Rochester Delta Pi
Rochester, NY 14623
As a result of the efforts of Dr. Wayne Walter, faculty member in the Mechanical Engineering Department, the Delta Pi Chapter of Pi Tau Sigma was installed on May 14, 1977 at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Dr. Edward Jerger, national president, Dr. Joseph Gartner, eastern regional vice-president, and Dr. Hudy Hewitt, national secretary-treasurer, were present to officiate at the installation ceremony.
The Delta Pi Chapter promotes the high ideals of Pi Tau Sigma in the College of Engineering at R.I.T. by encouraging professionalism in Mechanical Engineering.
ANNUAL SUMMARY REPORTS
2023-2024 Victoria Beach President
During this past academic year, the Rochester Delta Pi chapter of Pi Tau Sigma initiated 14 new members. In addition to the national requirements, our chapter requires initiates to obtain signatures from at least 7 RIT ME professors.
Our dodgeball tournaments were a success again this year, acting as our largest fundraiser each semester. Our chapter completely organizes the events. Our members participated in the tournaments as organizers, tournament arrangement and management, and participants on our team. We had a full mechanical engineering faculty team, as well as multiple student teams for each semester.
In the fall we held our first ever research open house. This event was organized by members. Mechanical engineering faculty were given an opportunity to showcase their research. Participants were given lab descriptions and a map to walk around and learn more about faculty research.
To wrap up the year, we continued our tradition of the annual PTS Senior Pig Roast. We cooked over 50 pounds of pork shoulder. The pig roast serves all faculty, staff, and graduating seniors in the Mechanical Engineering department at no charge to those served. The pig roast is sponsored by the mechanical engineering department.
2021-2022 Eryn Dolan
President During this past academic year, the Rochester Delta Pi chapter of Pi Tau Sigma initiated 5 new members during the Spring semester on April 22, 2022. In addition to the national requirements, we also asked our initiates to fill out a questionnaire with questions about our professors. This allows for initiates to learn about professors in the Mechanical Engineering Department. After initiation was complete, the E-Board and a few other active members of our chapter took our newest members out to a celebratory dinner. In the both the Fall and Spring, Delta Pi also hosted semi-semesterly midterm tutoring sessions for the core undergraduate engineering classes. These sessions give students the ability to ask questions and simulate test conditions with practice problems. For some students, it can be their first interaction with material of this caliber. It is also a great opportunity for the members of Delta Pi Chapter to give back to the RIT Mechanical Engineering community, which our members have found great success in. The sessions returned to being held in person.
Throughout the year Delta Pi continued to use a points system, where members earn points for attending meetings, participating in tutoring, and other activities within the organization. This was used in order to encourage our members to stay active within our chapter and to encourage involvement in events outside of meetings. Delta Pi again held its midterm tutoring sessions. We also participated in ImagineRIT, a festival, held at RIT, where students and clubs can show off projects displaying creativity and innovation. Delta Pi Chapter assisted another local Mechanical Engineering club with their exhibits which center around fluids.
2020-2021 Dan Measer President
During this past academic year, the Rochester Delta Pi chapter of Pi Tau Sigma initiated 20 new members. In addition to the national requirements, our chapter adjusted our chapter specific requirements to follow Covid-19 guidelines. We asked our initiates to fill out a survey to gauge their interests and skills. This allows our E-Board to tailor the organization to what our members want to participate in. We also introduced a questionnaire for the initiates to fill out with questions about our professors. This allows for initiates to learn about professors in the Mechanical Engineering Department, in lieu of face to face contact.
In the Fall, Delta Pi also hosted semi-semesterly midterm tutoring sessions for the core undergraduate engineering classes. These sessions give students the ability to ask questions and simulate test conditions with practice problems. For some students, it can be their first interaction with material of this caliber. It is also a great opportunity for the members of Delta Pi Chapter to give back to the RIT Mechanical Engineering community, which our members have found great success in. The sessions were held over zoom. We also held virtual social events for our members, playing interactive games like Among Us.
Fall 2020 Delta Pi Initiate Class with Chapter Officers and Advisor
In the Spring, Delta Pi returned to a points system, where members earn points for attending meetings, participating in tutoring, and other activities within the organization. This produced an uptick in involvement from the Fall and we will continue to utilize this system moving forward.
Spring 2021 Initiate Class with Chapter Officers and Advisor
Delta Pi again held its midterm tutoring sessions. We also participated in ImagineRIT, a festival, held at RIT, where students and clubs can show off projects displaying creativity and innovation. Delta Pi Chapter created a socially distant Rube Goldberg machine, to showcase the use of simple machines and engineering principles. This was achieved by having members film separate sections of the machine and stitching them together into one video.
To promote engineering development within the Chapter, we hosted an Autodesk/Fusion 360 general overview seminar on Zoom. In order to foster partnerships within the department, we opened this event to the RIT ASME Chapter. Members enjoyed learning about the advantages of Fusion 360, including generative design. For social events, we held a Jack Box Game Night.
Unfortunately, the Annual Spring Career Fair was held on Zoom, so we were unable to volunteer. We look forward to next year’s career fair, hopefully in-person.
At this year’s virtual National Convention, we were honored to accept Co-Winner of the Outstanding Chapter Award. We look forward to supporting next year's National Convention in person!
2019-2020 Dan Measer President, Carly DeLeonardo Treasurer
During this past academic year, the Rochester Delta Pi chapter of Pi Tau Sigma initiated 6 new members. In addition to the national requirements, our chapter requires initiates to obtain signatures from all RIT Mechanical Engineering professors.
In the Fall, Delta Pi held its annual Dodgeball Fundraiser where seven teams competed to win gift cards from local restaurants. Our club solely organized the event and received help from the RIT Club Dodgeball team who volunteered as referees. Our members participated by organizing the tournament schedule, securing sponsors, and playing on our club team. The tournament was our biggest fundraiser this year to help fund the convention. Delta Pi also hosted semi-semesterly midterm tutoring sessions for the core undergraduate engineering classes. These sessions give students the ability to ask questions and simulate test conditions with practice problems. It is also a great opportunity for the members of Delta Pi Chapter to give back to the RIT Mechanical Engineering community, which our members have found great success in.
In the Spring, Delta Pi held the 2020 National Pi Tau Sigma Convention. It was a privilege and an honor to meet everyone from Chapters across the nation. The Convention consisted of speakers, seminars, and socials. Members from across the country arrived at the RIT campus on Friday and enjoyed dinner featuring a keynote address by Tom Peeples, Sr Technical Project Manager of Goodyear, followed by a fun game night social at our campus Sports Zone. Saturday was packed full of events including the Autodesk Seminar, Employer and Graduate School Panels, and the Career Fair. On Saturday night, guests were able to listen to the keynote speech by Mike Fields. Delta Pi initiated its Spring Class along with the Speakers as Honorary Inductees. Also presented were the ASME/PTS and PTS Chapter awards. Following the Saturday Dinner, all members enjoyed a night of bowling and games at Radio Social in downtown Rochester.
To support the RIT Community, members of Delta Pi volunteer to help set up for the University-wide Spring Career Fair. The Spring Career Fair is RIT’s main opportunity for students to talk to the potential co-op and full-time employers. Annually, it draws over 260 companies and 5,000 students. Members of Delta Pi participate in set-up and tear down in order to give back to career services and network with employers.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Delta Pi was unable to do a number of its activities such as ImagineRIT and the annual PTS Senior Pig Roast. ImagineRIT is a campus-wide festival that celebrates the innovative spirit of the RIT Community. Every year Delta Pi has a booth where we exhibit six simple machines and interact with the audience to encourage and incite passion for engineering. We also had to cancel our 2020 Senior Pig Roast. Every year we roast pork and serve it to the Seniors and Faculty as a celebration of their hard work and as thanks for their service to the Chapter.
2018-2019 Zachary Grguras Secretary, edited by Anthony Iannuzzi President, and Carly DeLeonardo Treasurer
During this past academic year, the Rochester Delta Pi chapter of Pi Tau Sigma initiated 16 new members. In addition to the national requirements, our chapter requires initiates to obtain signatures from all RIT ME professors.
Our chapter began convention planning in earnest as we continued with our annual events that benefit our members, our department, and the greater community. As in years past, our members volunteered at RIT’s career fair both semesters, helping staff and recruiters set up employers. Our volunteer work helps recruiters prepare themselves for the event and our members to network and enhance RIT’s reputation. We also continued with our involvement in the department with our student-led tutoring sessions for the core curriculum. Before each of the ten core MECE midterms, our chapter hosts review sessions that last two hours. Students can walk in, ask questions, and receive additional practice.
For the 4th year in a row, our chapter hosted a booth at ImagineRIT. Our booth is “6 Life-Sized Simple Machines.” We presented history on each machine and allowed hundreds of local children to experience the mechanical advantage of each one. All six machines were built by our members and updated this year. Members volunteered from 9:00 until 5:00. Our table was one of 400+ this year, all with the purpose to educate and excite local families about STEM fields.
Our annual dodgeball tournament was a success again this year, acting as our largest fundraiser. Our chapter completely organizes the event. This year, the RIT club dodgeball team volunteered as competitive level referees. Our members participated in the tournament as organizers, sponsor searchers, tournament arrangement and management, and participants on our team. We had a full mechanical engineering faculty team, as well as a dozen student teams. We successfully involved local businesses as sponsors for prizes, awarding the top two teams gift cards. The tournament along with our monthly pizza sales are the primary source of income to fund operations, and the annual pig roast.
To wrap up the year, we continued our tradition of the annual PTS Senior Pig Roast. We smoked over 100 pounds of pork shoulder overnight. Members socialized, studied, watched movies and played video games, while monitoring the cookers. The pig roast serves all faculty, staff, and graduating seniors in the Mechanical Engineering department at no charge to those served.
2017-2018
This year, the Rochester Delta Pi Chapter continued on with many of its annual events to benefit our members, our department, and the greater community. As in years past, our members volunteered at RIT’s career fair both semesters, which involved helping staff set up employer booths and helping recruiters unload their materials. Our volunteer work allows recruiters to ready themselves sooner and our members to network and enhance RIT’s reputation. We also continued with our involvement in the department with our student-led tutoring sessions. Before each of the ten core MECE midterms, our chapter hosts a review session. The sessions last two hours and students can walk in, ask questions, and receive additional practice. Among the ten sessions, we had at least 20 members volunteer to run at least one the sessions. This year, the range of students attending was between nine and eighteen for each of the sessions.
For the 3rd year in a row, our chapter also hosted a booth at ImagineRIT. Our booth, “6 Life-Sized Simple Machines”, presented history on each machine and allowed hundreds of local children to experience the mechanical advantage of each one. All six machines were built by our members and uodated this year. This year, members vollunteered from 9:00 until 5:00, Our table was one of 438 booths this year, all with the purpose to educate and excite local families about STEM fields.
In order to defray the costs of the national convention and our other events, our chapter continued its fundraising strategy from the previous year. This past fall, we completed our 2nd dodgeball tournament. This tournament, completely organized and run by PTS, is what funds our spring events. Our members participated in the event in various roles, including refereeing games, contacting sponsors, organizing logistics, and even playing on a PTS team. Anyone from RIT was invited and we specifically encouraged professors to participate in the event. We had both mechanical and computer engineering faculty teams, as well as a dozen student teams. We also successfully involved local businesses as sponsors for the prizes, allowing the top three teams to be awarded t-shirts and gift cards. Overall the tournament was very successful and helped us raise the funds to send 5 members to the Miami convention and to fund our annual pig roast.
To wrap up the year, we continued our traditionof holding the annual PTS Senior Pig Roast. We use a custom recipe to dry rub over 100-lb of pork shoulder and then stay awake overnight to monitor the pork smokers. Through the night, members socialized, studied, watched movies and played video games. The pig roast serves all faculty, staff, and graduating seniors in the Mechanical Engineering department at no charge to those served. Among all these events, we had almost every active member in our chapter participate, 42 in total. Our service and social events are growing each year and we are aiming higher next year with planned kickball and volleyball events with the professors and national convention planning.
