FREE FOOD: Last week during Engineering Week, students shoved down as many hot dogs with buns as possible in four minutes to win $50 in cash. While no one else could manage more than five, winner Andrew Chan (EECS senior) scarfed down six dogs by dipping the hot dog buns in a mug of water so they were easier to chew and swallow. The engineering-minded approach seemed to work, proving that a big brain is better than a big stomach in a hot dog eating contest. The event’s sponsors, officers of the ChemE student society, AIChE, said that while dozens participated, no one got sick.

One senior reflects on his time at Cal and how he’s spending his last month

The last month of college is often similar to the first month. It’s scary, exciting, hectic, stressful, fun, confusing and full of anticipation for the future. As a tribute to all seniors, E-news asked one senior to recount what he’s learned and what he’ll most remember about college. We took a look at his experiences, aspirations, and how he’s spending his last precious month of college.

Andy Jessop is what some may call a late bloomer. The ME/MSE senior spent his first two years at Cal playing “obscene amounts of frisbee and video games” during his free time. But at the end of his sophomore year he got involved with the Formula SAE race car team, which introduced him to student society life. Once he got a taste of it, Jessop says, he was hooked...[FULL STORY]

Friends cross the finish line in honor of alum who died during Bay to Breakers race

Three days before EECS alum Nicholas Ng (B.S.’96) died during last year’s Bay to Breakers race, he went on a vigorous 15-mile bike ride with his college buddy Cliff Lin. Ng was in great shape. He worked out, snowboarded, skied and rode mountain bikes. He had a degree from Cal, an M.B.A. from UCLA, a new engineering job at Altera and his whole life ahead of him.

Last May the unthinkable happened during the race. While he had no alcohol in his system and was running at a moderate pace, Ng collapsed and had a seizure in the last half mile of the 7.5-mile course. He died on his way to the hospital, leaving shocked and grief-stricken family and friends behind...[FULL STORY]

Why does the Senior Gift Campaign support the Berkeley Engineering Fund?

In the last few years, due to a significant decline in state support, the Senior Class Gift committee has directed the class gift to the Berkeley Engineering Fund (BEF)...[FULL STORY]

Silicon Valley entrepreneur and engineer Dado Banatao will talk on investing in technology

Perhaps it was Dado Banatao’s technological pragmatism, instilled by his engineering background, that helped him succeed during the Silicon Valley downturn several years ago. He escaped unscathed as tech companies and dot-coms went belly up and investment capital dried up around him.

“I survived the downturn because I didn’t invest in the dot-coms but rather stuck with unique technology products. I believe the value of a company is based on the value of its product or the technology embedded in that product. In a downturn, the rate of adoption changes, but technology is always stable. People will always buy things that are truly valuable,” says Banatao from the office of his Palo Alto investment firm, Tallwood Venture Capital...[FULL STORY]

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