Dentel Wins Slocomb Award

By Diane S. Kukich

When Steve Dentel was asked to be the faculty advisor for the new Engineers Without Borders (EWB) chapter at UD two years ago, he never dreamed that a service activity would quickly grow into a passion. 

“This has been a pleasure that I never anticipated when I agreed to advise a student organization,” he says.  “These kids are passionate about what they’re doing with EWB, and it has turned out to be the most unique and rewarding teaching experience I’ve ever had.”

The time, energy, and emotion that Dentel has put into EWB were recognized in May 2008, when he was selected to receive the Slocomb Excellence in Teaching Award from the College of Engineering.  Dentel was cited for his “caring attitude toward students in the College and demonstration of an exemplary commitment to public service, community involvement, and innovative activity.”

His EWB advisement activities have spilled over into the teaching arena through a seminar he teaches.   “The class enables the students to get credit for some of the work they’re doing, and it’s a learning experience for them to make a compelling argument for their work,” Dentel says.  “They do all of the work in preparing a detailed proposal to the national EWB organization.  I just steer them in the right direction and help them make some of the broader decisions.”

To date, the primary project initiated by the UD EWB chapter has been providing a potable water system to a rural community in Cameroon.   But Dentel emphasizes that not all of the students have traveled to Africa and that there are lots of other opportunities for members to contribute—for example, giving presentations to community groups and hosting awareness-raising activities on campus.  “I don’t even know about a lot of the stuff they’re doing,” Dentel says.  “They just take the initiative to do things on their own.”

One concept Dentel has tried to instill in the EWB members is the importance of story-telling.  The trips to Africa have yielded many human-interest tales as the team interacts with members of the community, especially children.  He encourages the students to incorporate these anecdotes into their EWB presentations to emphasize the human and cultural value, not just the engineering aspects, of what they’re doing.

“We’re really impressed with what Steve has done to get this organization launched,” Michael Chajes, Dean of Engineering says.  “EWB is growing rapidly, and it’s gratifying to see so many talented college students interested in being part of an organization whose entire mission is to help others.”

“I can't imagine anyone more deserving of recognition than Dr. Dentel,” says Julie Trick (BCE2008), who played a leadership role in EWB as  a senior and plans to stay active as an alum. “He has taught me not only to be a better engineer but also to be a better person.  Through his dedication to EWB, he helps students not only become technically proficient engineers but also globally responsible ones.  At the University of Delaware, Dr. Dentel has brought engineering education out of the classroom and into a small African community, where students have the opportunity to experience engineering applications and their benefits first-hand.”