Class Notes
The 1950s and ’60s featured a Winter Weekend hosted by the junior class, which included all sorts of winter fun.
2016
Rebecca Bruno is an architectural designer at Mosaic Associates in Troy. She is a key member of the architectural team responsible for the district’s multiphase, multimillion-dollar capital project to renovate all schools in the district. She says she is honored the first major project she’s been involved in at Mosaic is at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. Her work includes schematic design and programming, development of design concepts and technical solutions, and coordinating with consultants.
Posted 2021-02-26
Engineering
Daryian Rhysing’s company, United Aircraft Technologies, was one of four startups awarded up to $50K through the MassChallenge accelerator program. His company had finished first in the Berkshire Mfg. Innovation Challenge.
Posted 2020-05-22
Maggie Murphy writes: The class would like to congratulate Daryian Rhysing, a veteran of the U.S Army and an expert in their aviation maintenance division, invented a new clamp device for Black Hawk helicopters during his undergraduate years at RPI. Since graduating, Daryian has built his own business, called United Aircraft Technologies, alongside his co-founder and wife Evaguel. Their prototype clamp aims to help save airplane manufacturers millions in fuel and workers comp claims.
Posted 2019-10-01
Congratulations, also, to Antonio D’Elia on his recent promotion to engineer II at CHA consulting, a construction management firm in Albany.
Posted 2019-03-10
Congratulations to our class’s newest engagement, Kelly Dearborn (class VP and fellow alumni official) and Chris Higley! Best wishes to the happy couple.
Posted 2019-03-10
The Leszczynskis decided as a family to launch K4 Machining, a new precision parts manufacturer in Waterbury, Connecticut, with the goal of fostering manufacturing in the state by engaging young professionals in the business. Parents Lou and Anna Leszczynski, who each had 30-plus years of experience in manufacturing, were looking for a new challenge that would get millennials excited about the field.
To begin, they needed look no further than their dinner table. All four of their children are involved, including three with Rensselaer ties: Michael Leszczynski ’16 earned his B.S. in industrial and systems engineering at Rensselaer and master’s at Cornell; Monica Leszczynski ’17 earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering and is completing her MBA at Rensselaer; and Jonnie Leszczynski ’21 is currently a mechanical engineering student. Joey, still in high school, also plans to join the company.
K4 Machining specializes in precision machining of metals and plastics utilizing CNC (computer numerical control) milling, turning, and mill/turn multitasking capabilities to produce simple and complex parts by developing innovative manufacturing solutions. Posted 2018-10-10
To begin, they needed look no further than their dinner table. All four of their children are involved, including three with Rensselaer ties: Michael Leszczynski ’16 earned his B.S. in industrial and systems engineering at Rensselaer and master’s at Cornell; Monica Leszczynski ’17 earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering and is completing her MBA at Rensselaer; and Jonnie Leszczynski ’21 is currently a mechanical engineering student. Joey, still in high school, also plans to join the company.
K4 Machining specializes in precision machining of metals and plastics utilizing CNC (computer numerical control) milling, turning, and mill/turn multitasking capabilities to produce simple and complex parts by developing innovative manufacturing solutions. Posted 2018-10-10
Soraya Fouladi won a $75,000 award from the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge for her company, Jara, which provides emergency education to impoverished and disaster-affected communities worldwide. The handheld Jara Unit can be used anywhere, without requiring access to infrastructure.
Posted 2018-10-10
Gelfuso, who earned dual bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and design, innovation, and society, is a project development engineer at Ford’s headquarters working on electric vehicles and Ford’s Wireless Power Transfer project, which can charge electric vehicles wirelessly.
As part of the application process, Gelfuso made a short video submission to the final round of applications. The video pays tribute to the late Rensselaer professor Burt Swersey, who, Gelfuso said, “helped me discover my love of using design for social good by teaching me to ask not just why, but why not?” Posted 2018-10-10
Science
Alexa Gruschow was announced as the National Women’s Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player in March. Alexa, who studied biology at Rensselaer before going on to play for the newly developed NWHL, led in scoring this season with 22 points on nine goals, 13 assists, with 1.38 points per game. She plays for the Metropolitan Riveters, so if you’re ever in the Tri-State area, be sure to go out and cheer her on....and don’t forget to pick up one of her jerseys, too!
Posted 2018-10-10
Joshua Thomas was appointed to Barton & Loguidice (B&L) Environmental Group as an engineer. Joshua previously worked as a project manager at Casella Waste Systems.
Posted 2018-10-10
Engineering
The growth of the wire industry is being driven by wireless applications, and recent Rensselaer graduates are helping lead the way at the Pawcatuck, Connecticut, company Cable Components Group (CCG), which develops components and compounds for the wire & cable and optical fiber industries.
What’s wireless is the short distance between the nearest wireless access point and your smartphone or laptop. But the wire leading to the wireless access point must have outstanding dielectric properties and the ability to handle intense heat.
CCG has developed compounds and components that can be used safely in high-temperature applications in everything from optical fiber to high-temperature filtration systems and are especially suited for evolving Power over Ethernet (PoE) and Power over LAN applications.
Pictured, from left, are David Connor ’16, quality engineer, who majored in chemical engineering; Dan Messmer ’14, sales engineer, who earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering and an MBA; and Charles Glew ’15, technical services sales engineer, who earned his B.S. in chemical engineering and M.S. in technology commercialization. Posted 2018-03-15
What’s wireless is the short distance between the nearest wireless access point and your smartphone or laptop. But the wire leading to the wireless access point must have outstanding dielectric properties and the ability to handle intense heat.
CCG has developed compounds and components that can be used safely in high-temperature applications in everything from optical fiber to high-temperature filtration systems and are especially suited for evolving Power over Ethernet (PoE) and Power over LAN applications.
Pictured, from left, are David Connor ’16, quality engineer, who majored in chemical engineering; Dan Messmer ’14, sales engineer, who earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering and an MBA; and Charles Glew ’15, technical services sales engineer, who earned his B.S. in chemical engineering and M.S. in technology commercialization. Posted 2018-03-15
Andrew Pla will marry his fianceé Stephanie Carter this upcoming fall. The two met while Andrew took a semester at RPI’s exchange school, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Posted 2018-03-15
Kevin Shin and John Goh have opened their new K-Plate Korean BBQ restaurant at 75 4th Street in downtown Troy. Starting from a humble food cart in December 2015, these classmates grew to later join Troy Kitchen until the final unveil of their restaurant this past October. Classmate Maggie Murphy writes: "Congratulations to the speedy success of these foodie entrepreneurs.....be sure to stop by and check out their amazing BBQ!"
Posted 2018-03-15
Tyler King has received some newfound recognition! As a design lead for IBM Z Cognitive Analytics, Tyler wanted to make an impact at her work, so she brought together 1,500 of her closest co-workers through the help of the unexpected: Post-it notes. Tyler used the notes to post words of encouragement and compliment on the door of every employee, and her positive message was heard throughout the company so much that she was recognized with an IBM Eminence & Excellence Award, and became the first IBM #NewWays2Work Star.
Posted 2018-03-15
John Goh and Kevin Shin have opened their new K-Plate Korean BBQ restaurant at 75 4th Street in downtown Troy. Starting from a humble food cart in December 2015, these classmates grew to later join Troy Kitchen until the final unveil of their restaurant this past October. Classmate Maggie Murphy writes: "Congratulations to the speedy success of these foodie entrepreneurs.....be sure to stop by and check out their amazing BBQ!"
Posted 2018-03-15
Engineering
Dr. Santosh Gupta, who graduated with a Ph.D. in ECSE from Rensselaer and served as a postdoctoral research associate here, has been appointed assistant professor of computer science at Missouri University of Science and Technology, where he will continue his research in smart buildings, internet-of-things architecture, cyber-physical systems, and tech entrepreneurship.
Posted 2018-03-15
