This past Friday, during University of Michigan homecoming weekend, I received the ECE Alumni Merit Award from the College of Engineering. I’ve known for a couple of months that I would be receiving the award, and that a condition of receiving it was that I had to present a lecture to the public. Preparing a new lecture is always a lot of work, but I didn’t mind it, because I knew what I wanted to talk about. My subject was the importance of community – in engineering, in entrepreneurship, and in life – and how my appreciation of community has evolved over the years. Of course, I focused on the work we are currently doing at the Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative: “engineering” a community of entrepreneurial innovators who are focused on improving the quality of life in cities.
A special wrinkle
Those who know me know that I couldn’t give a routine lecture on such a special occasion. I began and ended the lecture with a song by my all-time favorite musician, Stevie Wonder. I was accompanied – on the harp, no less – by Professor Maurice Draughn, an extremely talented multi-instrument artist who has actually performed with Stevie! The lecture began with “Love’s in Need of Love Today,” and ended with “If It’s Magic.” For a ham like me, that was the best aspect of the day.
Presence of U-M friends, students, and family made the event extra special.
College of Engineering Alumni Awards Dinner
Later that night, all College of Engineering award recipients were recognized at a dinner in the atrium of the beautiful Ford Motor Company Robotics Building. It was a great opportunity to see and hobnob with the other award recipients and their colleagues and family members.
Back to work
The awards program was fun, and the recognition gratifying, but what I appreciated most was the opportunity to once again stress the importance of focusing our U-M innovation and entrepreneurship community on the needs of urban residents, and the opportunities that accrue from doing so. I feel energized and even more motivated to do the work.