Tag Archives: information technology

From software to 3D carriage wheels

When asked what he does in his spare time, Lynn Roth ’99 mentions his 3D printer, home built with the help of open source plans. He’s printed “doodads,” his catch-all word for a variety of objects to replace, repair or decorate things around the house for his wife, Anita, and a horse or two, as ...More

In defense of learning weird stuff in college

Running a power plant effectively requires keeping tabs on an awful lot of data relating to fuel consumption, power output, weather conditions, grid demand, etc. & etc. And in turn, keeping tabs on all this data effectively requires clever software that allows users to visualize and understand what might otherwise be a confounding torrent of ...More

Falling backwards into God’s calling

Dan Shenk-Evans ’92 characterizes his career in technology as “falling backwards” into God’s calling. For years, every position he sought in direct social ministry eventually led him reluctantly to a computer, where he would quickly solve IT problems and streamline organizational workflow. “I wasn’t sure I would find meaningful work in computer science. I thought ...More

Teaching how to sell

If you’re a real estate agent in 2014, having a website isn’t an option. It’s a must. That can be challenging, though, because you may well be about 56 years old – the average real estate agent’s age in 2014 – and you’ve probably been in the business since long before “website” was a part ...More

One of 8 doing I.T. at Ten Thousand Villages

Each holiday, Rick Rutt ’84 and his family add an ornament from Ten Thousand Villages to their Christmas tree. This year, 14 ornaments from different countries hang from its branches, a sign of Rutt’s commitment to the business and its values. When Rutt purchases gifts for himself and his family, he has a special affinity ...More

A little bit of everything in schools’ I.T.

If a computer glitch threatens to derail something like a state-required proficiency test at Harrisonburg (Virginia) High School, Craig Shoemaker’s phone is bound to start ringing. “[Teachers] get anxious,” he said, chuckling. “I’m the one they try to get a hold of.” A computer resource technician with Harrisonburg City Public Schools, Shoemaker (’78) likens his ...More