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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering celebrated its 35th anniversary on Thursday, Oct. 24 with a memorable gathering of alumni, faculty, students and supporters. Held in the School of Engineering’s (SOE) Enterprise Holdings Foundation Atrium, the event honored the department’s legacy, recognized achievements and cast an optimistic future in engineering education and innovation. The atrium housed a festive spray of cocktail tables alongside small rockets, the SIUE solar car, and the competitive all-terrain vehicle Baja, all designed and engineered by the SOE.

Cem Karacal, PhD, Dean of the SOE, opened the reception with a warm welcome, emphasizing the Department’s role in preparing graduates to address real-world challenges. Terry Yan, PhD, professor and department chair, followed with a presentation about the Department’s journey over the past three and a half decades. Yan focused on milestones, remarkable faculty and the department’s contributions to engineering in the Metro St. Louis area and beyond.

“We honor our past, celebrate the present and look forward to the future,” said Yan. “We are celebrating 35 years of achievement and we look forward with help from alumni, faculty and students to a successful future.”

Alumni representative Jason Hill (BS, ’93), vice president of engineering at Emerson, concluded the reception with his remarks. Hill shared his journey from being an SIUE student to a global engineering leader. He reflected on the invaluable mentorship of faculty and the strength of the SIUE engineering community, noting the lasting skills and connections gained from an SIUE education.

“I’ve worked with engineers from a lot of great schools, U of I, Rolla, MIT, and I’ll take an SIU grad any day,” said Hill. “A lot has changed in engineering in the last three decades, but I’ve been able to mostly keep up because I learned how to learn. I thank SIU for giving me that.”

In his final remarks, Hill gave considerable acknowledgement to the faculty and staff.

“One of the greatest advantages of this program are the faculty,” said Hill. “They are more than just instructors. They are mentors who genuinely care about the success and that goes up and down the staff here. I’ve been able to come back and spend a lot of time with the school over the last several years. They encourage curiosity, push us to ask the right questions, challenge us, and I think that’s where the school really excels. They really care about your growth personally and professionally. This is why I stayed engaged.”

“Hearing from alumni like Jason Hill, underscored the transformative impact of our program and the strength of our faculty and mentors,” said Yan. “The event provided a meaningful opportunity for networking, rekindling friendships and celebrating the achievements of our alumni, faculty, and students, all while enjoying delicious food and camaraderie.”

Hill was amongst extraordinary alumni in attendance, including former student trustee and current SOE Board of Advisors member Melissa (Mel) Glauber.

"The opportunities that stem from this school are irreplaceable," said Glauber (BS ’03), eyeing the Baja car with a hint of envy. "It is refreshing how accessible the faculty are to their students and how my former professors are still connected to the school after so many phases of development. Maintaining engagement after my time as a student has been equally rewarding."

The Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering and the SOE extend heartfelt thanks to all who attended. Special appreciation goes to event sponsors, including Gold sponsors Amsted Rail, DClimate, and Nestle Purina; Silver sponsors Nidec and WEB Technology; and Bronze sponsor Keqin Gu, PhD, Distinguished Research Professor, Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, and Mrs. Xinxin Zhu. Additionally, Ariel Premium Supply of St. Louis generously provided commemorative mugs for all attendees. The event was directed by Lisa Smith, SOE director of development.

With gratitude and a forward spirit, the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at SIUE celebrated 35 years of progress, innovation and community.

PHOTOS: Attendees of the 35th Anniversary, Cem Karacal, Jason Hill, Terry Yan