Craig Baudendistel - 2014
MHS 2001 Graduate
Dr. Craig M. Baudendistel, class of 2001, was nominated by his parents Sherly and Jack Baudendistel. Since graduating high school, he has earned his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctoral degrees in the ñeld of Mechanical Engineering from Wright State University (WSU). His dissertation during his graduate studies focused on energy-based methods for fatigue crack growth along bimaterial interfaces.
Baudendistel graduated from Minerva High School at the top of his class, earning a full tuition valedictorian scholarship to WSU. As class president and senior captain of the football team and a member of numerous school clubs, his most notable achievements included the WHBC Scholar Athlete of the year in Stark County, the Robert H. Hines award for academics, and one of the first to march in the band dressed as a member of the football team his sophomore year. He was also able to excel in his pursuit of an engineering degree by interning at PCC Airfoils his senior year and attending Kent State and Walsh Colleges for post-secondary college credit.
Upon graduating from WSU with his Bachelor’s degree, Craig was awarded with the Outstanding Student in Mechanical Engineering and Dean’s Commendation for his senior design project involving the Society of Automotive Engineer’s Offroad Mini Baja Competition. Inducted into the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society as a sophomore, he completed his undergraduate career Summa Cum Laude.
Baudendistel continued his higher education at WSU after turrning down scholarships at Virginia Tech and Clemson Universities for the chance to teach at the college level during his graduate studies at WSU. Upon earning both a competitive fellowship and research scholarship through the Dayton Area Graduate Studies Institute, he was given the opportunity to take classes from, not only WSU, but the University of Dayton, the Air Force Institute of Technology, and Sinclair Community College. While doing so, he performed experimental research at the Air Force Research Labs RL) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAF B). He has since been published in national journals and conference proceedings.
Craig’s love of teaching has been fostered since junior high where he was a karate instructor at the local YMCA. During his undergraduate years, he was employed by WSU as a calculus/algebra tutor in addition to his co-op job at WPAF B. In graduate school, Baudendistel earned two Outstanding Teaching Awards in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) as the instructor for Mechanical Design I and teaching assistant for Introductory Engineering Mathematics, Finite Element Analysis, and Strength of Materials classes.
Since graduating with his PhD, Craig has continued teaching as an adjunct professor in multiple capacities. In addition to WSU he instructs a college level course at local high schools supporting the dual enrollment program at Bellbrook High School and the Dayton Regional STEM School.
Craig is currently employed by Universal Technology Corporation as a research engineer at WPAF B working for the Structural Analysis Group in the Engine Integrity Branch.
Married to entrepreneur photographer Erika Jane Ingebo, the Baudendistels volunteer through their local house church affiliated with Apex Community Church in support of the Xenia Women’s Center, Xenia Famiy Violence Prevention Center, and other local Xenia families. They also support Apex through the coffee ministry and media team operating the sound system for the praise band. Both are extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve others and give complete credit for any and all successes to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.