November 12, 2025 150 years of ME history to celebrate Written By: Caitlin Scott Departments: Mechanical Engineering Categories: Alumni|Community|Event The 2025 ME Engineers’ Day event was filled with special memories, recognitions, and guests. Alumni, current faculty, emeritus faculty, staff, students, friends, and family gathered in the Discovery Center Building to celebrate at our annual Engineers’ Day luncheon. Two ME alumni were recognized with College of Engineering alumni achievement awards. Amir Mirzendehdel received the 2025 Early Career Award and Donald Wahlin received the 2025 Distinguished Achievement Award. Esteemed ME alumnus Dean Devesh Ranjan shared remarks, highlighting the difference and impact ME students are making across the state. Continuing the yearlong celebration of our 150th anniversary, Department Chair Darryl Thelen premiered the ME150 hype video. The hype video is an energizing look at what ME has been and how it continues to grow. We honor the past, celebrate the present, and engineer a better tomorrow. Check out the hype video here. The main attraction of the day was a Special 150th Anniversary Lecture by Professor Emeritus Tim Osswald. Osswald calls himself a ‘reluctant historian’ and is a wealth of knowledge on all things ME. His ‘Tales from the Department’ talk had attendees laughing, groaning, and most of all, remembering together. Check out the history lecture capture here. Thank you to everyone who joined us from near and far! From our wisest attendees from the class of 1962, to the invaluable members of our ME Industrial Advisory Board, to our freshest, current student leaders, our Mechanical Engineering community is better and brighter than ever. Cheers to the next 150 years! Department Chair Darryl Thelen welcomes attendees Special lecturer Tim Osswald & entourage Amir Mirzendehdel received the College of Engineering 2025 Early Career Award for ME Alumni had the chance to chat with current student leaders Chair Darryl Thelen and Former Dean Ian Robertson with alumnus Bjorn Borgen (BSME ’62) ME admin office staff table at EDAY 2025 Dean Devesh Ranjan (PhDME’07) shares a few remarks A table stacked with a former student, 2 former department chairs, and a current teaching professor! Professor Emeritus Tim Osswald shares his special lecture Members of the ME Industrial Advisory Board are some proud Badger Engineers! Top image: Development Director Brad Green, Dean Devesh Ranjan, Bjorn Borgen, and Former Dean Ian Robertson smile for a picture at the Mechanical Engineering Engineers’ Day luncheon in November 2025.