Page 4 - The Alpha Gam - Spring 2014

Minderman Tjia-Gan (Continued from Page 2) (Continued from Page 1) Upon moving to Maryland to pursue your PhD, how did you acclimate yourself to the new environment? Our Maryland is suburban Washington DC – a heavily populated area, much more congested than east Tennessee. In Kingsport, we call it “Rush Minute.” In Washington DC, it’s “Rush HOURS”. The traffc was a big adjustment. But the bigger adjustment was going back to graduate school – Pete with his family on vacation: (left – right) Tom, Christina, Ellen, Carl, and John. after having been working as a professional. In one sense, it and a Scoutmaster (Boy Scouts) twice for felt like a step backwards. But that adjustment three years each. Watching the young boys wasn’t really that hard, just a re-calibration. develop is quite impressive. My event organization highlights were large scale Once you became Associate Director camping events for the boys. Here we have of Freshman Engineering at Maryland, a January Klondike Derby camporee for the how did you apply your work and life Boy Scouts – typically 1000 participants. experience to develop your personal Great to have an event that the boys want teaching style? to attend in large numbers – in a month Tim enjoying some skiing with two friends from As Associate Director, I was really jack that might be diffcult to motivate Scouts to high school at Whistler in Canada. of all trades, master of none, opposite camp overnight. of the PhD program. I did teach some, from rescue through adoption. Here at Georgia but that wasn’t much of a change from Now that you are retired from teaching, Tech, I am heavily involved around the when I taught sophomore-level chemical how do you spend your free time? campus community. I serve as the School’s engineering courses. But the challenge in I volunteer a lot for the Boy Scouts and a Homecoming Chair, work as a Guest Services that job was working with a wide range of good bit for my church. I enjoy walking Manager in the Student Center, and am also the professors, GTAs, counseling staff, senior and hiking. Social Director for our chapter. engineering students (the mentors), and the freshman students. Our main program was What advice can you give our Alumni When at home in Canada, what do you do Engineering 101 – and we offered from 6 to and young actives about continuing for fun? 9 sections each semester. Each section was education, and pursuing their dreams? My hometown of Vancouver, Canada is a independent; yet each was designing and You’ve got to always keep learning. The wonderful place. I love the variety of activities testing the same product and following the world around you will always change. and events that happen year round in the city same general process. Helping everyone on and I make sure to take advantage of that their journey was the challenge. whenever I have the opportunity to go back home. During the winter, I enjoy taking ski Your dedication to the Boy Scouts of trips out to our local mountains (Whister and America has spanned for over twenty years. Cypress Mountain), and during the summer I What are a few of your most successful hit the beaches. Most of my time is spent with family and friends, as I don’t get to see them moments as an event organizer? My best moments have been working with very often. the boys. I was a Cubmaster for four years, Homecoming 2014 Save the VS. Alpha Gamma Open Date Saturday, April 26th Georgia Tech VS Virginia RSVP by April 19, 2014 to Saturday, November 1, 2014 | Time: TBD Jim Adams ’60 at jimbettyadams@att.net or (678) 297-3002. At check in, make your payment at the pro shop. Alumni communication services provided by Te Laurus Group | www.thelaurusgroup.net | 770-903-3987