More than 20 students from the Roy and Marcia Armes Engineering Leadership Institute (ELI) recently embarked on an educational journey to Austria, Slovenia and Italy to learn more about the operations and sustainable practices of a variety of European businesses.
Trip highlights included:
Among the highlights of the Roy and Marcia Armes Engineering Leadership Institute members’ recent trip to Europe was a visit to Vienna’s famed Schönbrunn Palace.
• A tour of the NKE Bearings facility in Steyr, Austria, to learn how the company produces, ships and ensures quality in their industrial bearings.
• A visit to the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna to learn about the International Atomic Energy Agency’s goals to ensure the safe, secure and peaceful use of atomic energy around the world.
• A guided cultural and infrastructure walking tour in Venice that discussed environmental concerns in the city and how engineers are working to protect Venice from sinking and flooding.
• Cultural aspects such as the tour of the Schönbrunn Palace and admiring Hundertwasser’s architecture throughout Vienna, exploring the oldest castle in Slovenia, taking a dip in the glacial lake in Bled, visiting a winery in the Italian countryside and riding in a gondola through the canals of Venice.
The 21 students were joined on the trip by the Dean of the College of Engineering, Dr. Mike Toole, who thanked the Armes for their support of training engineers to be leaders.
“I am so glad that Roy and Marcia Armes recognized the need for tomorrow’s engineering leaders to learn from seeing infrastructure and industry in other countries,” Toole said. “Special educational opportunities like this trip so often result from the transformative gifts of alumni and friends, and it was a joy to see these emerging leaders act as wonderful ambassadors for The University of Toledo throughout the trip. They were focused, courteous and eager to learn every hour of the day.”
Geoff Humphrys, interim co-director of the Shah Center for Engineering Career Development, served as the trip co-leader.
“The ELI Europe trip provided a unique opportunity for the students to experience leadership on a global platform,” Humphrys said. “This endeavor consisted of myriad activities including learning about sustainability in Europe; visiting a manufacturing company and networking with its leaders; being immersed into the culture of three countries via tours, food and exploration; and creating stronger bonds among members that will assist in nurturing the leadership potential of everyone.”
Gino Menard, a mechanical engineering student and ELI member said, “The trip was a great experience to see how other areas of the world operate differently than our everyday experiences in the United States. We went on multiple tours that gave us great connections into networking opportunities as well as an immersive experience of numerous cultures. From palaces in Vienna, Austria to dairy farms in the Alps of Slovenia we had a great time getting to know our hosts and one another while developing our leadership skills.”
The University of Toledo’s Roy and Marcia Armes Engineering Leadership Institute in the College of Engineering is committed to cultivating the leaders of tomorrow. Its purpose is to maximize members’ leadership potential and professionalism by creating opportunities for engineering students to network with industry leaders, as well as grow through engagement in professional development activities.
ELI was launched in 2009, catalyzed by the generous philanthropic support of Roy and Marcia Armes. Roy Armes is a 1975 graduate of the UToledo College of Engineering. ELI students and alumni leverage the skills they’ve learned in this organization to make significant societal impacts far and wide: from solving issues on the global mainstage to leading positive change in their local communities.
