Page 11 - CEGE Magazine Spring 2021

BCE 1994
Alumnus Marcus Thomas Steps Up to Help EWB UMN Land a Rotary Grant
When enthusiastic and dedicated students can tap into the passion and experience of our alumni, amazing things happen. Like when alumnus Marcus Thomas (BCE 1994) and the student chapter of EWB USA UMN
collaborated to bring in a $15K grant from Rotary International District #5950.
“I wanted to step up and do this,” said Thomas, “because I could see that
the missions of Rotary and EWB were aligned and I knew I could help make
it happen.” Marcus Thomas is a CEGE alumnus, a member of CEGE’s Profes- sional Advisory Board, and a dedicated member of the Burnsville Rotary Club. “Originally, I saw involvement with Rotary primarily as a way to make some business connections. However, I soon came to embrace the Rotary vision and the chance to get involved in and give back to my community.”
Thomas knew that his club (and others) made small, periodic donations to EWB UMN, and he had heard students from EWB UMN make presentations about
various projects at Rotary meetings. Thomas also knew that Rotary had some larger funds available. He began to talk with EWB UMN student leaders about the possibilities for a collaborative approach to help EWB UMN tap into Rotary’s international funds.
The students had explored a larger involvement with Rotary, but had not made much progress. International proj- ects can be complicated and expensive, and Rotary requires hands-on involve- ment from a Rotarian.
When Thomas got involved, the pieces began to come together. Thomas went the extra mile in helping EWB UMN apply for a District Grant in the Small Interna- tional project category from Rotary Inter- national District #5950. He connected the students with his home club, Burns- ville Rotary, and with the Apple Valley and Buffalo clubs to secure partnerships and funding commitments. Those commit- ments were essential before applying for a grant. Thomas agreed to act as a men- tor to the EWB UMN students during the design phase of the project.
The students worked hard to gather research and specify all necessary materials. The students and Thomas worked together to write, review, and revise the grant application. Students made a few practice presentations
to Rotary clubs and incorporated the feedback they received. By the time
of the formal presentation before the Rotary Grants Committee, the students were so smooth that Board members had no further questions. The grant was awarded that evening.
Lydia Anshus
(BCE, 2022) is the fundraising officer for EWB UMN and works on grant proposals. “I’ve been in contact with
the Burnsville, Buffalo, and Apple Valley clubs to express our thanks and sched- ule presentations. We are so excited about this partnership with Rotary and hope to continue working with them in our efforts to build sustainable water distribution systems.”
Teachers from EWB’s in-country contact Long Way Home speaking to a community member in Chirijuyu while performing the Demographic Survey (September 2020).
Currently, families in Chirijuyu have hand- dug wells that are likely contaminated and dry out at least once a year in the dry season. Students designed a water distribution piping system (combination pump and gravity system) with taps that will convey clean
water from a natural spring to 250 individuals throughout the community.
University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering | DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND GEO- ENGINEERING 11
ALUMNUS
MARCUS THOMAS