March 2013 - Lehigh Valley PSPE

xValley Engineer Newsletter
March, 2013
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
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March 12, “PA/NJ Sustainability
Symposium”, Temple University,
Philadelphia
March 13, Stormwater BMP
Webinar/Follett Corporation Tour
Easton, PA
April 5-7 PSPE Boot Camp East, King
of Prussia, PA. http://pspe.org/
April 9, tour of the Gambit Center,
DeSales University
May 9, LVPSPE Annual Meeting and
Installation of Officers.
MATHCOUNTS 2013 WINNERSOREFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL TOP
TEAM, YOGESHWAR VELINGKER
THREE-TIME WINNER
Francee Fuller
Barry Isett & Associates, Inc.
For the 29th year, the Lehigh Valley Chapter,
Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers hosted the Lehigh Valley MATHCOUNTS ®
Regional Competition at Trexler Middle
School in Allentown on Sunday, February 10.
Orefield Middle School, coached by Brian
Fulmer, was the top ranking team of the 30
schools that participated. The team, along
with the top four individual finishers, will
advance to the state competition at the
Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel held on
March 22 and 23 in the national “Olympics of
Math”, organized by the National Society of
Professional Engineers in association with
several other organizations. The Lehigh
Valley Chapter will pay the registration and
hotels costs for the competitors and their
coaches.
For the third year in a row, Yogeshwar
Velingker, an 8th grade student at Orefield
Middle School was the individual winner. This
is a young man who knows his math! As a
6th grader in 2011, Yogeshwar placed first;
he won the regional competition again in
2012, and went on to win first place at the
state championship and won the right to
compete on the national level.
Valley Engineer 2013
Yogeshwar, along with second place finisher,
Alexander High, an 8th grader from East Hills
Middle School, third place winner Michael
Medaugh, an 8th grade student at Pocono Mt.
East Junior High School, and fourth place
winner, Daniel Qian, an 8th grader from
Southern Lehigh Middle School, have earned
the right to move on to the state level
competition.
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Southern Lehigh Middle School, coached by
Jamie Nattress, was the second highest ranking team and Springhouse Middle School,
coached by Kevin Hallman, placed third.
Other high-ranking teams were: East Hills
Middle School fourth; Lower Macungie Middle
School, fifth, and Pocono Mountain East,
sixth. St. Ann School, Emmaus, was named
the “most improved”,
Sixth place –Aryaman Khandelwal, 7th
grade, Springhouse Middle School.
Seventh place- Matthew Liu, 6th grade,
Springhouse Middle School.
Eighth place- Alana Dee, 8th grade, St.
Joseph the Worker.
Ninth place –Shaumik Phadke, an 8th
grade, Springhouse Middle School.
Tenth place- Jereme Chien, an 8th
grade, Lower Macungie Middle School.
In addition to Alana Dee, top ranking girls
were Sarah Mackin, an 8th grader at Southern Lehigh Middle School and Sandhya
Sriaam, a 7th grader at Eyer Middle School.
The four top Pennsylvania winners will go to
Washington, D.C. in May to vie for national
honors. Almost 6,000 schools nationwide
participate in the competition, co-sponsored
by the National Society of Professional Engineers, the National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics, and a host of industries that
see the importance of making math excellence challenging, exciting, and prestigious.
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The students spent the morning taking a
series of tests that featured questions such
as:
The product of three consecutive odd integers is 9177. What is the sum of these three
integers? (63)
Draw a pentagon with each of its five diagonals. How many triangles are contained in
the figure? (35.)
Do not wear courtesy as a watch, to be
taken out now and then when you want to
impress people. Be courteous always,
wherever you go, with whomever you
happen to be.
-Sister Mary Mercedes
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Individual and team tests were held in the
morning. The afternoon session featured the
top ten ranking individuals in a “Jeopardy”
like stage competition to determine final ranking. The top 10 individuals were:
If I had known I was going to live this long, I
would have taken much better care of
myself.
-Dr. August Polinske, on the occasion of his
70th Birthday
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First Place - Yogeshwar Velingker, 8th
grade, Orefield Middle School.
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Second Place – Alexander High, 8th
grade, East Hills Middle School.
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Third place – Michael Medaugh, 8th
grade, Pocono Mountain East Middle School.
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Fourth place –Daniel Qian, 8th grade,
Southern Lehigh Middle School.
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Fifth place – Sai Mallipedhi, 8th grade,
Springhouse Middle School.
Human beings, who are almost unique in
having the ability to learn from the
experience of others, are also remarkable for
their apparent disinclination to do so.
-From the Sedona Excentric, June 1998
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Valley Engineer 2013
reducing forces on any single element.
Also, special requests by the client have to
be accommodated, such as a building with
no outside columns.
Engineer’s Week Banquet 2013
Friday, February 22
Alfred Gruenke, PE
The Lehigh Valley Engineering Council
celebrated the 33rd Annual Engineer’s Week
Banquet at the Holiday Inn® Hotel Allentown
- I-78, culminating a week of activities and
celebrations in the Lehigh Valley Engineering
community. The venue again displayed the
hospitality for which it has become famous
Besides innovative building designs, Mr.
Sarkesian also espouses unique building
materials that will lighten and strengthen
the structure, and improve insulation characteristics. The “carbon footprint” of the building itself, and the construction, are always
a consideration.
Chairman Chris Blechsmidt welcomed over
150 Engineers, guests, and students in
recognition of our finest.
He is the author of “Designing Tall Buildings
– Structure as Architecture” He holds four
U.S. Patents for high-performance seismic
structural mechanisms designed to protect
buildings in areas of high seismic activity.
The highlight of the evening was the presenting of awards to the best and the brightest
of our profession; Dwayne Schantz PE as
Engineer of the Year, and Brianne Wilburne
EIT as Young Engineer of the Year. Other
awards were to Bill Erdman as the Lehigh
Valley Section, ASCE Engineer of the Year.
Ben Guthrie presented the Outstanding Civil
Engineering Achievement Award for a dam in
East Stroudsburg to James Phillips and Roger
DeLarco, who representing the Borough of
East Stroudsburg.
The presentation qualified for 1 PDH for
Pennsylvania and New York.
------------------------------------------------I’m generally seen as the father of the
Mustang, although, as with any success,
there were plenty of people willing to take
the credit. A stranger asking around
Dearborn for people who were connected
with the Edsel would be like old Diogenes
with his lantern searching for an honest
man. On the other hand, so many people
have claimed to be the father of the
Mustang, I wouldn’t want to be seen in
public with the mother!
- “IACOCCA, AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY”, by Lee
Iacocca
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Mark Sarkisian, P.E., S.E., LEED was the
speaker of the evening. Mr. Sarkisian is the
Director of Seismic and Structural Engineering in the San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. He provided the
audience with an insight into the world of
large structure designs. He presented a
number of very futuristic buildings from
around the world with which he was involved.
He has much to be modest about.
-Winston Churchill
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Many of these structures are in earthquake
prone areas, which naturally presents a
series of unique challenges to the engineer.
Mr. Sarkisian stressed that a building is
designed to last for generations, thus the
design, from the foundation up, has to be
analyzed. Computer modeling is used to
divide the forces into smaller segments,
He spends too much time wading in the
shallow end of a think tank.
-Anonymous
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Valley Engineer 2013
2012 – 2013 LVPSPE
SCHOLARSHIP DONORS
SCHOLARSHIP
SPONSORS
Please Contact the Valley Engineer Editor to
sponsor scholarships for the remainder of the
calendar year.
Graduate
FLSmidth Inc.
Bethlehem, PA
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc
Coopersburg, PA
SCHOLARSHIP – THE GIFT THAT
LASTS A LIFETIME
A great way to be involved in the LVPSPE Chapter
is to contribute to the
Senior
The Pidcock Company
Allentown, PA
SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND.
Junior
The Scholarship Committee is continually seeking
contributions to the Fund. If you would like to
contribute in any amount –please see the
attached form and on the PSPE website at Lehigh
Valley Chapter link –
http://www.pspe.org/scholarships
Please write your TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation to
“Pennsylvania Engineering Foundation” or “PEF”.
Donations should be mailed to:
Roger A. Miller, P.E.
301 Old Orchard Drive
Easton, PA 18045
Please note “LVPSPE Scholarship Fund” on the
comment line.
Staffeld Engineering Services
Center Valley, PA
DME Alliance Inc.
Allentown, Pa.
Hanover Engineering Associates
Bethlehem, Pa.
Barry Isett & Associates
Trexlertown, Pa.
Sophomore
Kohn Engineering
Macungie, PA
Civil & Forensic Engineering
Bethlehem, PA
Monarch Precast Concrete Corporation
Allentown, PA
McTish, Kunkle & Associates
Allentown, Pa
Keystone Consulting Engineers
Bethlehem, Wescosville, Kresgeville,
Newton Engineering
Allentown, Pa.
J AND P Engineers, P.A.
Bethlehem, Pa.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Pennsylvania Engineering Foundation
currently administers the following scholarships
for engineering students:
Undergraduate
 $2,000 PEF Grant
 $1,000 Harrisburg Chapter PSPE Grant
 $1,000 Professional Engineers in Private
Practice Grant
Upperclassman
 $2,000 Pennsylvania Engineering Foundation
Grant
Freshman
Applications and guidelines are on-line now at
http://www.pspe.org/scholarships
Any questions regarding scholarships can be
directed to
Alex Dezubay, PE
609-577-0714
Scholarship@LVPSPE.org
Sungard Public Sector. Inc.
Bethlehem, PA
Express Business Center
Trexlertown, Pa.
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Sungard Public Sector. Inc.
Bethlehem, PA
EBCLV.com _ come visit us at
EBC for all your
Design/Print/Finish/Mail
needs
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Internet Addresses
2012–2013 Chapter Officers
National Society of Professional
Engineers
www.NSPE.org
Pennsylvania Society of Professional
Engineers
www.PSPE.org
Lehigh Valley Chapter – PSPE
www.LVPSPE.org
President:
Peter Staffeld, PhD, PE
President@LVPSPE.org
484-264-7885
President Elect:
Kevin Campbell, PE
PresidentElect@LVPSPE.org
610-398-0904
Vice President:
Alfred Gruenke, PE
VicePresident@LVPSPE.org
610-393-6561
Secretary:
Chris Williams, PE
Secretary@LVPSPE.org
610-398-0904
Treasurer:
Ray Szczucki, PE
Treasurer@LVPSPE.org
610-614-1245
2012 – 2013 State Officers
State Director
Angelika Forndran, PE
StateDirector@LVPSPE.org
215-536-1582
Alt. State Director
Joseph B. McCarthey PE
AltStateDirector@LVPSPE.org
610-868-8492
Immediate Past President:
Alan Fornwalt, PE
PastPresident@LVPSPE.org
VP Northeast:
Eric Tappert, PE
StateVP@LVPSPE.org
610-282-4606
Board of Direction Meetings
The monthly Board of Direction meetings are
6:00 PM on the second (2nd) Monday of
each month. Open to all members they are
held at DeSales University Hurd Science
Center 2nd Floor.
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Chapter Directors:
Don Kohn, PE
Directors@LVPSPE.org
610-967-4766
Cheryl Rishcoff, PE
Directors@LVPSPE.org
888-524-4972
Roger Miller, PE
Directors@LVPSPE.org
330-904-6652.
Nicole Gasda, PE
Directors@LVPSPE.org
215-536-7075
Al Dezubay, PE
Directors@LVPSPE.org
609-577-0714
Valley Engineer 2013
LEHIGH VALLEY CHAPTER
2013 MATHCOUNTS
CONTRIBUTORS
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Civil, Municipal, Environmental, Transportation,
Structural, Surveying, Planning, Utility Permitting
252 Brodhead Road, Suite 100, Bethlehem, PA 18017
610.691.5644 · Fax 610.691.6968
www.hanovereng.com
Additional Offices located in Allentown, Poconos,
Lancaster-Lebanon, Elizabethtown, Towanda, and Wellsboro
in Pennsylvania, and Canton Ohio
Valley Engineer 2013
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Lehigh Valley Chapter
Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers
Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe and Carbon Counties
MINUTES FOR THE FEBRUARY 11, 2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
At 230 Hurd Science Center, DeSales University, Center Valley, PA
Attendees: Peter Staffeld, Roger Miller, Al Dezubay, Kevin Campbell, Angelika Forndran, Don
Kohn, Al Gruenke and Chris Williams
I. Call to Order: Peter Staffeld called the meeting to order at 6:15 PM
II. President – Peter Staffeld
 Eweek Banquet (22-Feb-13)
o 72 individuals have signed up through the Chapter website so far.
o Chapter has 8 seats as part of the ‘Gold Sponsorship’. Two are provided to EOY
and two to YEOY.
 PayPal Account Update
o Account now has function to transfer money to Chapter bank account.
 Student Chapters at Lehigh and Lafayette – no report
 Scholarship Application Update – Al Dezubay
o Al has coordinated with many local high schools and received responses from
several.
o Peter has updated the previous scholarship application to a new PDF version
which can be edited by each applicant. New version is posted on Chapter
website.
III.Program Committee – Kevin Campbell
 February: Mathcounts (9-Feb-13)
o Don thanked Kevin Campbell and Chris Williams for doing a great job
organizing Mathcounts.
o Kevin provided an updated budget for the event, showing that expenses were
nearly the same for 2011, 2012 and 2013. After factoring in donations, the
final budget resulted in a surplus of approximately $500.
o Don made a motion that the Chapter donate the surplus funds to the State
Mathcounts competition. Roger seconded the motion and all were in favor.
 February: Eweek Banquet (22-Feb-13) – see above in Section II
 March: Stormwater Webinar & Follett Tour
o Chapter can join DVGBC’s PDH session and tour of Follett Corporation in
Easton. Webinar involves stormwater ‘best management practices’.
 April: Just Born tour
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Kevin has contacted Just Born regarding a possible facility tour. However,
they may be too busy for us with Peep season approaching.
May: Annual Meeting & Installment of Officers (9-May-13)
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IV. Valley Engineer – Al Gruenke
 Latest issues should be out shortly. Advertisements have been updated to reflect
latest donors.
V. Treasurer – Ray Szczucki.
 No report.
VI. State Director – Angelika Forndran
 Upcoming State meeting on January 19th.
 Legislative Day is being planned. Engineers will have the opportunity to meet with
State Legislature.
 Regional annual conference with PDH sessions in Hershey coming up.
 State is considering keeping its own membership database instead of relying on
database from PSPE.
VII.
Past President – Alan Fornwalt
 No report.
VIII. Old Business
 Membership – no report
IX. New Business
 Ballot for Bylaws Amendment
o Most of ballots and envelopes were prepared prior to 2/11/2013 meeting.
o Peter will mail all ballots shortly.
X. Adjournment at 6:49 PM on a motion by Don, seconded by Angelika. All were in favor.
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