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Sen. Richard Lugar Visits Campus to Meet President Branam, Learns About EcoCAR Vehicle
July 13, 2010
U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar
came to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology recently to meet with
President Matt Branam, get valuable feedback on key higher
education issues and learn about the latest technology innovations
in hybrid vehicles.
 |
| Campus Welcome:
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology President Matt Branam greets
U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar during a recent visit to learn the latest
campus developments and initiatives. |
Lugar is the U.S.
Senate's most senior Republican and longest serving U.S. Senator in
Indiana history. He is the Republican leader of the Foreign
Relations Committee and a member and former chairman of the
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.
Lugar received an honorary degree from Rose-Hulman and has been a
loyal advocate for the college and its educational mission,
supporting several initiatives providing technology to small
businesses, entrepreneurship and high-tech research.
Joining Lugar and Branam for the Rose-Hulman visit were Jack
Ragle, former chair of the Rose-Hulman Board of Trustees; alumnus
Thomas Reives, a former Fund for Hoosier Excellence scholarship
recipient, who spent the day job-shadowing Lugar to learn more
about public service; and members of Lugar's staff. Branam, Ragle
and Reives also joined members of the Greater Terre Haute Chamber
of Commerce at a luncheon with Lugar.
 |
| Learning About
Innovation: U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar (middle) gets an update on
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's EcoCAR hybrid vehicle
development project from faculty advisors Marc Herniter (left) and
Zac Chambers during a recent campus visit. |
Before leaving campus, Lugar received an
update on Rose-Hulman's award-winning EcoCAR hybrid sport utility
vehicle, which is participating in the EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge,
organized by the U.S. Department of Energy. The vehicle utilizes a
biodiesel engine and electric motor, powered by state-of-the-art
battery technology provided by Indiana-based EnerDel Inc.
Rose-Hulman was one of only 16 North American colleges and
universities selected to participate in this unique, three-year
engineering design competition. The vehicle earned technology,
outreach and appearance awards at the Year II competition finals
late this spring in Yuma, Ariz., and San Diego, Calif.
Providing the project update to Lugar were EcoCAR Co-Faculty
Advisors Zac Chambers, associate professor of mechanical
engineering, and Marc Herniter, professor of electrical and
computer engineering.