Since 1970, the Fenn College Steel Ring and State of the College Ceremony at Cleveland State University has honored deserving engineering students and helped to foster a spirit of pride and responsibility in the engineering profession. On Friday, March 27 from 6-8 p.m. at CSU’s Drinko Hall Auditorium (located in the Music and Communication Building, 2001 Euclid Avenue), approximately 50 students will pledge to pursue excellence and receive a coveted steel ring – a visual symbol that identifies an engineer – at the 39th annual Ceremony.

In addition, newly appointed Fenn College Dean, Dr. Bahman Ghorashi, will present the annual state of the college address. Outstanding faculty and students, as well as honorary steel ring recipients will also be recognized.

Honorary steel ring recipients for 2009 include: Lori Simonelli, Enterprise Project Leader at Goodyear; Kelly Zelesnik, Academic Dean at the Engineering Technologies and Nord Advanced Technologies Center at Lorain County Community College; and Dr. Linda Abraham Silver, President of the Great Lakes Science Center.

The Steel Ring Ceremony was first held at CSU on June 4, 1970 and was the first event of its kind in the United States. Since that time, it has been adopted by more than 200 other engineering colleges throughout the country.

Students recite a creed at the Ceremony that sets forth an ethical code of conduct for engineers and also pledge to uphold the standards and dignity of the engineering profession, and serve humanity by making efficient use of the world’s resources. The rings further serve to remind recipients to persist in their pursuit of excellence.

For more information, please contact Carolyn Kasprzak at 216.687.6950 or c.kasprzak@csuohio.edu.

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The Fenn College of Engineering, founded in 1923, provides fully accredited undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs for more than 1,000 students at Cleveland State. The College offers degrees in civil, mechanical, electrical, computer, chemical, and biomedical engineering, as well as in electronic and mechanical technology.

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