[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 23, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E372-E373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE'S LEADERSHIP IN ENGINEERING 
                        AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 23, 2016

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible 
achievements of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the 2016 recipient of 
the National Academy of Engineering's prestigious Bernard M. Gordon 
Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education. WPI is 
being recognized this year by the National Academy of Engineering for 
``The WPI Plan,'' the university's revolutionary project-based approach 
to education and for the leadership and contributions of four faculty 
leaders who continue the development and growth of opportunities 
offered by the WPI Plan.
  The Gordon Prize, an annual award recognizing new modalities and 
experiments in education that develop effective engineering leaders, 
will be presented to WPI on April 15, 2016, for a ``project-based 
engineering curriculum developing leadership, innovative problem 
solving, interdisciplinary collaboration, and global competencies,'' 
and will be shared by Diran Apelian, Alcoa-Howmet Professor of 
Mechanical Engineering and Director of WPI's Metal Processing 
Institute; Arthur Heinricher, Dean of Undergraduate Studies; Richard 
Vaz, Dean of Interdisciplinary and Global Studies; and Kristin Wobbe, 
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies.
  WPI's focus is for students to apply theory to practice to achieve 
impact upon the great problems of our day. The faculty members who have 
been singled out for this award are outstanding at driving innovation 
in the WPI curriculum and inspiring greatness from students at the 
university and from their colleagues across the campus.
  Founded in 1865, WPI has been a pioneer in project-based education 
since 1970 when, building upon its core philosophy of balancing

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theory and practice in education, the university adopted a 
revolutionary new undergraduate program known as the WPI Plan. The new 
approach replaced the traditional, rigidly prescribed engineering 
curriculum with a flexible and academically challenging program aimed 
at helping students learn by synthesizing classroom experience in 
projects that involve real world problems.
  In 1974, WPI launched a global component to its project-based 
curriculum and now sends approximately 70 percent of its students to 
more than 45 project centers around the world. At these centers, 
students work in teams to focus on issues such as energy, food, health, 
and urban sustainability. The Global Projects Program offers students 
the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in tackling real problems, 
develop an understanding of other cultures, and see how their lives and 
work can make a meaningful impact.
  During my time in Congress, I've had the opportunity to meet with WPI 
students, faculty, and staff, and continue to be impressed by the 
incredible research being done at this world-class university based in 
my hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts. Each year I have the privilege 
of learning from WPI students who attend the Washington, D.C. project 
center, and I am confident that they enter the workforce well-prepared 
to help solve some of our nation's biggest challenges and influence the 
development of policy to move our country forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating WPI and 
its outstanding faculty members. To be recognized by the National 
Academy of Engineering and Bernard Gordon is a tremendous honor, and 
the WPI community should be so proud of this incredible achievement.

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