On Wednesday, March 26, Robert Prioli spoke to ASCE about Engineering Ministries International. EMI allows engineers to use their engineering skills on short-term mission trips. Prioli showed slides of his trips to Indonesia and Borneo.

The project in Indonesia was a surgical center to service one million people. Prioli was the structural engineer on the project. Working with him was an electrical engineer, architect, and a water engineer. This project is typical of the scale of projects, which EMI oversees.

Prioli explained that to work in a foreign country, you must immerse yourself in that country’s culture. Things like flushing toilets, hot showers, and paved roads are not part of life in much of the world. EMI opened his eyes to the real world and its people.

People interested in more information about EMI can contact Robert Priolo at (317) 872-8400 (work) or (317) 251-6365 (home).

When I was first told that I had to attend a lecture by Kevin Forbes, two thoughts went through my head: 1) I’m going to miss Physics Lab to hear some former Rose guy talk about being all you can be. Great, just my luck. 2) I wonder if I can sit in the back and catch up on some sleep?

It turned out that when I got there, the back was taken...by professors, go figure, and so I had to sit in the front row. My luck was getting better all the time. As I sit there contemplating how my afternoon could possibly get worse, the Moment editor James Tedrick asked me if I would be willing to write about the lecture. I reluctantly agreed to, and this is the result.

Kevin Forbes is a graduate of Rose-Hulman who has, over the 12 years since his graduation in 1985, been very successful. Most racing fans, at least here at Rose, can easily tell of his position at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His duties include managing the paving, the facility, and the racetrack. These duties do not really give justice to the accomplishments he has done since taking on the job of managing the world’s most notable racetrack. His most notable accomplishments in fact do not fit in these. In 1991, there was no literature on impact barriers. So Kevin had to research, design and construct impact barriers for racetracks. In 1992, there was no literature on how to design and build a safe racetrack. So Kevin studied and researched retaining walls. It ended up that he had to replace the old wall because it was unsafe. Kevin’s earlier jobs were quite impressive also. They involved the building of a new bank where he was responsible for design, construction and moving some three vaults and $100 million. He also designed and built the Bemis Company Headquarters, the largest facility of its kind in the world. Although, Kevin Forbes was and is a successful alumnus, his whole life story would not be fitting for a motivational speech. It is, however, a good example of what vast employment opportunities are available when you graduate from the best. This is merely where the motivation began.

He started out by proposing a question to us: Why are we here or why we should go to Rose? He told us to put aside monetary reasons for going to Rose; it’s the wrong perspective. He proposed that having the right philosophy about being here comes first and the money will come in due course. He used the example of Bill Gates and his wealth and notoriety. Sure, he is wealthy and well known now, in the present, but these things will pass. The things that make a difference or impression on future generations are done by civil engineers. So take pride in what civils have done and can do. He proposed that "Some of the most brilliant engineers, I have ever met, have never had a suit on." These individuals do not sit behind a desk theorizing about what might happen and what could happen, these engineers make things happen and shape what does happen. These men, these CIVILS make their own destiny. As shall I, and as shall you if you choose.