Volume 24, Issue 1, The Winter Edition!
Published May 2024
Embedded Files
Table of Contents
I. Letter from the President
I. Letter from the President
Danny Colón, IOE '24/ IOE '25
Dear Everyone!
It is an absolute honor to introduce myself to the delightful EGL alumni community, I hope you and your loved ones are doing well! My name is Danny Colón and I am the EGL society president for the year 2024. As the winter semester comes to an end, I wanted to reflect on all the wonderful achievements EGL has made this past semester.
We welcomed 19 new admits to our community, all of which are vibrant, energetic and fantastic human beings. Shortly following their admittance, we held a new admit gathering and our January GBM!
This semester, EGL has had tremendous involvement from its members. We saw another strong showing of VA participants and raised ample money from Giving Blue Day (shoutout to our VA Chair, George Nunu, and EVP, Alvin Li). Also, we hosted many awesome events this semester. We held our monthly GBM's with fun activities such as Ross Scavenger Hunt, Jeopardy, and Board Game Competitions. EGL also had some extremely successful DEI events such as a Women's Alumni Panel for Women's History month, which our DEI Chair Megan Beemer did a tremendous job coordinating. We also hosted cultural potlucks, having four judges determine which group made the best dish. Additionally, EGL brought back Cultural Storytelling, where our members came together to celebrate the diverse array of experiences within our community and share with each other about our unique backgrounds through anecdotes, dancing, and games. Finally, our IVP, Kate Howard, planned an Enchanted Themed Formal at the Matthei Botanical Gardens which was an amazing time.
This year's Tauber Recruiting cycle was in person again, bringing back tremendous project sponsors for our students to work with. Some of these Tauber projects are virtual, while others were spread across the country including locations such as Seattle, Washington D.C., and Chicago!
The EGL community continues to inspire me every single day, and I am extremely grateful for what this community has given me — friends, professional opportunities, and memories for a lifetime. None of our accomplishments as a student organization and academic program would be possible without the continued support and involvement from our alumni.
I want to emphasize just how much we value every interaction with you, every piece of advice we get from you, and every contribution you make to our program. If you ever want to hear more about the student experience, or just get more involved in general, please reach out to me at dcolon@umich.edu, I am always more than happy to chat with you.
Sincerely,
Danny
II. Student Society Update
II. Student Society Update
Cultural Potluck – Competition Championing Cultural Appreciation
Cultural Potluck – Competition Championing Cultural Appreciation
In a vibrant display of diversity and culinary prowess, mentors and mentees united to showcase their cultural heritage through the art of cooking in our much-anticipated Cultural Potluck.
A competitive spirit was present as mentor/mentee pairs diligently prepared and then presented their traditional dishes. However, it was more than a contest of taste; it was a celebration of stories and origins. Every dish, judged on both its flavor and the historical context provided, offered a profound look into cultures that weave the fabric of our global EGL community. One didn't need to be a food connoisseur to appreciate the efforts. From the creamy, lush textures of Spanish salmorejo to the aromatic broth of Vietnamese Pho, the dishes tantalized taste buds and enriched minds. The event turned into an edible journey around the world, right from the comfort of our venue.
Felix Liu, our dedicated EGL Cultural Chair, shared his thoughts on the potluck's impact and future initiatives:
“As the EGL Cultural Chair, I am committed to empowering EGLs to be champions of cultural appreciation and inclusivity in our community and beyond. Not only did EGLs enjoy the flavors of these dishes, but they also learned about the history and significance behind each dish.
Looking ahead to next Fall semester, I’m incredibly excited to welcome back everyone, especially EGLs who have been abroad this semester, with a storytelling night where EGLs can share a slice of their heritage or a cultural aspect they hold dear. They can choose to present it in any form that resonates with them – be it dance, art, story, food, game, or artifact. This will be a fantastic way to learn about our fellow EGLs’ cultural exchange experiences and to appreciate the diversity represented in our organization; putting some emphasis on the G in EGL. Go Blue.”
Ice Skating at Yost – Magical Night of Tradition
Ice Skating at Yost – Magical Night of Tradition
EGL continued its yearly tradition of ice skating at Yost in collaboration with other engineering student organizations, Honors Student Advisory Board (HSAB) and Society of Women Engineers (SWE). This unforgettable night was open to all and free of charge, attracting students of all skill levels looking for a fun way to destress from academic pressures.
Max West, our fearless EGL Membership Chair, reflects on the event:
“It’s not just about skating that makes this event; it's about being able to give students those rare moments of community, laughter, and joy amidst our rigorous study schedules. This event is always a great way to end the school year. As alumni, you'd be proud to see current students bonding, embracing tradition, and building memories on the ice—reminders of the vibrant, supportive community that defines our college experience.”
IM Sports - Back to Back Champs
IM Sports - Back to Back Champs
Refusing to be outdone by the Michigan football team, the EGFoot and Ball Lovers (5-3-0) — our Co-Rec indoor soccer team — have also brought glory back to EGL. Bouncing back valiantly from a three-game losing streak, they clinched the coveted IM Sports Champions T-shirts. Demonstrating EGL’s resilience, the team put on a spectacular show in the playoff games, dominating in all four contests.
Special congratulations to Alex French, Alexios Avrassoglou, Alvin Li, Felix Tang, Justin Wong, Kate Howard, Martin Stier, Max West, Oscar Roden, and Sebastian Taboada. A round of applause too for our impactful guest players Carina Stacey and Jaime Fuchs.
Our other IM teams put together successful seasons, proving that EGLs never cease to amaze with their amazing talents. Thank you to all for passionately representing EGL!
Not shown: EGLeapers - Volleyball (2-4-0), EGLakers - Basketball (2-4-0)
EGL Formal — An Enchanted Night
EGL Formal — An Enchanted Night
In early April, we hosted our annual formal with the theme of EGenchanted. There could not have been a more perfect venue for this magical night than the Matthei Botanical Gardens. Despite the pouring rain, our 85 guests danced the night away courtesy to live music from the “Alvin and the Chipmunks” band.
Our beloved Internal Vice President, Kate Howard, recounts the special occasion:
“EGLs and their guests arrived dressed to the nines to celebrate everyone’s amazing accomplishments. It was truly an amazing night!”
Giving Blue Day - Continued EGL Dominance
Giving Blue Day - Continued EGL Dominance
It's with immense pride that we share the remarkable success of this year's Giving Blue Day, held on March 13th. EGL once again showcased its fundraising prowess, solidifying its reputation as one of the highest raising student organizations. With the dedication and support of more than 283 donors—including esteemed alumni, current students, their families, and friends—EGL raised an impressive total of $16,000. This achievement is a testament to the continued engagement and generosity of our community. This year, we claimed victory in five spirited Giving Blue Day challenges, although, in true EGL fashion, we should have won an additional challenge, unfortunately hindered by a temporary website outage!
What will these funds go towards? Our unprecedented 4 Volunteer Abroad trips to Costa Rica, Ecuador, South Africa, and Hawaii! Thanks to the extraordinary coordination by our VA Chair, George Nunu, we're providing more opportunities for those eager to make a global impact. Stay tuned next newsletter for how these trips went! Moreover, these resources will be allocated to sustain our vibrant Student Society. We take pride in facilitating General Body Meetings, social happenings, and professional growth through our Topics in Leadership series and corporate engagement sessions. Given that EGL does not require membership dues, it is crucial events like Giving Blue Day that empower us to foster an exceptional environment for our aspiring engineers, nurturing their leadership skills and expanding their global awareness.
On the day, EGL won the following five challenges:
1. First to Reach 100 Unique Donors ($1,000 bonus)
2. Student Organization Most Donors Challenge @8-10 AM ($1,000 bonus)
3. Donor Challenge @5-7 PM ($1,000 bonus)
4. 10th Anniversary Donor Challenge @10-11 PM ($500 bonus)
5. Most Donors to a Personal Link ($2,000 bonus)
Student Society Board Members getting pied as GBD incentives
Our ambitious External Vice President, Alvin Li, extends a special thanks:
"On behalf of the Engineering Global Leadership Honors Society, we are all extremely grateful for your contributions! Without you, our precious organization would not be where it is. Your generosity is inspiring and makes me excited for when I am an Alumni and can also continue to contribute to the development of our students! GBD is the largest fundraising push we have each year and I was super nervous coming in. I was so happy to see the large about of support and when I was watching the numbers, seeing the little label “Alumni” pop up next to your names put a smile on my face. Once again, thank you so much, your contributions make what we do possibly and we will always be grateful for the opportunities you give us."
Elaine Harden Award - Exemplifying the L in EGL
Elaine Harden Award - Exemplifying the L in EGL
We are thrilled to share the exciting news that our engineering organization has been honored by the College of Engineering with the prestigious Elaine Harden Award! This award, presented to the engineering student organization that best exemplifies dedicated leadership and service to the community, recognizes our unwavering commitment to excellence and our significant contributions to Michigan Engineering. Our organization thrives on a culture of passionate support and professional development, deeply rooted in our four pillars: Global Education, Leadership Experience, Engineering Excellence, and Business Acumen. This year, we organized impactful initiatives such as the Global Bonanza, Celebration of Cultures, and our 16th annual Volunteer Abroad Program, which saw a record 48 participants engaging in culturally immersive experiences across three continents. We also revamped our Topics in Leadership (TiL) program and hosted our annual Chicago Professional Development Trip, which enhanced our members' networking and career development skills. Our involvement in the Tauber Institute for Global Operations led to significant achievements, with EGL teams winning top spots in the Spotlight competition.
This is not the first time our organization has been recognized with the Elaine Harden Award; we previously won this prestigious honor in 2013 and 2018. This continued recognition underscores our sustained dedication to leadership and service within the community. Through diligent budget management and successful fundraising, including a record-breaking Giving Blue Day campaign, we secured over $24K in contributions, enabling us to subsidize many of our key initiatives. Our strategic DEI plan led to impactful events like the Women's Panel and a new partnership with the Latino Community Center in Pontiac, MI. These experiences, along with our large-scale events like the Celebration of Cultures and Global Bonanza, have enriched the University community and provided our members with invaluable leadership opportunities. We are immensely proud of this achievement and look forward to continuing our mission of excellence in leadership, service, and community impact!
III. 2024 EGL Tauber Project Placements
III. 2024 EGL Tauber Project Placements
EGL Tauber 1s received their project assignments after spring break. They conducted scoping meetings and met with team dynamics coaches and their faculty advisors. Tauber 1s are looking forward to a summer full of new experiences! Feel free to reach out to them over the course of the summer!
IV. Graduate Sendoffs
IV. Graduate Sendoffs
Alexios Avrassoglou
IOE/IOE
Arrows Operations Manager at Target
in Chicago, IL
Santiago Currea
IOE/IOE
Arrows Operations Manager at Target
in Chicago, IL
I can't thank EGL enough for allowing me to discover who I am socially and professionally. The community EGL fosters is the best, and I am confident I would not be who I am today without the amazing members I have met throughout my time in EGL. Thanks to everyone who has contributed in any way to my involvement and development. You guys rock!
Jess Dillon
ME/ME
Junior Consultant
in TBD
I am so beyond grateful for my years spent with EGL and Tauber. I’ve learned so much and grown as both a leader and an engineer, and have so many amazing memories to look back on. I enjoyed the spontaneous moments in EGLife: a spur the moment trip to Puerto Rico, trying skiing for the first time ever with a group of new friends, and being a site lead for two amazing VA trips and experiencing all the chaos that comes with it. Forever, go blue! I’ll certainly be back to visit Ann Arbor in the future to pay forward my gratitude for such a lively organization.
Aidan Fitzgerald
IOE/IOE
Compliance Integration Engineer at Boeing
in Seattle, WA
Lizzie Hoyt
ChE/IOE
Automation Engineering Manager at Walmart
in Loveland, CO
EGL helped me meet such amazing people and changed my outlook on life and travel. It is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Won Kang
ME/IOE
TBD
in TBD
Judy Liu
IOE/IOE
Business Analyst at McKinsey
in Boston, MA
Roxana Martinez
BME/IOE
Business Analyst at McKinsey
in San Francisco, CA
Jared Pavlick
BME/IOE
Analyst at The Keystone Group
in Chicago, IL
Paulina Rajski
IOE/Design Science
Analyst at The Keystone Group
in Los Angeles, CA
EGL has brought me the most incredible friendships I could ask for, and individuals that I know will be friends with me for life. Without EGL, I would not have learned as much as I have, explored the world as much as I have, or been challenged to push myself as much as I have. With EGLs, I ran my first half marathon, I traveled the world with, I volunteered with, I tailgated with, and more. This student org has shaped my college experience and for that I will always be grateful for.
Isabel Rolfe
IOE/IOE
Automation Engineering Manager at Walmart
in Seymor, IN
Investing in EGL is so worth your time. I look forward to returning as often as I can and continuing to give back to this community.
Neal Sinha
ME/ME
Operations Engineer at Legrand
in Los Angeles, CA
EGL was the single best decision I made in undergrad. Through this organization, I have met so many lifelong friends and roommates that I would have never been able to had I not joined. I gained so much valuable professional experience that aided me tremendously when searching for full-time jobs.
Farzad Siraj
CS/CS
Software Engineer at MemryX
in Ann Arbor, MI
Nick Tran
IOE/IOE
Project Management Industrial Engineer at Boeing
in Seattle, WA
I wouldn’t be who I am without EGL. This org has formed my core memories of my college career since Sophomore year, and I'm so so so grateful for everyone that I have had the pleasure of meeting through the program. These are the people that have supported me through incredibly stressful moments, who have been by my side for the ups and downs of academic and professional experiences alike. From the flights (we're gonna need a new pilot to pick these up) to the parties to the VA trips, EGL has really shown me how awesome it is to have a group of leaders and friends surrounding you. Thank you for making college some of the best years of my life :)
Allen Zhao
MSE/MSE
TBD
in Walled Lake, MI
Hang out with your EGL classmates as much as you can. Time flew by, especially the SUGS year, and I wish I had spent more time amongst the EGL class.
An Ode to EGL - Everything Good in Life
By Alexios Avrassoglou
I joined EGL in Winter 2021, with my introduction being a rather unexciting, groggy, sick, lost-voice unmute on our Zoom January GBM where I shared my name and major. I had COVID at the time, and in my quarantine housing on North Campus, I found myself more excited than ever to go to this huge Zoom with 60 people on it and actually connect with someone. Subsequent GBMs, joining EGL subcommittees and TiL 1 followed that semester—all some of the limited sources of social interaction in an otherwise secluded semester, and all times of excitement.
Despite these, I would be remiss in saying that EGL was at the forefront of my mind as an involvement in college, since I still struggled to make personal connections without in-person interactions. At the end of the semester, vaccinations and testing meant that we could do the end of year picnic at Burns Park in person with masks and distance, and that brought glimpses of a positive future. In EGL I found a lot of sporty characters, epitomized by our intense soccer game where it was new members vs all (and an epic win by us underdogs). I would leave that semester looking forward to connecting more with EGLs in Hawaii on our Volunteer Abroad experience.
I nervously monitored COVID levels throughout the summer as we feared they could rise too high and cancel the trip—thankfully they didn’t. Through some coordination in the group chat, we decided to get to Oahu, Hawaii a few days early and stay a few days after to explore the culture and area more. I remember getting to Waikiki and sitting on the beach with Joey and Sam, basking in the awe-inspiring sunset that day.
The sun may have been setting on the day, on the beach, but it was also closing another chapter—it was the last day I had any doubts about wanting to become deeply involved in EGL’s community. I was suddenly in a brand new place learning about a brand new culture with brand new people—all things that excited me! The next 10 days that followed, I gained an immense understanding of the Hawaiian history, culture, and way of life by engaging with Native Hawaiians, learning about their connection with the land and water, and aiding in environmental conservation efforts. We happened to be there in Hawaii Statehood Day right after the volunteering ended and we all wanted to go to a museum to learn about the Hawaiian history even more. I felt grateful for EGL being able to provide such a culturally immersive experience at a subsidized cost—all while giving me a community which was equally or even more curious, engaged and adventurous. I still think of the barbecue we had on the beach where we reflected on our experiences, and talked for hours under the stars as we learned more about each other.
I thought to myself from that point on, what is it that connects EGLs? I was a part of a few clubs that had application processes, but those had fellow students select whether they get in or not. EGL was the prestigious Engineering Global Leadership Honors Program, which required a resume, interviews with directors of Tauber, Honors, and EGL, long essays, and even a letter of recommendation! (I didn’t even feel like I knew my professors well enough at that point after the first year to request one, but alas it worked out!). In my head, I thought I was joining a Program where people are super focused on their academic pursuits and the draw of an internship, and didn’t give much thought to other aspects. But I quickly realized that in the EGL Pillars are hidden these shared characteristics of our members which explained why we get along so well.
EGLs have an appreciation for culture—the International Minor, study abroad, Volunteer Abroad, and cultural events in the Society all underline that interest. We study abroad together, we volunteer together, and we share our own cultures and stories with each other (often through tasty food!).
Alright then, that’s the Global part of the equation. What else is there? Ah yes, the interest in Business and Operations through Tauber. What does it mean to be a Global Engineer? We want to see how systems work together, how people interact with systems, and how to manage big changes and improvements. We work towards developing our interpersonal and technical skills which culminate in the high-impact Tauber project. Engineering is not a siloed off practice specific to just solving one problem. It requires an understanding of intercultural relationships and global processes, and finding the commonalities and themes of problem solving across different domains. EGLs learn this and apply it to their internships, clubs, academics, and through the Tauber Institute.
Then there’s leadership—the EGLs I met in my time all had leadership positions in other organizations and wanted to get involved in a lot, even early in their college careers. I remember fondly on my Topics in Leadership series led by Noah, Celia, and Channing and EGL graduate students who would talk about their experiences in leading and would impart their knowledge on us.
So, the shared interests result in the following—a collection of college kids who like to seek out new experiences and cultures, learn how systems work, create meaningful change, and lead groups of people. These characteristics led to a culture that was for me addictive. It made me feel good meeting people who shared similar values, yet were still applying it to very different interests. Over the years, each new member class has brought in an excellent attitude and deepened sense of commitment, hallmarks of the EGL culture that has been cultivated
On top of all this—EGLs have some of the best dance moves I know, and will take over any dance floor, around the world (I’ve experienced it with EGLs in 6/7 continents—Antarctica will have to wait!) and we love to be outside.
This made my job as External VP in 2023 easy (our shared values, AND good dance moves). My job was to talk about EGL and share the great things our students can and do accomplish to our alumni, families, friends, Michigan community, and prospective students. There are too many great examples to pull from my time—endless incredible Society events, older students and alumni mentoring the new, leadership growth, nights, trips, countries, camping and ski trips.
The other perk of being EVP was that I got to send many emails and communications to our EGL family. With this responsibility, I liked to sign off my emails with some play on EGL—favorites included EGLove, EGLads and Lassies, EGLegends, EGLinkedIn. In my final communication, I thought of a new one—Everything Good in Life. Sure it’s a big thing to say, maybe overly-romantic, etc. but that’s how I feel. EGL did not only give me the best friends, but it gave me people to learn with, mature with, grow with, explore with, watch concerts with, work out with, eat good food with, and dance around the world with. For me, that’s Everything Good in Life, and it’s an attitude that I have adapted as I seek out new experiences—I search for the things that bring goodness to my heart and soul, and the people I surround myself with (many EGLs) do the same.
My last official Society event as an EGL was the End of Year picnic where the departing seasoned and wiser-by-age Master’s students give their advice to the younger students. Many shared sentiments of investing in the EGL community and your friends, not taking anything too seriously, and focusing on your health. It was a lovely day, highlighted by yet another soccer game—our class vs all—ending in another victory this time with a last minute goal (nice job Jared), just how it all began. (Not too bad from the old, rickety Master’s students vs the new young runners!)
Currently, I am on a post-graduate trip to Asia and Oceania with my fellow EGL best friends. It’s with them that I can navigate the ambiguity of figuring out what to do in a country and maximize our time 24 hours before getting there. It’s with them that someone can volunteer to take the lead on planning and excursion and will execute it to a tee. It’s with them that I can continue to converse and dance throughout the world. The Tauber Project certainly helped us with developing our above average ability to navigate such ambiguity in new and unfamiliar places!
The first sunset in Hawaii in 2021 was beautiful and marked the end to the chapter of not really knowing what EGL was all about. Conversely, I also recall the much more recent 3:30AM wake-up three days ago to do a sunrise hike to the top of Roy’s Peak in New Zealand with fellow EGL graduates Jay, Lizzie, and Nick. Sure—I’ve now graduated and am writing this reflection in the plane, but this trip does not mark an ending of my time in EGL, but rather a fresh start. The sun has risen on the start of my involvement as a member of this incredible alumni community. I will look forward to every call for alumni involvement for the next generation of committed, inspiring, and adventurous EGLs, who always do their best to seek out Everything Good in Life.
Grad Memories
Congratulations, you will be dearly missed!
What is the Alumni Advisory Board?
The EGL Student Society encourages our alumni to stay involved in the EGL community not only by advising current students, but also by growing the off-campus EGL community worldwide. To strengthen the EGL alumni community, the Alumni Advisory Board (AAB) constitution is being redrafted to emphasize alumni-alumni and alumni-student connections.
President
Campaign Lead
Homecoming Lead
General Member
General Member
General Member
General Member
General Member
Geographical Leads
Texas
Ann Arbor
Chicago
New York
San Francisco/Bay Area
Seattle
**Currently Open**
Dan Kiefer (2013)
Erik Knapp (2017)
Amit Shah (2006)
Cassie Walls (2007)
Katie Bevier (2012)
Jonathon Morof (2016)
Jonathan Opdyke (2000)
**Currently Open**
Shannon Brewer (2000)
Dan Adsit (2021)
Max Boykin (2017)
Noah Barr (2003)
Leila Syal (2019)
Questions or comments about EGL or the EGLink? Email us at egl.board@umich.edu
Published by Justin Wong, 2024 EGL Alumni Chair
EGL Honors Program
251 Chrysler Center
2121 Bonisteel Blvd
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2102
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