...MIMIC...

NEWS ARCHIVE

LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBER NOMINATED FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AWARD

Daniel Brongel of Spring Valley, who returned to become a student leader at Illinois Valley Community College following more than 40 years at Sauer-Danfoss in LaSalle, is the college's nominee for the statewide Lifelong Learning Award.

Brongel, 65, was chosen as the nominee for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association award because of his leadership in the college's engineering technology program and in the Making Industry Meaningful In College (MIMIC) project.

Brongel has used his industry experience to become a leadership team member, organized with support of a National Science Foundation grant.  He also worked on a team in MIMIC, a project that allows teams of engineering, electronics and business students to design, produce, market and sell products. 

Following two years at IVCC predecessor LaSalle-Peru-Oglesby Junior College in the early 1960s, Brongel worked at Sundstrand and Sauer-Danfoss for 41 years until it closed.

Instead of retiring, Brongel opted for a second career in computer-aided engineering.  He returned to IVCC in spring 2007, and this semester is enrolled in Auto CAD, 3-D computer animation, Computer Aided Design II, engineering design concepts and design projects.

In December 2008, he will earn his associate's degree, and he plans to produce design projects or Solidworks drawings for a manufacturer or from his home as a consultant.

His ability to return to school in his mid-60s, where he works alongside and shares his lifelong expertise with 20-year-olds, has drawn admiration from his instructors.

"Daniel is a model for lifelong learners," said Dorene Perez, program coordinator and instructor of computer aided design and engineering.  "He could have retired or chosen a far less demanding second career but instead devoted himself to a challenging new profession."

Brongel always emphasized the importance of education to his two children and now his four grandchildren.  When he explained he was going back to college because he wasn't working, his 7-year-old grandson Austin cautioned, "Well you know you have to work in school, grandpa."

And well he has.  His grade point average is 3.6 on a 4.0 scale.

The Lifelong Learning Award celebrates the accomplishments of students older than 50.  Brongel and all nominees are invited to the ICCTA's June 6 awards banquet in Springfield where the statewide winner will be announced.