2019 ANNUAL REPORT

2019 Year in Review Highlights

Rasesh Shah’s Gratitude Results in Engineering Career Center Gift

Rasesh Shah came to The University of Toledo, like many college freshmen, “as a bright-eyed 19 year old.”

The move to Toledo, however, entailed additional challenges for the young immigrant, who arrived fresh from Mumbai, India. “I left home at 19 and came to America with big dreams and a desire to work hard, but with not much in my pockets.”

Thankfully, the UToledo community eased his transition and equipped him for success in both his new home and subsequent career. “The faculty and staff here embraced me, educated me, and set me on a path to realize ‘The American Dream,’” he said.

After graduating in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Mr. Shah moved to Chicago for a job opportunity. But he soon jumped at the chance to return to Toledo to work for The Andersons, Inc. He also resumed his studies at UToledo, receiving a master’s in industrial engineering in 1982 as well as an MBA in 1986.

“Since my college days, I have been a proponent of The University of Toledo’s quality education, rich student life, and its faculty and staff,” he said. “I still get nostalgic every time I drive past campus, and I am continually amazed at the growth and quality of this fine institution.”

After enjoying a long and fulfilling career at The Andersons, recently retiring as president of the company’s rail group, he has had time to reflect and to thank those who helped him along the way. “I feel it is my turn to return something to the school, city, and country that adopted me,” he said. “I try to live by the maxim — to whom much is given, much is expected.”

With that in mind, he and his wife, Shilpa, have made a $500,000 gift to create the Shah Center for Engineering Career Development, housed in Nitschke Hall. The new center, dedicated in April, will support exciting opportunities in career readiness and professional development for engineering students.

“The College of Engineering prides itself on being just one of eight schools in the nation with a mandatory co-op program, and now students will be able to expand their hands-on learning experiences across the world,” said Angie Gorny, director of the Center. “We cannot thank Rasesh and Shilpa Shah enough for their generous gift and for partnering with us to help prepare our future engineers to meet global challenges and discover solutions through teamwork and innovation.”

“I knew before I began my service as the dean that the College of Engineering has special relationships with loyal alumni and regional employers who contribute substantially to our ability to achieve our mission,” said Michael Toole, dean of the College of Engineering. “The gift from the Shahs is a wonderful example. Their warm personalities, kind spirit, and strong commitment to the Toledo area and UToledo make me proud to have their names on the College of Engineering Career Development Center.”

“I credit much of my success to The University of Toledo and specifically the College of Engineering,” said Mr. Shah, who received the College’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2007. “I am a big believer in the co-op program, which enhances the students’ educational experience, reduces the cost burden, and almost guarantees a job with a top company upon completion.” He noted that UToledo students are hard-working and talented, and that the engineering co-op program not only provides students with a high-quality job, but also allows Toledo “to retain our best and brightest.”

His gratitude, along with his wife and children’s belief in philanthropy, helped pave the way for their support of UToledo. “I know my gift cannot compare to what the University community has done for me, but hopefully it will help create more job opportunities for our students,” he said. “My goal is to offer guidance and to fine-tune an already excellent program. Hopefully, our giving can meaningfully impact or change at least one life and leave this world a smidgen better.”

Mr. Shah has many memories of wonderful experiences at UToledo. “However, more importantly,” he said, “I look forward to hearing some of the new stories and memories that The University of Toledo is creating for its students.”

To make your own gift to the College of Engineering, contact Jennifer Hall at jennifer.hall4@utoledo.edu or 419.530.5303.

UToledo and Scholarship Support Help Student Turn Her Life Around

After a failed marriage at a young age, along with a lack of direction and a few admittedly poor life choices, Lydia Ratterree experienced a sudden epiphany. The Georgia native, then living in Las Vegas, realized she needed to make a move — figuratively and literally — to change her life.

“I realized I needed to separate myself from everything I had ever known in order to discover who I truly am,” she said. “I decided to move here, to Toledo, with an acquaintance, to ‘start over,’’’ she said.

The first few months were difficult. “I had a duffel bag, a borrowed car, and a serving job,” she said. “I often found myself sleeping in the car or on the couch of a near stranger.”

Fast forward to 2019: Ms. Ratterree now attends The University of Toledo full-time, feels gratified by her major, lives on her own, and has spent many hours in the University’s Counseling Center. “I have been able to find a strong sense of direction in my own life,” she said.

Much of that personal and career direction was found here, at the University, she said.

Her current goals are to work in the foster, school, and prison systems, through which she hopes to better assist the communities they each serve. “It is a professional goal of mine to be an advocate and ally to the minority groups greatly affected by injustices within these systems,” she said. “I believe apathy of others has become a stumbling block for further progress.”

Ms. Ratterree is also planning on adding her own voice to the call for change. In addition to her social work major, she is also an English minor. She hopes to use those skills to write about issues of race for an audience who may not be affected directly by such issues. She plans also to write an autobiography or memoir in hopes of helping others by sharing her story.

“When I applied here, I lacked a lot of the confidence I needed to assert myself and my thoughts and opinions. Thanks to the wonderful, encouraging, patient professors and faculty, I have found my voice and have gained immeasurable amounts of confidence in myself and my capabilities,” she said. “It is also through the diversity-oriented classes provided in the school’s curriculum that I have learned so much about the world.” Her experience here has also taught her how to think analytically, she noted.

It has been especially helpful that the University was so accommodating to her as an adult student, she said. “I was fairly anxious about returning to school several years older than my peers. I was unsure of how welcome I would be within the classroom, and unsure when initially navigating the application process as a returning student,” she said. “Much to my great relief, my success coach, advisors, professors, and fellow students have all helped provide me with an incredible sense of belonging.”

Scholarships she received, including the Frank E. Horton Presidents Club Scholarship and the Huntington Bank Opportunity Scholarship, have added both financial stability and encouragement. “As a young woman who came to a new city alone, with little direction and no support system, it means so much to me to receive such generous support,” Ms. Ratterree said. “The fact that others believe in me shows me that I can continue to believe in myself. And it further drives me to be that encouragement for others. "

“There is no doubt in my mind,” she said, “that I would not be where I am today if not for the incredibly supportive community at The University of Toledo."