Rensselaer Magazine, December 2002: At Rensselaer

Back to Contents

Student Life

Photo by Kris Qua.

Senior Gift Makes Splash

The senior class has traditionally presented the Institute with a gift. Past bequests have included a clock, a time capsule, the granite “Rensselaer” sign on the lawn of the Student Union, and the formation of a scholarship fund. The Class of 2002 chose to give $2,500 toward the cost of wooden cabinetry to support a new 330-gallon saltwater aquarium in the north lobby of the Student Union.

The aquarium was donated to Rensselaer after Nicholas Allers ’02, an electrical engineering major who is the founder and president of Rensselaer’s Aquarium Club, designed a Web page for Inter-American Pet Supplies in Calgary, Canada. In return, the company built the glass tank that Allers also designed. Allers, who became aware of the company from online aquarium message boards, built most of the filtration units and electrical outlets. The aquarium holds a variety of life, from spaghetti worms and copepods to starfish and long-spined sea urchins.

The total cost of the cabinet set, which consists of a vertical cabinet, aquarium stand, and hood, was $7,000.

“We think the aquarium is a nice addition and adds a little more life to campus,” says Christina Bapst ’02, Class of 2002 president. “The university just did a beautiful job in renovating the Union, and this is our small contribution to that.”

Rensselaer Magazine: December 2002
President's View	Your Mail	From the Archives	Hawk Talk	Class Notes Features

Front Page	At Rensselaer	Milestones
In Memoriam	Making a Difference	Staying Connected

Rensselaer Home Page | RPInfo | AlumServ Home Page

Rensselaer (ISSN 0898-1442) is published in March, June, September, and December by the Office of Marketing and Media Relations.	Opinions expressed in these pages do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or the policies of the Institute.
© 2002 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. All rights reserved worldwide.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 110 8th St., Troy, NY 12180. (518) 276-6000 Web site design by the Rensselaer Office of Communications. Contact Jane Van Ryan, Assistant Vice President, Office of Communications. Questions? Comments? Please contact us.