WVU Engineers Week to feature lectures, prizes, competitions

 

A full slate of activities, including lectures by two corporate executives, the chance to win great prizes and a first-ever video competition, highlight a week of activities planned in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University as part of National Engineers Week, scheduled for February 21-27.

The week of events, which is sponsored by The Williams Companies, kicks off on Monday, February 22, with a lecture by Kim Simpson, director of product operations at Continental Tire's Mount Vernon, Illinois, location. The lecture, entitled, "What Motivates Me," will be held at 10 a.m., in room G83, of the Engineering Sciences Building. A reception follows. Simpson, a self-proclaimed tire builder, has spent the past nine years at Continental in a variety of leadership positions. Attendees will have the chance to win an Apple iPad at the conclusion of the lecture

On Tuesday, February 23, David Wade, vice president at Air BP America's Performance Unit, will present a lecture on leadership. The event will be held at 9 a.m., in room 101, of the National Research Center for Coal and Energy. Wade, whose efforts are focused on commercial development of growth projects in supply and marketing of aviation fuel, was recognized as a Business Leader of Color by Chicago United in 2013. In 2015 he received the Multicultural Leadership Reward from the Illinois Diversity Council. Attendees will have the chance to win an Apple Watch at the conclusion of the lecture.

The Eaton Corporation will host Engineer Appreciation Day on Wednesday, February 24. From 8:30-10 a.m., students will be treated to a pancake breakfast on the first floor of the Engineering Sciences Building. At 11 a.m., students are invited to test their trivia knowledge by playing "Jeopardy" in the ESB atrium. Boxed lunches will be provided.

Rounding out the day is the Engineering Career Fair, featuring a LinkedIn photo booth, from noon-2 p.m., in the ESB lobby. Approximately 20 companies will be in attendance.

"Career fairs are one of the best and most direct ways for students to connect with employers regarding internships, co-ops and full-time employment," said Sarah Glenn, associate director of employer relations in WVU's Career Services Center. "In the age of virtual recruiting, students should take advantage of that fact that so many employers will be located in the hallways of the Engineering Sciences Building during Engineers Week."

A new event - an interdisciplinary  video contest - challenges students to answer the age-old question: "What do engineers do?"

"We often get asked what students can do with an engineering degree," said Mary Dillon, director of marketing and communications in the Statler College. "We've decided to go straight to the source - our students - for the answer."

The contest, which is open to students in all disciplines at WVU, challenges teams of no more than three students to produce a video of 90 seconds or less that helps answer the question. Teams must be interdisciplinary - they cannot include students in the same major - and must include at least one engineer.

Members of the winning team will each receive a GoPro Hero+ HD action camera with members of the second place team each receiving $50 Best Buy gift cards.

Other events scheduled during the week include the College's second annual essay contest, which is an effort to increase the public dialogue about the need for engineers and to bring engineering to life for students, educators and parents. Also scheduled are the annual Society of Women Engineers formal and Merit Badge University for Boy Scouts, both planned for Saturday, February 27.

Additional financial support of these activities has been provided by The Thrasher Group.

"Engineers Week is a wonderful opportunity for us to share the important work being done by our students and faculty with the rest of the University and the community at large," said Gene Cilento, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the Statler College. "It's also a chance for us to celebrate our students. We are grateful to our sponsors - The Williams Companies, Eaton and The Thrasher Group - for their financial support of these events."

Founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, National Engineers Week is an annual event that celebrates professionals in all fields of engineering and computing.

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