Gas is not expensive if you get 1,000 miles per gallon


By University Relations

he 14th annual IMSTEA Super Mileage Challenge produced winners that achieved more than 1,000 miles per gallon on April 27 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.

April 28, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The 14th annual IMSTEA Super Mileage Challenge produced winners that achieved more than 1,000 miles per gallon on April 27 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.  Forty Indiana high schools entered 60 cars in the competition.

A team from Greenfield Central High School achieved 1,048.79 miles per gallon in the stock class and in the unlimited class a team from Evansville Mater Dei High School won with 1,293.09 miles per gallon.

The Super Mileage Challenge is held under the auspices of the Indiana Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education Alliance (IMSTEA).  IMSTEA is a non-profit, educational organization composed of teachers, administrators, business persons and concerned citizens.  It is dedicated to improving the technological literacy and competence of Indiana’s citizens.

Vincennes University, one of the major sponsors of the Super Mileage Challenge, provided its facilities and personnel at the Aviation Technology Center in Indianapolis for the technical inspection.

Stock class allows no modification to the engine and unlimited class allows engine modifications.  The students build their own cars under the supervision of a faculty member.  They are responsible for the design and construction of the car and for raising all funds needed for the project.  Briggs & Stratton Corp. furnishes the engines, but all other items must be either purchased or donated by sponsors.

To be eligible to compete, each school must submit a detailed technical proposal covering all aspects of the design and construction of the car.  Such things as aerodynamic drag, friction forces, braking forces and cornering forces must be calculated and discussed in detail.  The proposal insures that the students are exposed to the scientific principles of high mileage as well as the technology of building the car.

In addition to VU, other major sponsors of the event include O’Reilly Raceway Park, Briggs & Stratton Corp., Universal Technical Instititute, East Enterprises, Gregg Steele, Mike Fitzgerald, and Jim Thompson.

LIST OF PARTICIPANT SCHOOLS:  

Avon High School, Avon IN 46123
Belmont High School, Decatur IN 46733
Cascade High School, Clayton IN 46118
Delta High School, Muncie IN 47303
Eastern Greene H. S., Bloomfield IN 47424
Fairfield Jr./Sr. High School, Goshen IN 46526-8502
Forest Park High School, Ferdinand IN 47532-9222
Franklin Community High School, Franklin IN 46131
Frontier Jr./Sr. High School, Chalmers IN 47929
Goshen High School, Goshen IN 46526
Greenfield Central H. S., Greenfield IN 46140
Hagerstown Jr./Sr. High School, Hagerstown IN 47346-1099
Hamilton Heights High School, Arcadia IN 46030
Homestead H. S., Fort Wayne IN 46814
Jac-Cen-Del High School, Osgood IN 47037
Jasper High School, Jasper IN 47546
Kankakee Valley High School, Wheatfield IN 46392
Lafayette Jefferson High School, Lafayette IN 47905
Mater Dei High School, Evansville IN 47720
Mishawaka High School, Mishawaka IN 46544
New Castle Area Career Programs, New Castle IN 47362-2995
New Lothrop High School, New Lothrop, MI 48460-0339
North Daviess High School, Elnora IN 47529-9781
North Montgomery High School, Crawfordsville IN 47933
Paul Harding High School, Fort Wayne IN 46816
Pike Central High School, Petersburg IN 47567-8378
Princeton Comm. High School, Princeton IN 47670-8321
North Vermillion High School, Cayuga IN 47928
Rochester High School, Rochester IN 46975
Shelbyville High School, Shelbyville IN 46176
South Spencer High School, Rockport IN 47635
Southridge High School, Huntingburg IN 47542
Sullivan High School, Sullivan IN 47882
Terre Haute South Vigo H. S., Terre Haute IN 47802-4192
Triton Central H. S., Fairland IN 46126-9713
Triton High School, Bourbon IN 46504
Warsaw Community H. S., Warsaw IN 46580
Wawasee High School, Syracuse IN 46567
Whitko High School, South Whitley IN 46787
Winamac Community H. S., Winamac IN 46996-9701

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Indiana in Afghanistan photo exhibit at VU

VINCENNES, IND. - “Indiana in Afghanistan,” a collection of images taken by Vincennes native, author, and world traveler Douglas A. Wissing, will be exhibited at Vincennes University’s Shake Library Sept. 24 through Oct. 1.  Wissing will discuss his Afghanistan experience in a presentation on Sept. 30, 11:00 a.m. EDT, at the Library.  Admission is free and the public is invited.

For more information about the exhibit or presentation, contact Robert Slayton, VU Dean of Learning Resources, at 812-888-4165.

About the presenter

Wissing is a journalist who was embedded with the Indiana National Guard’s Agribusiness Development Team.  From that experience, he wrote and produced "Cultivating Afghanistan," a 15-part radio series team.  He is an award-winning journalist and author, who has contributed to publications that include The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Independent on Sunday (UK), Forbes Life, National Geographic Traveler, Travel+Leisure, ARTnews, Saveur, Gray's Sporting Journal, Asia Times, and Salon.com.  He is the author of “Pioneer in Tibet: The Life and Perils of Dr. Albert Shelton,” which covered the early Western exploration of Tibet and the explorer who introduced Tibet to America.  For more information, visit www.douglaswissing.com.

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VU enrollment continues to grow

VINCENNES, IND. – Vincennes University system-wide enrollment is up more than 500 students compared to last year on the same date, according to Kristi Deetz, senior director of External Relations.

Based on enrollment on Aug. 27, the end of the first week of classes, Deetz said that VU’s full-time-equivalency (FTE) enrollment is currently up 9.7 percent, and that enrollment is continuing.

The Vincennes Campus currently enrolls 5,952 students - up 3.8 percent - and due to a larger number of full-time students, FTE enrollment is up 4.5 percent.  This is the highest enrollment on the Vincennes campus since Fall 2002.  This total includes 2,131 students living in VU’s six residence halls which are at capacity.

The VU Jasper Campus FTE enrollment is up 2.1 percent, although the headcount enrollment of 918 is down 12 students.  The reason is that a higher proportion of VUJC students are enrolling full-time.  This is a record enrollment for VUJC.

VU enrollment is also up in Indianapolis:  42 percent at the Aviation Technology Center and 27.3 percent in the American Sign Language program.

Deetz said that while other VU programs are early in the enrollment process, there is growth there also.  For instance, Distance Education is up 12.7 percent in FTE enrollment.

“One of the issues we addressed back in 2004 was enrollment,” said VU President Dick Helton.  “There had been enrollment losses for several years so we focused on bringing students to not only Vincennes, but also the Jasper Campus, ATC, and University-wide.  We went at this with a dedicated effort and we had a lot of people involved in trying to turn this enrollment around.  We are very fortunate that has occurred.  We feel good where we are but, as I share with our Admissions counselors, we have to remain competitive, we have to remain committed to it, and we have to remain passionate about it - and I think we are doing that at this point.”

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY - Indiana’s First College

VU is state-supported with campuses in Vincennes and Jasper and additional sites such as the Indianapolis International Airport.  VU also offers instruction at military sites throughout the nation.

In addition to offering 200 associate degree and certificate programs, VU also offers bachelor’s degree programs in technology, homeland security, nursing, secondary education programs in mathematics and, science, and special education/elementary education.

VU enrolls students from throughout Indiana, 24 other states, and 26 countries.  Tuition and fees are the lowest among Indiana campuses with residence halls.  VU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Founded in 1801, VU is Indiana’s first college and is the only college in the nation founded by an individual who would later become President of the United States.  William Henry Harrison, the ninth U.S. President, founded VU while serving as governor of the Indiana Territory.  

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VU grateful for quick help from Dept. of Transportation

VINCENNES, IND. – Motorists going to Vincennes University’s new John Deere Ag/Diesel Building will proceed more safely, thanks to quick action by the Indiana Department of Transportation.

VU requested the Department’s help in preparation for the opening of the $2.5 million John Deere Ag/Diesel Building.  The facility was dedicated on Aug. 25 and six days later an 800-foot turning lane was completed.  The turning lane is designed to assist northbound traffic to safely proceed to the facility that is located at the Southwest Purdue Ag Center just north of Vincennes.  

“The safety of our students, faculty, and staff led us to request the construction of this turning lane,” said Phil Rath, vice president of Financial Services and Government Relations.  “We are delighted at the outstanding cooperation and prompt action of the Indiana Department of Transportation in completing this safety project.  VU is particularly grateful to Troy Woodruff and Dave Lane for their dedicated efforts to complete this project.”

VU paid for the design and engineering of the project and the turning lane was constructed by the Dept. of Transportation.  

“The Indiana Department of Transportation is always looking for partnerships and opportunities to make our roads better and safer,” said Troy Woodruff, INDOT Commissioner of Operations.  “Working with Vincennes University to combine resources was a classic win-win situation for both of us.  Together we created a safe turn lane for the students and traveling public, while also being good stewards of tax dollars.”

The 34,000 square-foot John Deere Ag/Diesel Building features two classrooms, a conference room, a John Deere Lab, a diesel technology lab, and related offices, including facilities for the Purdue Extension Office.

Speakers at the building’s dedication said they believe a growing number of students will be attracted to programs at the site.  “As future students tour campus and this facility, I believe they will be amazed.  Enrollment will go up, and they will become proud alumni of Vincennes University.  This building will be here for many years, will help educate many students, and will move Indiana agriculture forward,” said Don Villwock, president of the Indiana Farm Bureau.

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY - Indiana’s First College

VU is state-supported with campuses in Vincennes and Jasper and additional sites such as the Indianapolis International Airport.  VU also offers instruction at military sites throughout the nation.

In addition to offering 200 associate degree and certificate programs, VU also offers bachelor’s degree programs in technology, homeland security, nursing, secondary education programs in mathematics and, science, and special education/elementary education.

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New VU facility will meet growing need for skilled technicians

VINCENNES, IND. - Citing a growing need for skilled technicians, industrial and farm leaders saluted Vincennes University for opening its $2.5 million John Deere Ag/Diesel building on Aug. 25.

Located at the Southwest Purdue Ag Center just north of Vincennes, the facility was hailed for the partnerships that will lead to promising careers.

“I congratulate the visionary people with John Deere, the visionary people at Vincennes University and its Board of Trustees for approving this,” said Don Villwock, president of the Indiana Farm Bureau.  “In today’s high tech world in agriculture, we need the best and brightest students.”

Villwock said that farm machinery breakdowns can cost farmers $1,000 per hour.  “If it were not for this program, we could sit many, many hours waiting for someone to be there to help us,” Villwock said.

Craig Hansen, who represented the John Deere Corporation at the dedication, said that there is a great need for qualified technicians.  “[the need] is going to continue to grow in the future.  We have an aging technician population and we will need well-educated students to replace them,” Hansen said.

100825 Villwock-Hansen
                            From left to right: Craig Hanson and Don Villwock.

Because of the company’s commitment to provide a quality customer experience, Hansen said that it is important to hire well-trained technicians.  “The technician is our face to the customer,” Hansen said.


The 34,000 square-foot facility features two classrooms, a conference room, a John Deere Lab, a diesel technology lab, and related offices, including facilities for the Purdue Extension Office.

“We have an excellent facility that is well equipped thanks to our partners such as John Deere, and this will have long-term benefits for our students.  We have expectations that this program will grow from this day forward,” said VU President Dick Helton.

Villwock agreed that the facility should boost enrollment.  “As future students tour campus and this facility, I believe they will be amazed.  Enrollment will go up, and they will become proud alumni of Vincennes University.  This building will be here for many years, will help educate many students, and will move Indiana agriculture forward.”

Speaking about the diesel lab, Bud Myers, general manager of Indiana Truck Sales, Inc., said, “This is pure state of the art.  All I can say as I look around is ‘Wow!  What a job.’  It could not be better.”  Myers said that graduates will find excellent careers.  “There is a tremendous need for the talents you students can provide.”

Art Haase, dean of the VU Technology Division, thanked all of the partners who made the new building possible, saying, “This is all about teaching students the new technology.  From the faculty’s perspective, this is a dream come true.”

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY - Indiana’s First College

VU is state-supported with campuses in Vincennes and Jasper and additional sites such as the Indianapolis International Airport.  VU also offers instruction at military sites throughout the nation.

In addition to offering 200 associate degree and certificate programs, VU also offers bachelor’s degree programs in technology, homeland security, nursing, secondary education programs in mathematics and, science, and special education/elementary education.

VU enrolls students from throughout Indiana, 24 other states, and 26 countries.  Tuition and fees are the lowest among Indiana campuses with residence halls.  VU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Founded in 1801, VU is Indiana’s first college and is the only college in the nation founded by an individual who would later become President of the United States.  William Henry Harrison, the ninth U.S. President, founded VU while serving as governor of the Indiana Territory.  More information is available at www.vinu.edu. 

John Deere Ag Tech 2010-08(2)

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Time to Register For Your Emergency-Text Alert Subscription

Beginning Wednesday, July 28, 2010, new subscriptions and renewals will be accepted for the Emergency-Text Alert System. There is no charge to subscribe to the service and subscriptions are good  for one academic year. (Texting fees may apply based on your carrier plan).  Subscriptions may be cancelled at anytime.

If you were previously enrolled in the E-Text Program, you will need to sign up again.

  • To enroll, visit your MyVU account and follow the E-Text enrollment instructions.  
  • Only one cell phone per account may be registered.


About E-Text
The VU Emergency-Text Alert System system is one part of a multifaceted communication plan to keep the VU community safe and informed in the event of an emergency. The E-Text alert system is available to students, employees, and members of the VU community who have a MyVU computer web account.  Text messages will include occasional test messages, emergency notifications including weather related information, and class cancellations or delays.

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