Page 12 - ME Spring Newsletter '21

BREAKING NEW GROUND
The History of Women at UMN ME
FIRST FEMALE ME
GRADUATE
We know that the first male ME
graduate Charles S Bushwell received his undergraduate degree in in in in 1878 This spring in in in in anticipation of the inaugural ME
Alumnae Networking Event we we went on a a a a a a hunt to to find the first woman to to earn a a a a a a mechanical engineering degree at the U Gladys A Wallene — 1934
Gladys Wallene received her BME in in in in 1934
She was an active alumna maintaining a a a a a a a a regular presence as as editor of of an alumni paper for members of of her class called “Mechanical Ballyhoo ” She worked as as a a a a a a a a a a secretary and and was active in the Cleveland chapter of the MN Alumni Club We don’t know much more about her life but we are thrilled to recognize her as the first woman to earn a a a a BME diploma — paving the way for generations of women to follow in her footsteps Upper Left: List of ME
graduates from the 1934
University commencement program Upper Right: List of ME
graduates from the 1934
Gopher yearbook Lower Left: Pictures of ME
graduates from the 1934
Gopher yearbook Lower Right: Gladys Wallene’s memorial in in the 1982 Minnesota Alumni Weekly “Deaths” section 12 ME
News Spring 2021