The events of the last two weeks…
Matt Dunster (Worcester Polytechnic, ’16): One Week, 20,000 Face Shields
In life without the COVID-19 pandemic, Matt Dunster (Worcester POlytechnic, ’16) is vice president at Special Technical Services, Inc., in Hackettstown, N.J. The family-owned business makes static ground monitoring systems that stop static discharge around volatile materials, protecting individuals and communities from catastrophic events such as explosions.
In life with the COVID-19 pandemic, Dunster has completely shifted the company’s focus to help address a critical need in the medical community: personal protective equipment. Working with his Mount Olive High School engineering and industrial design teacher, David Bodmer, volunteers from robotics teams, and others, Dunster has been able to produce 20,000 face shields in a week. The face shields are being donated to hospitals and first responders throughout New Jersey and around the country.
“We’re trying to meet the immediate demand,” says Dunster, a mechanical engineering major whose Mount Olive teacher first turned him on to WPI. “There’s such an immediate demand right now.”
Dunster has some first-hand knowledge of the demand for personal protective equipment: his sister is an oncology nurse at Hackensack Meridian Health. “I was watching my sister in the field, on the front lines, right outside of New York City thinking, ‘there has to be something we can do,’” he says.
Meanwhile, employees in his company had been furloughed for their own health and safety as the virus began to spread, leaving an empty facility while Dunster was starting to see plans for 3-D printed masks circulating from multiple sources. When he determined 3-D printing would be too slow, someone else connected him to a firm in Pennsylvania that could laser cut the largest face-shield pieces, and a plan was formulated.
“It really just took a few of us to start the snowball effect,” Dunster says. “It’s easy to do if you can put a few posts on Facebook and put a purpose behind it.”
Dunster and a small team—social distancing required—took delivery of the laser cut pieces by the end of the first week of April. The smaller components had already been made at Special Technical Services, where the small crew hand assembled the face shields. It was the type of work, he explained, that went faster with fewer hands. In addition, Dunster and his team raised $40,000 through crowdfunding to offset the cost of producing the face shields; the shields were donated free of cost wherever they were needed, coordinated through Warren County, N.J. emergency services and state police and through requests to the Marauder Innovation Learning Lab at Mount Olive High School.
Dunster found his WPI experience came in handy during this endeavor—organizing remote teams of people with various skill sets, pivoting quickly, solving problems on the fly, and all while also running a company. These are skills he credits to his time at WPI as Student Government Association treasurer, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, an Admissions representative, and a member of Phi Kappa Theta. Not to mention engaging in hands-on, project-based learning during WPI’s seven-week terms.
“The whole thinking outside the box mentality—this is a real-world situation we’re a part of. I think WPI gets you ready for real-world experiences like this.”
Dan Bureau, Ph.D., recognized by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Educational Leadership Foundation
Dan Bureau, Ph.D.
On March 4, 2020, Dan Bureau, Ph.D., was recognized by The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Educational Leadership Foundation at a recognition banquet in Nashville, Tennessee.
The ACPA Foundation invites members and non-members alike to assist fundraising efforts for vital initiatives. …The Diamond Honoree Program, established in 1999, is a way for those that care about students – and the research, scholarship, and programs that promote student development and success – to help advance the association’s efforts. Diamond Honorees are “Championed” by dedicated individuals who recognize their specific contributions and choose to raise funds in honor of each Diamond Honoree’s outstanding and sustained commitment to higher education through student affairs and student development (foundation.myacpa.org).
In response to Bureau's recent recognition, Phi Kappa Theta Executive Vice President Robert Riggs, CAE, shared, "On behalf of the entire Fraternity, we share our congratulations to Brother Bureau for his recognition as a 2020 Diamond Honoree. Brother Bureau's commitment to the profession is demonstrated through his leadership on our Fraternity Board. We are blessed to have Brother Bureau invest his talents into our own brothers."
At the recognition banquet, Bureau spoke of his care and value of others’ unique stories within student affairs and student development. “I see a lot of hope and faith in every single person with whom I interact,” said Bureau.
Soon after the banquet concluded, Bureau reflected on the recognition through a Facebook post, describing what it means to be part of the Diamond Honoree Program, “Being recognized by ACPA for my contributions to the field is something for which I am forever grateful. Seeing the other honorees - past and in the 2020 cohort - reminds me of how much more work I can do to positively influence the lives of students and colleagues.”
Bureau also added a touching tribute to a personal mentor; his father, George Bureau, “George Bureau, you taught me all the things I need to be a good and committed college student educator.”
To support Bureau’s Diamond Honoree campaign, please visit his donation page.
This video was created with friends and colleagues sharing their thoughts about Brother Bureau. It was shared as an introduction to his recognition. This video was graciously provided by The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Educational Leadership Foundation. All rights reserved.
More About Brother Bureau
Dan Bureau, Ph.D., joined Phi Kappa Theta at the University of New Hampshire. He has worked in higher education for over 20 years and currently serves as Associate Vice President for Student Academic Success at the University of Memphis. He is also the current President for the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS). He served as the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors President in 2004 and has held roles in ACPA and NASPA.
His areas of focus have included fraternity and sorority life, leadership programs, student affairs assessment, and first-generation college students. He has served at the University of New Mexico, University of Illinois, Indiana University, and the University of Memphis. He has presented at several association conferences and has authored peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and many other publications. He is the co-editor and contributor to Leading Assessment for Student Success: Ten Tenets That Change Culture and Practice in Student Affairs. Dan enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, and staying fit.
“George Bureau, you taught me all the things I need to be a good and committed college student educator.”
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PA Beta Gamma Chapter at Penn State University Raises $40,000 in Search of a Cure
— Ben Borus (Penn State, ‘22) “It’s far and away the most meaningful experience I’ve had as a brother and to share it with my best friends is something I hope to do for the rest of my life,” said THON chair Kamron Sarmadi about one of the most special weekends of the Penn State school year.
This past February, the Beta Gamma chapter celebrated THON weekend. THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Every year it raises over $10 million for the fight against childhood cancer. The year-long fundraising effort culminates with a 46-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping, dance marathon. The chapter was able to elect three individuals to represent them on the floor as dancers. Most participate from the stands, but being elected as a dancer is a huge honor amongst the brotherhood. During the week leading up to THON, the brothers wrote over 300 letters that the dancers could open for support.
This year the brothers raised $40,000, which is the largest total in chapter history. This impressive achievement took months of commitment from the entire brotherhood. Whether it was attending fundraisers, reaching out to their family members, or even supporting the dancers on the floor when they needed it the most. President Owen Peters could not be prouder of the chapter’s efforts this year. “It’s amazing to see the brothers come together like this to support such a great cause. I’m so proud of everyone for all their contributions this year.”
Each student organization is paired with a THON child. The program is meant for student organizations to provide emotional support for children with cancer. The chapter has been paired with Ryan Arevelo for 5 years now. “Working with Ryan and the rest of the Arevelo Family year-round is such a rewarding experience,” said Family Relations Chair Kamron Sarmadi, “and to see him officially cured in July is the best thing we could have asked for.” The brothers plan many events throughout the year with Ryan and his family, such as inviting him to the chapter house and visiting him in his hometown.
Every brother has a reason why they THON. “Coming from a family who has lost family members to cancer as well as my grandfather who’s beaten it, THON is something that I have been motivated to be a part of since I came to Penn State,” said head chair Joseph Mondy. This sentiment rings true for many brothers, which is why THON is one of the most anticipated events of the year and one of the best ways to live out the core values of Phi Kappa Theta. To everyone who has helped us this year and in the past to raise money for such an amazing cause, we thank you, and more importantly, all the Four Diamonds Families thank you. Our efforts to break our fundraising record start this summer, so if you are interested in learning more or donating to the cause please reach out to our Alumni Relations Chair at phikappatheta.mcevoy@gmail.com. Your involvement means the world to these families and they will be forever grateful. As always, Give, Expecting Nothing Thereof.