“The IEEE tagline is ‘Advancing Technology for the Benefit of Humanity.’Student-led service-learning projects are exactly this! Active members of IEEE Student Branch Chapters will one day become active leaders in the IEEE,” said Dave Durocher as to why donors should support the EPICS in IEEE program. Durocher is a donor and supporter of the EPICS in IEEE program that provides grants to student teams to work with community organizations to solve local challenges.
Starting as a student member while attending Oregon State University in 1978, Durocher has been an engaged and dedicated IEEE member throughout his career. Today he serves as Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Industry Applications Magazine and remains active in the IAS Pulp & Paper Industry Committee (PPIC), serving as Emeritus Subcommittee Chair and 2026 Annual Conference Chair scheduled to take place in Vancouver, Washington.
Beginning in 2023, Durocher joined as the Technical Activities Board (TAB) Representative on the IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board. It was then that he first learned about the EPICS in IEEE program. “I have dubbed this program as “the best kept secret in the IEEE.” I immediately signed up to become an EPICS in IEEE proposal reviewer and later worked with Stephanie Gillespie, EPICS in IEEE chair, and IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS) leadership to sign an EPICS in IEEE Partner Agreement,” said Durocher.
The partnership started in early 2024. “This partnership has been successful and earlier this year, following a Call Proposals, 78 IAS Student Branch Chapters submitted proposals, and recently, 11 projects were funded.”
In addition to supporting the EPICS in IEEE and IAS partnership, Dave extended his support by making a personal donation to the program.
Durocher is very familiar with the IEEE Foundation and the dozens of programs it supports. He has even helped establish some of these funds during his IEEE career. This includes the James A. Rooks Memorial Grant Program, which offers travel grants to student interns and young engineering professionals to attend the annual PPIC Technical Conference.
“This year, the EPICS in IEEE Fund became an addition to my annual IEEE Foundation giving,” said Durocher. “I maintain an active Donor Advised Fund and it is simple to use this to set up grants to the Foundation, designating EPICS in IEEE as the recipient. I have plans to donate to the IEEE Foundation EPICS in IEEE account again on Giving Tuesday.”
Durocher chose to donate to EPICS in IEEE to support their mission and to help increase the program’s impact. “It seems there are more community needs and inspiring ideas by students to help, than funds to support them. In my charitable giving, I am hopeful that additional funding will help bridge this gap.”
The 2024 IAS and EPICS In IEEE partnership is well underway and last month the IAS Board approved plans to continue the partnership into 2025. EPICS in IEEE thanks David for his support and commitment to the program. It is donors and partners like David who are helping to take our program to the next level.
“I am looking forward to the completion of the IAS-sponsored projects. I am both proud and inspired by the dedicated members of these IEEE IAS student branch chapters,” said David.IAS and EPICS in IEEE await the completion of successful projects that were funded in 2024. Stay tuned to future issues of IEEE Industry Applications Magazine and the EPICS in IEEE Newsletters, which will report on the completion and societal impact of these projects!
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