Fall/Winter 2007

Sherman gift provides students with hands on experience

It was more than 60 years ago when Norman Sherman roamed Miami University's campus as a student, and the institution on his college degree actually reads Ohio State University. But Sherman, the president of Sherman Tooling, Inc. in Fairborn, Ohio, is not letting time or technicalities block his way from repaying an old debt.

"Miami gave me the chance to get started with my college career," Sherman said. "It was a smaller school, and people took an individual interest in you. I got a lot of help from my professors, and the experience put me on the right track."

Sherman, whose two years at Miami were split by his service in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, arrived on campus as a freshman in 1943. He returned for his sophomore year in 1946, spending another year before transferring to Ohio State to pursue his engineering degree.

At that time, Miami did not have an engineering program. Today, Miami's School of Engineering and Applied Science is undergoing unprecedented expansion, including the near completion of a new engineering complex. That progress made the timing Sherman gift provides students with hands on experienceperfect for Sherman to express his gratitude with a substantial unsolicited gift.

"I wanted to show my appreciation to Miami University, and the expansion of the engineering school gave me the incentive to do something right now," Sherman said.

With Sherman's gift, the Engineering Department has purchased a computer numerical controlled (CNC) vertical mill that is going to be the crown jewel of Miami's fabrication laboratories. The top-of-the-line device will be used for class work and to create parts for student projects including the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Baja and Formula car competitions.

"This machine enhances our labs' capabilities in supporting student education and learning of advanced technologies," said Dr. Osama Ettouney, Chair and Professor, Dept. of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. "It will be used in almost every single course and student design project that requires machining."