer group, to many different college students who came together to serve, or to a community that I was not familiar with.
Before the trip began, I was overwhelmed with stress from school, my involvements on campus, and the relationships in my life. When the week started, I didn’t want to meet new people and I didn’t know how much I was going to get out of the trip. But then I got to Houston and immediately stopped thinking of myself.
We were split into teams made up of student volunteers from Michigan, Texas and Alaska. We worked on restoring the outside of a house that had been flooded with four feet of water from Hurricane Harvey. Imagine losing your furniture, flooring, wall decorations, curtains, and personal items such as computers, books and old photos. The house was so bad that it really did not have a bottom half left to it.
We got to work on the siding and immediately ran into issues because the windows and doors were not framed correctly when the house was built. So a project that should have taken a few hours lasted two and a half days.
I spent the week housed at the Boys and Girls Club in Galveston, which is an hour out of Houston. We slept on American Red Cross cots, had to figure out a nifty shower situation, and were usually awake by 5 a.m. The program MADE you a volunteer at heart.
My challenge now is to not leave behind the lessons of that week. I want to bring my experiences to Cleveland and into my future profession. This VE experience made me reflect on my own life. I’ve found a much greater version of myself that I’m ready to share with the world.
Martin Barnard
Advancing Space Science and Exploration
Andrew Wimmer helped develop novel, high-temperature, nickel-based superalloys for use in future aerospace applications. Melanie Brunner assisted in the administration of a comprehensive database for national and international oversight of radio spectrum use. Santino Bianco worked on the concept design for an improved lander for surface exploration missions to Venus.
You might think it takes years of experience to get these types of opportunities, but these three actually worked on these projects as CSU students. They were part of CSU’s longstanding cooperative education and internship program with NASA’s John H. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
Wimmer’s 15-week internship was extended to a part-time contract, thanks to his central role in the implementation of 3D printing technology in the design and development of nickel-based superalloy parts for use in future aircraft.
During her internship, Brunner was tasked with cleaning up and improving the management of a database of regulatory approvals for radio spectrum use. Following graduation, she was hired as a NASA contractor to continue development and oversight of the system.
Bianco’s experience, working on design specifications and analysis for the Venus space lander, was nothing short of “mind blowing,” he says.
Also in This Issue...
Legacy of Leadership
President Ronald M. Berkman spearheaded tuition savings, campus expansion, new labs, research growth, record fundraising, and powerful partnerships — solidifying CSU's impact and student success vision.
Gateway to Engineering
CSU’s spectacular new northern gateway to campus, Donald E. Washkewicz Hall, provides enhanced educational and research opportunities for engineering students and faculty.
Ready to Lead
Harlan M. Sands, vice dean and chief financial officer of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, has been selected as the seventh president of Cleveland State University following a national search.
50 Years and Still Going Strong
Andrew Gross, professor of marketing and international business, has been a CSU faculty member since 1968. As he prepares to retire in June, he shares some reflections on his career.
A Message from the President
Outgoing President Ronald M. Berkman reflects on nine years of growth — new labs, film/media school, urban health programs — and thanks the CSU community for driving the university’s transformation.
Graduate Programs Among Nation’s Best
U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Graduate Schools guide features more than a dozen CSU programs, highlighting the University’s continued national rise.
Athletics
Four new members have been inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame — Sarah Galon, Christine Kohler Myeroff, Kristen Obush and Jake Scott.
The Internet of Things Collaborative
The Internet of Things (IoT) Collaborative between CSU and Case Western Reserve University has moved from planning to full launch with $1.75 million in funding from the Cleveland Foundation.
Law Explores New Frontiers
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law has launched several groundbreaking initiatives, including a Space Law Center and a Cybersecurity Center that takes a rare multidisciplinary approach integrating law, technology and business management.
Festival Filled with AHA! Moments
Books, theater, music, art, dance and ideas will again be celebrated during the Arts and Humanities Alive! (AHA!) Festival sponsored by CSU and Playhouse Square.
Faculty Highlights
CSU faculty across arts, sciences, engineering, education, and health are advancing research, teaching innovation, and community engagement — driving excellence across dozens of departments.
Partners in Scientific Progress
For close to a half-century, Cleveland State University and Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute have partnered to enhance medical and science education while helping to advance discovery in numerous disciplines. The Joint Doctoral Program Pa
Scholarships Make Dreams Come True
CSU’s annual Scholarship Luncheon brought together more than 400 individuals who have made personal gifts, as well as representatives of businesses and organizations that have supported scholarships, and the grateful students who received them.
Embrace Your Voice
Enlightened, entertained, informed, inspired and empowered. That’s how 300-plus participants felt following CSU’s fourth-annual Women’s Leadership Symposium, “Embrace Your Voice.”
Summit Advances Alumni Engagement
More than 100 representatives of some 40 organizations shared best practices, ideas and professional perspectives at the first-ever Northeast Ohio Summit on Alumni Engagement.
CSU on the Road
Passport Cleveland alumni tours in Northeast Ohio, plus engaging CSU2U events and alumni meet‑ups in FL, AZ — connecting Vikings through travel, learning, and connection.
CSU Salutes Outstanding Alumni
Graduates who are impacting their communities, the world and Cleveland State University in unique and creative ways were honored at the second-annual Alumni Recognition Awards. The event also saluted CSU’s third class of Fascinating Alumni.
Share the Love Month!
The Summer of 1967 was known as the Summer of Love. But at CSU, February 2018 was Share the Love month with special events to bring Vikings together. We’ll be sharing the love again next February!
Class Notes – Summer 2018
Legacy of Leadership
President Ronald M. Berkman spearheaded tuition savings, campus expansion, new labs, research growth, record fundraising, and powerful partnerships — solidifying CSU's impact and student success vision.
Ready to Lead
Harlan M. Sands, vice dean and chief financial officer of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, has been selected as the seventh president of Cleveland State University following a national search.
A Message from the President
Outgoing President Ronald M. Berkman reflects on nine years of growth — new labs, film/media school, urban health programs — and thanks the CSU community for driving the university’s transformation.
Athletics
Four new members have been inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame — Sarah Galon, Christine Kohler Myeroff, Kristen Obush and Jake Scott.
Law Explores New Frontiers
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law has launched several groundbreaking initiatives, including a Space Law Center and a Cybersecurity Center that takes a rare multidisciplinary approach integrating law, technology and business management.
Faculty Highlights
CSU faculty across arts, sciences, engineering, education, and health are advancing research, teaching innovation, and community engagement — driving excellence across dozens of departments.
Scholarships Make Dreams Come True
CSU’s annual Scholarship Luncheon brought together more than 400 individuals who have made personal gifts, as well as representatives of businesses and organizations that have supported scholarships, and the grateful students who received them.
Summit Advances Alumni Engagement
More than 100 representatives of some 40 organizations shared best practices, ideas and professional perspectives at the first-ever Northeast Ohio Summit on Alumni Engagement.
CSU Salutes Outstanding Alumni
Graduates who are impacting their communities, the world and Cleveland State University in unique and creative ways were honored at the second-annual Alumni Recognition Awards. The event also saluted CSU’s third class of Fascinating Alumni.
Class Notes – Summer 2018
Gateway to Engineering
CSU’s spectacular new northern gateway to campus, Donald E. Washkewicz Hall, provides enhanced educational and research opportunities for engineering students and faculty.
50 Years and Still Going Strong
Andrew Gross, professor of marketing and international business, has been a CSU faculty member since 1968. As he prepares to retire in June, he shares some reflections on his career.
Graduate Programs Among Nation’s Best
U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Graduate Schools guide features more than a dozen CSU programs, highlighting the University’s continued national rise.
The Internet of Things Collaborative
The Internet of Things (IoT) Collaborative between CSU and Case Western Reserve University has moved from planning to full launch with $1.75 million in funding from the Cleveland Foundation.
Festival Filled with AHA! Moments
Books, theater, music, art, dance and ideas will again be celebrated during the Arts and Humanities Alive! (AHA!) Festival sponsored by CSU and Playhouse Square.
Partners in Scientific Progress
For close to a half-century, Cleveland State University and Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute have partnered to enhance medical and science education while helping to advance discovery in numerous disciplines. The Joint Doctoral Program Pa
Embrace Your Voice
Enlightened, entertained, informed, inspired and empowered. That’s how 300-plus participants felt following CSU’s fourth-annual Women’s Leadership Symposium, “Embrace Your Voice.”
CSU on the Road
Passport Cleveland alumni tours in Northeast Ohio, plus engaging CSU2U events and alumni meet‑ups in FL, AZ — connecting Vikings through travel, learning, and connection.
Share the Love Month!
The Summer of 1967 was known as the Summer of Love. But at CSU, February 2018 was Share the Love month with special events to bring Vikings together. We’ll be sharing the love again next February!
Legacy of Leadership
President Ronald M. Berkman spearheaded tuition savings, campus expansion, new labs, research growth, record fundraising, and powerful partnerships — solidifying CSU's impact and student success vision.
50 Years and Still Going Strong
Andrew Gross, professor of marketing and international business, has been a CSU faculty member since 1968. As he prepares to retire in June, he shares some reflections on his career.
Athletics
Four new members have been inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame — Sarah Galon, Christine Kohler Myeroff, Kristen Obush and Jake Scott.
Festival Filled with AHA! Moments
Books, theater, music, art, dance and ideas will again be celebrated during the Arts and Humanities Alive! (AHA!) Festival sponsored by CSU and Playhouse Square.
Scholarships Make Dreams Come True
CSU’s annual Scholarship Luncheon brought together more than 400 individuals who have made personal gifts, as well as representatives of businesses and organizations that have supported scholarships, and the grateful students who received them.
CSU on the Road
Passport Cleveland alumni tours in Northeast Ohio, plus engaging CSU2U events and alumni meet‑ups in FL, AZ — connecting Vikings through travel, learning, and connection.
Class Notes – Summer 2018
Gateway to Engineering
CSU’s spectacular new northern gateway to campus, Donald E. Washkewicz Hall, provides enhanced educational and research opportunities for engineering students and faculty.
A Message from the President
Outgoing President Ronald M. Berkman reflects on nine years of growth — new labs, film/media school, urban health programs — and thanks the CSU community for driving the university’s transformation.
The Internet of Things Collaborative
The Internet of Things (IoT) Collaborative between CSU and Case Western Reserve University has moved from planning to full launch with $1.75 million in funding from the Cleveland Foundation.
Faculty Highlights
CSU faculty across arts, sciences, engineering, education, and health are advancing research, teaching innovation, and community engagement — driving excellence across dozens of departments.
Embrace Your Voice
Enlightened, entertained, informed, inspired and empowered. That’s how 300-plus participants felt following CSU’s fourth-annual Women’s Leadership Symposium, “Embrace Your Voice.”
CSU Salutes Outstanding Alumni
Graduates who are impacting their communities, the world and Cleveland State University in unique and creative ways were honored at the second-annual Alumni Recognition Awards. The event also saluted CSU’s third class of Fascinating Alumni.
Ready to Lead
Harlan M. Sands, vice dean and chief financial officer of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, has been selected as the seventh president of Cleveland State University following a national search.
Graduate Programs Among Nation’s Best
U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Graduate Schools guide features more than a dozen CSU programs, highlighting the University’s continued national rise.
Law Explores New Frontiers
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law has launched several groundbreaking initiatives, including a Space Law Center and a Cybersecurity Center that takes a rare multidisciplinary approach integrating law, technology and business management.
Partners in Scientific Progress
For close to a half-century, Cleveland State University and Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute have partnered to enhance medical and science education while helping to advance discovery in numerous disciplines. The Joint Doctoral Program Pa
Summit Advances Alumni Engagement
More than 100 representatives of some 40 organizations shared best practices, ideas and professional perspectives at the first-ever Northeast Ohio Summit on Alumni Engagement.
Share the Love Month!
The Summer of 1967 was known as the Summer of Love. But at CSU, February 2018 was Share the Love month with special events to bring Vikings together. We’ll be sharing the love again next February!