Fellowship Seeds Florida Tech Student Entrepreneurship Chapter

– Dr. Carmo D’Cruz, Florida Tech associate professor of engineering systems, was awarded the Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellowship for the 2004-2005 academic year. The fellowship, which will allow him to establish a Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter on campus, was given in recognition of D’Cruz’s pioneering contributions to the field of engineering entrepreneurship.

D’Cruz is applying the entire fellowship stipend to start up the new organization and has begun to solicit matching funds. “At Florida Tech, SIFE will be an umbrella student organization to promote entrepreneurship throughout the campus and the Space Coast. We hope the organization will synergize all interested groups in the entrepreneurial spirit,” said D’Cruz.

The SIFE is a global, non-profit organization that organizes highly dedicated student teams on more than 1,600 university campuses in 40 countries. The organization offers students the opportunity to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise.

D’Cruz teaches courses in engineering entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. He also organizes an “Engineering Entrepreneur in the Spotlight” seminar series. The next seminar, on Feb. 25 at 4 p.m., in the F.W. Olin Engineering Complex Auditorium will focus on “Entrepreneurial Opportunities in the Hydrogen Economy”. For more information, contact D’Cruz at (321) 674-7058.