West Haven, Conn., May 22, 2007 - When David Gruszkowski walks to the stage to receive his bachelor-of-science degree in industrial engineering (BSIE) from the University of New Haven (UNH) on Saturday, May 26, he'll know at least one person in the audience shares not only his tremendous sense of accomplishment, but a few butterflies as well.
After 17 years of study and innumerable family commitments, the 50-year-old father of five will receive his diploma during the University of New Haven spring commencement exercises at 10 a.m., in Robert B. Dodds Stadium, on the UNH campus. His daughter, Emily, will graduate from Ledyard High School on June 20 and attend Eastern Connecticut State University in the fall. David notes that beyond reaching significant milestones the same year, he and his daughter also share the same work ethic "She's one of those kids who've never had to be told to do her homework," Dave says. "We have the same drive and ambition, and when she knows what as to be done, she does it."
David, a project engineer at Northrop Grumman Newport News (NGNN) in Groton, describes his academic journey as "ride I will never forget." After high school, David joined the United States Navy to study computer systems, worked for a Virginia-based Navy computer contractor, and later switched jobs to remain in Virginia at NGNN. In 1997, he transferred to Connecticut and became part of the NGNN team that collaborated with Electric Boat to build the Virginia-class submarine. It was during that assignment that he decided it was time to take completion of an engineering degree more seriously. He had begun taking college classes in 1990, the year after Emily was born, but family commitments made it difficult to make college a top priority. Since beginning his academic career, he and his wife Sherry had another child and adopted two more. In addition, he built a house and moved three times before settling in Ledyard in 1997.
Now, David's academic accomplishments include Dean's List honors every semester; receiving the 2005 Institute of Industrial Engineers scholarship; election to the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society and a GPA above 3.9. Despite so many years already spent at UNH, David will be back this fall in pursuit of a master's degree in industrial engineering. He even admits to hopes of teaching at UNH in the future.
A leader in experiential learning, the University of New Haven provides its students with a unique combination of solid liberal arts and real-world, hands-on professional training. A private University founded in 1920, UNH has a full-time undergraduate enrollment of more than 2,400 students-with 70 percent residing on its 80-acre main campus-and a graduate school enrollment that exceeds 1,700. The University offers more than 80 undergraduate degrees and more than 25 graduate degrees through its four colleges, in fields such as sports management, nutrition and dietetics, forensic science, music and sound recording, engineering, computer science, fire science and criminal justice. University of New Haven students study abroad through a variety of distinctive programs.
xxx