VirginiaTech magazine New school, new medicine school, new New I, Robot|Physics andfootball fall 2010 vol. 33, no. 1 Contents Fall 2010 VOL. 33, NO. 1 10 How Tech Ticks: Physics and football In the first installment of a new series on the inner workings of Virginia Tech, we explore the physics and mysteries surrounding the football. 10 12 Vocational specialists dismantle employment barriers for NRV residents Domestic violence; lack of access to medical, dental, and mental health care services; homelessness; lack of transportation: All are barriers to gainful employment for New River Valley residents. A group of specialists at Virginia Tech is helping people overcome these obstacles and pave the way for brighter futures. 14 Romesh Batra: The measure of success In our first professor profile, Virginia Tech Magazine visits with Romesh Batra, the Clifton C. Garvin Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics. The prolific scholar gauges success not by his own accomplishments, but by those of his students. 16 Diagnosing the doctors of tomorrow On Aug. 2, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute opened its doors, welcoming 42 future doctors and celebrating the start of an innovative 16 approach to medicine, education, and research. 24 CHARLI in charge C-3PO and Rosie might someday take a backseat to the work of students and faculty at the Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory. Their latest creation, CHARLI, is making noise on the international robotics scene. 28 Helping Virginia take flight A bold new partnership is harnessing the capabilities of Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, the Virginia Community College System, Rolls-Royce, and state and local gov- ernments to build better jet engines and spur economic growth in the commonwealth. 32 Hokies teach for America Too often, a child’s birthplace determines the quality of his or her education. Fifty Hokie alumni are challenging this notion, choosing to teach in underprivileged communities through the Teach for America program. 24 38 Smoke and mirrors: Performance art bends the senses Architectural-draftsman-turned-performance-artist Bruce McClure (architecture ’85) is a man in his own genre, using the tools of cinema to bring the abstract to life in what he calls “projection performance.” Letters to the Editor. 2 Around the Drillfield. 4 45 Alumni Association News Corps of Cadets. 41 page 45: Commentary Philanthropy. 42 page 46: 2009-10 Alumni Association Annual Report page 49: Alumni Association and university awards Book Notes. 54 page 51: Alumni travel Class Notes. 56 In Retrospect . 63 DEPARTMENTS On the cover: (From left) Don Vile, Raeva Malik, and Robert Brown, members of the 42-student charter class at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute, pose outside the new building in Roanoke, Va. Photo by Jim Stroup. Virginia Tech Magazine Fall 2010 1 Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor Virginia Tech Magazine Letters to the editor: architects was “form follows I was the first and proud brother Ken (he’s second from Fall 2010, Vol. 33, No. 1 Send us your thoughts at [email protected] Fellow alumni: function,” which led to plain, to say so. Even more proud the right and looking dismal). You may have noticed some changes to Virginia Tech Maga- Editor box-like structures. I person- that my daughters are turning Big Stone Gap, Va., was a Jesse Tuel zine over the past several issues. Concurrent with the Fall 2008 Assistant Editor ally do not admire them and it into a tradition! Bloodlines good place in which to grow Denise Young issue we merged Alma Mater, a semi-annual publication of the Art Director had hoped that Bauhaus or not, we are all one big up! They did well! Glen Duncan Alumni Association, into Virginia Tech Magazine. This change edu had faded away. The Nazis Hokie family, and few under- “De” was my uncle. He . Graphic Designer t afforded university relations and the Alumni Association cost Alison Romano considered these designs stand how strong the ties that .v graduated in 1921. Dad fol- savings and a streamlined production process. e Interns decadent, so the school was bind are! lowed him in 1923 [electrical Meaghan Hinder ’10 With this issue more changes appear. You now will see Hillary May ’12 shut down as the republic engineering]. I was a distant Tim Austin ’13 Todd Dale ’86 paid advertising throughout the publication. Formerly only the Graduate assistant was extinguished. third. We kept in touch with Chad O’Kane M.A. ’11 Eagleville, Pa. alumni section was ad-supported. We adopt this new business Contributors De though he and wife Ruth vtmagazin via Facebook model reluctantly. However, university finances demand that . Harry Holland ’46 Clara B. Cox M.A. ’84 lived in Atherton, Calif. w Steven Mackay Greenville, S.C. we reduce costs or find supplemental revenue. Rock Roszak ’71 We lived in Springfield, Pa. ww Albert Raboteau For many years, we reduced costs and expanded distribu- (suburban Philadelphia). Dad Melissa Vidmar The System X tion. I fear that those days are over. For almost two decades we Copy Editors died in 1960 at age 58. He Juliet Crichton supercomputer have distributed the magazine free to all alumni. We remain Richard Lovegrove worked most of his career for I wonder how fast iTunes one of the few large universities to continue this practice. Webmaster Philadelphia Electric Com- Juliet Crichton loads at 10 teraflops? You have repeatedly told us through survey after survey Photographers pany in sales. Michael Kiernan that Virginia Tech Magazine is your primary source of news and John McCormick I “made it out” of Tech in From left, Michael Banks ’04, Juan Espinoza ’04, Alex Kevin Zhan ’10 information about your alma mater. While alumni magazines Jim Stroup 1956, mostly thanks to the Business Manager Espinoza, Jared Irish ’04, Chris Bonner ’04, and Andrew Charlottesville, Va. remain expensive programs and I sometimes hear a clamor Paula Vaught Espinoza, ready to run with the bulls in Spain. influence and guidance of Advertising Coordinator via Facebook to replace print with some version of electronic distribution, Horace Cross ’08, M.S. ’10 these two! Alumni Notes our experiences, research, and feedback continue to support a Shirley Fleet Hokies run with Hereditary Hokies Ray Wolfe ’56 traditional print magazine approach. Associate Vice President Center for the Arts Ray Wolfe My infant son is a fourth- Westport, Conn. We hope that this periodical just might have some small for University Relations the bulls I can appreciate the Larry Hincker ’72, M.B.A. ’94 generation Hokie. We deco- Remembering role in the legendary affection and support the Hokie Nation Director of Marketing Fully aware of the dangers worth in a building for the and Publications of marriage, I thought it rated the nursery in Hokie D.C. Wolfe See the summer 2010 repeatedly expresses for Virginia Tech. Melissa Richards arts, but why does it have colors largely to honor my [Below] is a 1921 picture article on D.C. Wolfe and the And if your business needs exposure in front of 180,000- Vice President for Alumni Relations would be best to prepare for to look like warmed-over Tom Tillar ’69 dad, [a member of the]corps of Highty-Tighties band slideshow of his WWI-era im- plus highly educated American consumers with a penchant for it by celebrating my bach- Bauhaus? For those unfamil- Address changes and circulation inqui- elor party in Pamplona for of cadets and Class of 1951. Capt. D.C. Wolfe (fourth ages of Virginia Tech at www. strange color combinations, we’ve got just the ad vehicle for you. ries should be mailed to the Virginia iar with this sort of archi- Tech Alumni Association, Holtzman from the right, with stripes on vtmagazine.vt.edu/sum10/ Learn more at l. the running of the bulls. tecture, let me offer a little Joe Hoggard www.vtmagazine.vt.edu/advertising.htm Alumni Center (0102), Blacksburg, VA sleeves) and little sophomore feature4.html#_slideshow. 24061, or sent via e-mail to alumni- Although my fellow Hokie history. The Bauhaus was Oak Hill, W.Va. [email protected]. Alumni notes should be Larry Hincker ’72 mailed to Alumni Notes, Virginia Tech classmates are scattered across conceived during the Wei- via Facebook Alumni Association, Holtzman Alumni Associate Vice President for University Relations Center (0102), Blacksburg, VA 24061, the world, we managed to mar Republic, Germany’s or sent via e-mail to [email protected]. Virginia Tech Magazine is produced by meet up for a nice fiesta. We failed attempt at democracy Me, hubby, three of our the Office of University Relations, with were not only lucky to be in four kids, son-in-law, daugh- support from Alumni Relations. The that followed World War I. Virginia Tech Foundation underwrites Spain for a Spanish World ter-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, most production costs. It was a school founded in Corrections and clarifications Cup victory, but also fortu- the city of Weimar, where one niece, two nephews, two Advertising opportunities are through- The first name of Bennet Cassell was misspelled in out the magazine, and alumni may nate enough to finish the run the republic had also been cousins, and their spouses. promote their businesses in the Class “Tech’s gutsy go-to guy,” a summer 2010 story about Stuart Notes section. For advertising rates as a group in a little over two founded. Walter Gropius One U.Va. grad, but he works and information, contact Horace Cassell. Cross, advertising coordinator, at minutes unscathed. After a was the leader in this effort for Virginia Tech and always [email protected] or 540/231-2966.