Research Stars Light the Path - College of Engineering - University ...

CAMPAIGN UW: CREATING FUTURES 2000~2008At the forefront increating valueTom H. and A. Jeannette DelimitrosEndowed Fellowship for MSEEngineering used to be describedas a calling, to be undertakenwith passion and intensity,” saidTom Delimitros, who applied thatphilosophy to his own career inindustry and as a venture capitalistinvesting in high-tech companies.“Engineers are at the forefrontin creating value in our society.I want to see many more youngpeople thinking about an engineeringcareer,” Delimitros said. “We needmore scholarships and fellowshipsto attract the brightest students.”To that end, Tom and his wife,Jeannette, established an endowedfellowship in Materials Science &Engineering that supports its firststudent this year (see sidebar).Raised in Seattle, Delimitros wasboth a “gadget-happy kid” and atalented violinist/concert master ofthe Lincoln High School orchestra.Unsure whether to study engineering“or music in college, he enlisted in theArmy Chemical Corps to get awayand figure out what he wanted to do.“I realized I wasn’t good enoughfor a career as a violinist, and I likedscience, so gadgets won and I enrolledat UW to study engineering,” he said.A talk by Professor Jim Muellerconvinced him that ceramics was anup-and-coming field, so he gravitatedto materials science and earned hisBS in 1963 and MS in 1966.At Boeing he helped developrain erosion coatings for the SST.His career took off when a friendin New York offered him a positionat a company developing electronicceramics. More doors opened and hegained experience with companiesproducing specialty chemicals for oilfield operations and water treatmentplants. During his 14-year sojournback East, Delimitros added to hisskill set, earning an MBA at Harvard.By 1979 he was president andCEO of Magma Corporation, a“I am thankful for the freedom the Delimitrosfellowship gives me to pursue my research andeducational goals. I would like to work to improveour national electrical, transportation, and energyinfrastructure and promote sustainable global growth.”Brent Apgar, the first recipient of the Delimitros Fellowship, is beginning MSwork in Professor Raj Bordia’s research group. Apgar spent eight years in the Navyand was introduced to materials engineering in Nuclear Power School. He servedfor four years on a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Apgar believes materialsscientists can help solve “some of the greatest problems we have ever seen.”Houston-based producer of specialtyand oil field chemicals, which hegrew to a $100-million company.Then came a move to Dallas as ageneral partner in a venture capitalfirm. By 1987 he was a foundinggeneral partner of AMT (AdvancedMaterials Technology) and aninvestor in high-tech companies. Heis now largely retired, though serveson several corporate boards.Delimitros never let geographicdistance get in the way of engagementwith his alma mater. He chairsMSE’s advisory board and helpedraise funds to build Mueller Hall.Each year he speaks to an MSE classon ethics in engineering work. Heserved on the Campaign for Washingtonvolunteer committee in the late1980s, on Engineering’s executivecommittee for Campaign UW, andfor the past three years chaired theselection committee for the college’sannual Diamond Awards programrecognizing outstanding alumni.“Engineering offers a great skillset for self-expression that can takeyou in many directions,” Delimitrosaffirmed. “I see our fellowship asa vehicle for that. You can makethings happen if you have passion,enthusiasm, and commitment.”In that regard, he says, “being anengineer can be just as good as beinga musician.”Delimitros now will apply hispassion and enthusisam to help keepthe beat going on the Universitylevel as a new board member of theUW Foundation.16 TREND • Vol 58:2 • Autumn 2008