Incoming! ALMU Engineer Teaches Students to Catapult

If you build it, they will come. Unless there’s no one there to build it in the first place.

In his spare time, this is the conundrum Avon Lake Municipal Utilities engineering manager Jack Gaydar has committed himself to helping solve. Despite the numbers of graduating college engineering students, national research shows there is a shortfall of graduates who actually become engineering and land surveying professionals. Gaydar, a Case Western Reserve University graduate and certified project engineer and surveyor, would like to change that.

When he’s not helping Avon Lakers get the water they need (and get rid of the wastewater they don’t), Gaydar volunteers his time to help develop future engineers and surveyors. During the Feb. 17- 23 Engineers Week 2013,   Gaydar led engineering classes at Avon Lake High School on Feb. 26. His mission: To get students excited about careers in engineering and surveying. As part of the day, each ALHS engineering class—Introduction to Engineering—Honors, Drafting, Computer Hardware, and Manufacturing—hosted catapult competitions.

Gaydar shared his story with students, as well as the stories of other successful Northeast Ohio engineering and surveying professionals whose inspirational stories can inspire students.

“Careers in engineering and surveying have so much to offer in today’s world,”  Gaydar said. “My engineering and surveying training has given me many opportunities in my life, including the pleasure of serving Avon Lake for more than 10 years. I consider it an honor and a responsibility to help students find the same in their lives.”

High school is not the only place Gaydar represents his profession and Avon Lake. He was invited to serve as “super judge,” judging all competitions, at the 65th Annual Western Reserve District 5 Science Day, to be held March 16 at the University of Akron.

Gaydar was also asked to serve as judge for the collegiate surveying and environmental competitions at Cleveland State University’s Fenn College of Engineering Ohio Valley Student Conference in April.

Todd Danielson, Chief Utilities Executive of Avon Lake Municipal Utilities, appreciates Gaydar’s talents, as well as his commitment to the cause.

“What Jack is doing is helping Northeast Ohio—and this country—be better prepared for the future needs of our population. He is mentoring students who may one day make significant breakthroughs, perhaps inventing innovative ways to help maintain and replace our aging infrastructure," Danielson said. "We can all be proud of how he is representing our city at these respected institutions.”