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Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Economics and
Engineering Management Professor Tom Mason was recognized at this year’s
TechPoint Mira Awards gala in downtown Indianapolis for advocating
entrepreneurship and helping mentor many of Indiana’s technology
innovators. This marks the second straight year that a Rose-Hulman
educator or program has earned an award.
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Entrepreneurship Advocate: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Professor
Tom Mason stands at the podium after accepting the Mira Award during
TechPoint’s gala event in downtown Indianapolis. (Photo courtesy of
TechPoint) |
The Mira Awards highlight Indiana’s technology success stories,
recognizing the companies, institutions and individuals who are leading
the state’s high-tech economy.
Mason received the Mira Award for Education Contribution by an
Individual. He has taught entrepreneurship and economic principles to
engineering undergraduate students, and engineering management graduate
students at Rose-Hulman for 25 years. He helped co-found Rose-Hulman
Ventures, and has served as Entrepreneur and Educator in Residence for
the Indiana Venture Center. He played a key role in mentoring future
entrepreneurs, business leaders, and engineers who will pave the way for
future technological and business enterprises throughout the country.
Mason believes that the outcomes of higher education, especially at the
undergraduate level of engineering, science and technology, should be
measured by the quality of the student professional practice experience.
That’s why he has helped students learn how to develop business plans,
led the development of an innovative multidisciplinary entrepreneurial
design course that uses experiential learning as a key educational
component, and helped co-found Rose-Hulman Ventures, a unique
educational enterprise that provides students with real-world
experiences in engineering, science and technology using leading-edge
technology and methods.
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Technology Leaders: Professors Tom Mason and Julia Williams represented
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology at this year’s Mira Awards gala
celebration in downtown Indianapolis. Mason won the award for education
contribution by an individual. Williams, executive director of the Office of
Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment was a finalist in the
education contribution to technology by a program/department/team.
(Photo courtesy of Bill Kline) |
Mason stepped away from the classroom briefly to serve as president,
chief executive officer, treasurer and acting chief financial officer of
Applied Computing Devices in Terre Haute (1992-95); and to serve as
president of International Centers for Telecommunication Technology in
Terre Haute (1992-94).
However, Mason says that he’s most proud of watching those students he
has helped mentor grow into being productive and successful
entrepreneurs as they realize their dreams and aspirations. That list
includes Jeff Ready, founder of Scale Computing and former Entrepreneur
In Residence at the Indiana Venture Center (former Mira Award winner);
Jason Zilke, chief operating officer of Precise Path (former Mira Award
winner); Dustin Sapp, former founder of NoInk and Vontoo (former Mira
Award winner); Jeremy Clarke, president of Vortex Web Solutions and
developer of other businesses; and Jonathan Fruchte, analyst for
Indiana’s 21st Century Fund.
Joining Mason as a Mira Award finalist this year was Rose-Hulman’s
Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment in the
Education Contribution to Technology - Program/Department/Team category.
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Alumni Award Winner: Richard Stanley, a 1978 mechanical engineering
alumnus, accepted the Mira Award for advanced manufacturing company on
behalf of EnerDel, Inc. Stanley serves as president of the Indiana
innovation company. |
Rose-Hulman also takes pride in helping Indianapolis’ NICO Corporation
win Mira’s Gazelle Award in the Health and Life Sciences category.
Students and project managers at Rose-Hulman Ventures have worked with
NICO to create a fully-automated, minimally invasive tissue removal
device for neurosurgical and spinal surgery applications.
EnerDel, Inc., led by Rose-Hulman alumnus Richard L. Stanley, was
recognized in the Advanced Manufacturing Company category, and former
Rose-Hulman trustee Robert A. Compton, an entrepreneur, venture
capitalist and filmmaker, received the Trailblazer in Technology Award
for his significant and lasting contributions to Indiana’s high-tech
economy.
Rose-Hulman’s Homework Hotline free tutoring service received a Mira
Award last year for its outstanding technology contributions to
education.
TechPoint is the only statewide organization representing Indiana’s
technology sector. TechPoint promotes technology-based enterprises and
economic development through lobbying and government advocacy,
educational and networking programs, and strategic economic development
initiatives. As a part of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership’s
family of initiatives, TechPoint is a catalyst for growth in Indiana’s
emerging technology clusters, including advanced manufacturing,
logistics, life sciences, energy and information technology.
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