Alumna Vicky Dlugokecki ’88 Named ASNE Member of the Month
Congratulations to Webb Alumna Vicky Dlugokecki ’88, P.E., for being named the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) Member of the Month for December 2017! Vicky is an ASNE Council Member and an engineering consultant with over 25 years of experience in ship design and construction, and an employment background in shipyards, design offices and a regulatory agency.
See below what Vicky had to say to ASNE Membership and Graphic Design Manager Michelle Redmon:
Michelle: What got you into Naval Engineering? (What specific event or moment).
Vicky: Our industry recently lost a titan – Ron Kiss. During my time at Webb Institute, he was at the Pentagon as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Ship Programs ASN for Research, Development, and Acquisition at the Department of the Navy… To me, as a student and a budding naval architect and marine engineer, that had to be one of the most prestigious positions that I’d ever heard of. It was during my time at Webb that I actually got to meet him in person, and that really started my interest in Naval Engineering.
Michelle: What is a fun fact most people don’t know about you?
Vicky: I’ve got ten years of classical piano lessons under my belt. It was when I was young, but I’ve recently rekindled my piano playing.
Michelle: What is one engineer/scientist/ or mathematician dead or alive would you like to meet?
Vicky: It would have to be Albert Einstein, especially after watching the recent TV mini-series “Genius” based on his life.
Michelle: If you could engineer your perfect concession stand/food truck, what would it be?
Vicky: I think I would base it my heritage… a combination Italian and Polish food truck. For those who wanted Italian food, I would have some hot and cold heroes, maybe meatball parm, chicken parm, or italian cold-cut heroes. From my Polish side, I’d go with my top three – kielbasa, pierogies, and golabki (stuffed cabbage). Of course, Italian ices and chrusciki for dessert.
Michelle: Why are you a member of ASNE?
Vicky: I’ve been a member of ASNE ever since joining in college, and have never thought of ending my relationship with the society, even though quite a few of my jobs throughout my career weren’t focused on Naval Engineering. ASNE is a great organization for networking, it has great technical programs for professional development, and I enjoy its premier publication, the Naval Engineering Journal.
Michelle: What does “Naval Engineering” mean to you?
Vicky: Naval Engineering is the collection of skills necessary to design and build the most sophisticated ships in the world.
Webb Community Remembers Professor Jacques Hadler With a Memorial Ceremony
On Friday, December 8th, 2017, the Webb Community gathered to remember and celebrate the life of beloved Webb professor and colleague, Jacques B. Hadler.
Professor Hadler, who passed away on October 19th, was a key member of the Webb Family for over 30 years, touching the lives of students, faculty, staff, and beyond.
The campus gathering, which included members of the Hadler Family, featured heartfelt speeches from President R. Keith Michel, Professor Hadler’s son, Jim Hadler, two former students Jennifer Waters ‘91 and Vicky Dlugokecki ‘88, and Professor Hadler’s colleague, Professor Neil Gallagher ‘78. Each speech revealed the kind, passionate, talented, and inspirational person Professor Hadler was.
Following the memorial ceremony, everyone gathered in the Rosenblatt Gallery to admire the beautiful, newly built cabinet that houses and displays a few of Professor Hadler’s original wood turning pieces. The cabinet was built by Webb’s Engineering Laboratory Technician and Machinist, James Swan and was designed in collaboration with Professor Hadler himself before his passing.
The evening concluded with our annual holiday dinner preceded by the WooFS (the Webb Family Singers) holiday concert who dedicated their first song “Eternal Father, Strong to Save (The “Navy Hymn”) “ to Professor Hadler.
In Memoriam – Professor Emeritus Jacques Hadler Article
Professor Jacques Hadler Memorial 2017 from Webb Institute on Vimeo.
WAF Update
Thank You!
The generosity and commitment of Webb alumni is unrivalled.
Jake M. Neuman ’93, Chairman of the Webb Alumni Fund
Contributions totaled $2,092,942, exceeding last year’s amount by $205,000 (10.8%), and our 2016-17 goal by 20%. The average commitment of Webb alumni increased to $2,600 (up 13%). Participation was solid at 73.2% for alumni and 70.9% for members of the Alumni Association overall.
These phenomenal results have made a significant impact on the comprehensive Campaign for Webb, which is discussed in detail in a number of articles in the 2016-17 Annual Report. Eighty-one percent of alumni participated by making a contribution during the Campaign to date—this is clear evidence that we are capable of exceeding our participation goals of 75%. To accomplish this, we will need to convince a few more alumni to renew their generous commitments every year. Our alumni base is extraordinarily supportive, so I am confident we can reach new heights in WAF participation.
Please continue your strong support of Webb, so it can continue to be the excellent academic and enriching place we know. Also, please make your best effort to donate by Webb’s Giving Day in mid-May, which each year coincides with Homecoming. Thirty-six percent of WAF donors contribute in the final weeks of the Alumni Fund effort, which puts a lot of pressure on Class Agents who work diligently to maximize class participation. If we can convince more of our steadfast supporters to give earlier in the year, we can focus more of our energy on securing support from those who have never given or those who make gifts only on special occasions such as milestone class reunions.
You are an amazing group of people, and I continue to enjoy serving in my alumni fund capacity through developing new relationships with alumni and students, as well as strengthening the ones already existing. See you at Homecoming!
Vincent Commisso ’18 Awarded American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Scholarship
Webb Institute is proud to announce Vincent Commisso ’18 as the sixth recipient of the annual American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Scholarship.
The ABS Scholarship Program provides financial support to deserving engineering and naval architecture students based on GPA, class rank, leadership ability, and faculty recommendations. The scholarships are part of a broad program at ABS that supports students in the offshore oil and gas and maritime industries. Each year, a Webb student is awarded a full-tuition scholarship and a $2,500 room-and-board stipend. The fifth recipient of the ABS Annual Scholarship was Barr Turner, Jr. who graduated from Webb in June of 2017.
Vincent is a senior student from Wantagh, New York. He has an outstanding academic record and has served the Webb community as a Student Organization President, a member of Webb’s Leadership Committee, and a key member of Webb’s Communications Committee.
“ABS is proud to support the next-generation of young leaders – with the skills to embrace new technologies and quickly adapt to the changing technical landscape in our industry,” said ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki, and Webb Institute’s Board of Trustees member. “We are proud to partner with Webb Institute and wish the scholarship winners success in their studies and professional pursuits in the exciting digital future of the maritime industry.”
“Vincent is an excellent student and an important member of our campus community,” said Dean Matthew R. Werner. “During his time at Webb, Vincent has shown a commitment to leadership, community service, and professional development. I am confident that Vincent will use his Webb education to become a valuable contributor to the future of the maritime industry.”
Vincent has excelled during his winter internships, a Webb Institute requirement for all students. This experience provides hands-on experience working in shipyards, aboard ships, and in design offices throughout the world. As a freshman, Vincent spent two months in San Diego, California at General Dynamics NASSCO as a shipyard intern. In his sophomore year, he gained insight into ship operations and systems as an engine/deck cadet for MaranGas aboard the Troy. And in his junior year, Vincent interned at Herbert Engineering in Alameda, California. He is currently working on securing an internship for his final Winter Work term.
Upon graduation, Vincent plans to seek employment in the marine industry, earn a PE license, and enroll in welding classes. He is also interested in furthering his education through graduate work in engineering management or business.
“The partnership between ABS and Webb Institute dates back over 100 years, when Stevenson Taylor served as president of both ABS and Webb Institute. This relationship remains as vibrant as ever as we work together to ensure that today’s students, regardless of their financial resources, have access to a naval architecture and marine engineering education of the highest caliber,” said President Keith Michel.
About ABS:
Founded in 1862, ABS is a leading international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property, and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction, and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities.
Webb Alumni and Friends Volunteer at Houston Food Bank
Houston-based Webbies are giving back this holiday season! On Saturday, December 2nd, 2017, from 0800 to 1200, 19 members of the Webb Alumni Family volunteered at the Houston Food Bank. The volunteer event was organized by Erin McElroy ’15.
The majority of the group was involved with the Houston Food Bank Backpack Buddy program. The Backpack Buddy program works to fill that gap by providing nutritious, child-friendly food for school children to take home over the weekend.
Through the Backpack Buddy program, the Houston Food Bank, works in partnership with participating schools, schools district delivery sites, and other community partners, to ensure that the food sacks are distributed to children on every Friday during the school year.
