Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2013 | 页面 6

ST EM

“Thinking outside the box” with David Skidgel ‘83

Structural engineer David Skidgel ‘83 at
Wright-Pierce’s office in Portland.

was earning his bachelor’s degree in science-based people. It’s critical for
In the world that structural engineer
the future. One of the things that I’ve
engineering there and took courses
David Skidgel ‘83 inhabits, the office
found is that people think of
from Dana Humphrey. That was just
coffee table is strewn with
engineering as purely technical, but
the beginning of Skidgel’s
magazines entitled “Water & Sewer”
engineering career that has included public speaking and writing are also
or “Engineering News Record.”
essential. Engineers are always
earning an M.S. in engineering and
Digital architectural drawings glow
presenting ideas to groups.” Science
working for 20 years as a structural
on his computer screen, penciled
engineer at Wright Pierce, a civil and Department Chair Christy Lajoie
calculations neatly line his notepad,
agreed with Skidgel.
and stacks of architectural
plans for the wastewater
“As a structural engineer, one of the major “Engineers can’t just sit in a
treatment projects that he
appeals is the wide variety of projects that hole and do math. You have
to read well and write well.”
designs for Wright-Pierce
we undertake, and within most projects
Skidgel plans to return to
tower on tables. This
there is always something new and
campus and share his
summer, Skidgel was one
challenging. Because of this I am able to
structural engineering
of the people most excited
think ‘outside of the box’ and design creative experience with students.
to watch the televised
solutions when the situation arises.”
He hopes to encourage
press conference about
them to consider an
Thornton Academy’s
engineering career. “It’s a thrill
innovative partnership with the
environmental engineering firm
University of Maine College of
based out of Topsham. On his recent seeing one of my designs built. But
the most fun is when there is a
Engineering (see p. 9, 16). Listening
visit to meet with Thornton
wrinkle in a project that forces you to
Academy’s science teachers,
to the University of Maine’s Dean
think outside of the box.”
Skidgel echoed Dana Humphrey’s
Dana Humphrey speak in Saco in
August reminded Skidgel of his days passion for the importance of
-P.E.
engineering. “We need more
at the University of Maine when he

6

POSTSCRIPTS