Theta Tau Educational Foundation

The Theta Tau Executive Council determined that the establishment of the Theta Tau Educational Foundation would enable members of the Fraternity to work together in support of those who have the skills and discipline to create technical marvels; those who are best able to solve complex problems of critical importance to our planet; those leaders, coordinators, organizers who effectively work with others; those who have a solid ethical foundation that serves them well in making the important decisions required of those with responsibility.

With the assistance of the Foundation, Theta Tau chapters are being recognized on their campuses for helping recruit high school students for the engineering school; welcoming and orienting new students to their campus; leading engineering or university student government and other organizations; tutoring underclassmen in core subjects; helping instructors with research projects; working with administrators, faculty, and other student groups to further the educational mission of the engineering school; setting high standards of scholarship and academic achievement for others to follow.

The Theta Tau Educational Foundation can achieve all this and more. The Foundation will promote education and training for leadership, teamwork, professionalism, responsibility, decision-making skills, and development of others.

General Information

Accomplishments of the Foundation

*To provide student scholarships (including named, memorial, academic, need-based, or based on other desirable characteristics)
*Host a biannual, high-quality Theta Tau National Leadership Conference encouraging high attendance of student members from every chapter
*Encourage excellence through the continued operation of the Theta Tau Alumni Hall of Fame
*To increase availability of housing loans for chapters and their house corporations
*Assist chapters that desire to make educational improvements to their chapter houses

As the Foundation resources grow

*Traveling National Leadership Trainers will visit chapters enabling more students to gain through participation in presentations, workshops, and projects to develop their professional and leadership capabilities
*Attendance at the National Leadership Conference will be made more affordable for all student members through Foundation financial support
*Use of Foundation funding for nationally recognized "outside" speakers and for "named" lecture series

Activities

Rube Goldberg Machine Contest

Rube Goldberg Machine Contest is sponsored by the Theta Tau Educational Foundation with financial support from Dell Computer and other sponsors. Local contests are held at various universities throughout the country, and local winners are eligible to compete in the national contest. The national contest is administered by Phi Chapter and held near Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The 2006 national contest will be held April 1 with the task of cutting or shredding into strips 5 sheets of 8.5" x 11" 20 lb paper individually with a shredder in 20 or more steps. Visit [http://www.rubemachine.com RubeMachine.com] for more information.

Theta Tau Educational Foundation Scholarship Program

The Theta Tau Educational Foundation Scholarship Program has been established and regularly awards scholarships to student members of Theta Tau to enable them to continue their engineering education. The recipients are selected on the basis of their academic achievements, their participation in campus and community activities, and/or on financial need. Theta Tau's goals of assisting our Brothers and recognizing and fostering high academic achievement among members is strengthened through this program.

Board of Directors

*Janice L. Wiitala, Omicron '90,
*Jeffery S. Blake, Epsilon Beta '88
*Mark R. Janssen, Omega '88
*Brad S. Besmer, Omega '86
*Lee C. Haas, Rho '62