Student and Parent Reflections...

Less than a year ago, Michael Lenau was a senior at the University of Delaware majoring in mechanical engineering.  Today he is the lead project engineer on a four million dollar project for his employer Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APCI).   When his Houston, Texas based project is completed, he will be off to Korea to help complete one of the firm’s global ventures.  And this is only the first year of his firm’s three year rotational program.

And less than five years ago Mr. Lenau graduated from CFS, where, the second of three brothers to attend the School, he wrestled on Mr. Smith’s team and ran track for Coach Horsey.  While he says he was not a natural athlete, his coaches pushed him to do his very best.  This spirit, which he says permeates the CFS culture, makes “you mentally tough and resilient.” 

“I always knew I wanted to be an engineer and received lots of insight in Mr. Otero’s math classes, which I loved,” Mr. Lenau explains, describing how he strove to continuously improve, first at CFS and later  at the University of Delaware.  With a number of job offers even before graduation, he settled on APCI and its three year rotational program.  Currently, he works with a team of ten engineers, coordinating design and construction efforts for an air separation installation.

At work, he continually employs a mindset acquired at CFS—“I see every problem as solvable, and don’t give up until we find a solution.”  Each day, he makes calculated decisions on the job, gaining experience open to few college graduates.  “CFS gave me my focus,” Mr. Lenau concludes.  “100% of my class went to college, and we were all prepared to do the best that we possibly could.”