A strong attendance was evident by the MTU Chem Eng Alumni who gathered recently in the Maryborough House Hotel to mark the 40th anniversary of chemical engineering education at Cork RTC/CIT/MTU.
There was a great turnout including 240 Chem Eng graduates, final years, Chem Eng Soc representatives, distinguished guests and programme and support staff. The average attendance for each of the 40 classes was 27% and well done to the Class of 1990 who had an amazing attendance of 72% on the night.
President of MTU, Professor Maggie Cusack, and finance minister Michael McGrath joined the department to celebrate the occasion.
Michael McGrath said: “On behalf of the government, I want to congratulate all the team at MTU at reaching 40 years of professional chemical engineering education. It is an extraordinary story of success and has been integral to the economic transformation of Ireland over the past number of decades.”
Guest of honour
Dr Matt Cotterell, head of the School of Mechanical, Electrical, and Process Engineering made a presentation to the guest of honour, the first female graduate, Bridget Sparrow (neé O’Sullivan) from the Class of 1984.
Sparrow thanked MTU for the opportunity to represent all of the women that have graduated as chemical engineers in the last 40 years and gave a very inspiring acceptance speech, said a spokesperson for the Chem Eng 40 organising committee. "More than 70 of the alumni attending on the night were women and it was fantastic to gather them all together for a photo to celebrate International Women’s Day," she said.
She added that Dr Aisling O ‘Gorman, programme coordinator, "did a superb job in bringing all of us down memory lane over the 40 years with finesse and humour relaying the strong sense of community that exists between students, staff, graduates, and our industrial partners.
"A few of the alumni and staff got special mentions by Aisling as she reminisced about the many events and occasions that took place over the 40 years.
"Dr Brendan O’Connell (head of faculty) marked the recent retirement of our Chem Eng lecturers, Noel Duffy and Pat Kennedy, honouring their contribution to MTU (CIT/RTC) over many years. Noel and Pat received a spontaneous standing ovation from all of the attendees. Dr Michael J O Mahony (head of dept.) had the hardest task of the night, being master of ceremonies, but successfully steered the evening.
"Thanks to our sponsors Arcadis, Eli Lilly, Irish Cement, International Flavors and Fragrances, Jacobs Engineering, Johnson and Johnson, Merck Group, MSD, PM Group, Sterling Pharma, Thermo Fischer and Viatris".