Grand Valley State University: Retiring Professor Leaves Lasting Wake With Wooden Shoe Regatta
August 06, 2026
August 06, 2026
ALLENDALE, Michigan, Aug. 6 -- Grand Valley State University issued the following news:
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Retiring professor leaves lasting wake with Wooden Shoe Regatta
By Michele Coffill
Shirley Fleischmann, professor of engineering, stood in a shallow towing tank with a bottle of champagne, ready to christen nearly 70 small wooden sailboats designed by students. Those boats would soon be put to the test in a race across a 9-foot course with "wind&q . . .
* * *
Retiring professor leaves lasting wake with Wooden Shoe Regatta
By Michele Coffill
Shirley Fleischmann, professor of engineering, stood in a shallow towing tank with a bottle of champagne, ready to christen nearly 70 small wooden sailboats designed by students. Those boats would soon be put to the test in a race across a 9-foot course with "wind&q . . .