Students design a path to success
The College of Engineering at Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK) held a week-long event in honor of Engineers Week (E-Week). College as well as high school and middle school students had the opportunity to attend all events.
“Engineers Week is a time to celebrate everyone that paved the way for different programs that we have available. We celebrate the pioneers of engineering and everything that came before and what is available now,” Outreach Coordinator for the College of Engineering Dr. Cynthia Alvarado-Stinson said. “This is the time to celebrate and encourage everyone to try something new, especially with how technology is now.”
The College of Engineering began the week with Engineering Kick-Off on Monday, Feb. 21 at the Engineering Complex. Students, faculty, and staff had the opportunity to stop by to enjoy free food and drinks and learn more about the programs offered.
E-Week continued with a Showcase of Engineering Organizations on Tuesday at the Engineering Complex. Twelve organizations including the American Academy of Drilling Machinery, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers and more volunteered to share information to students, faculty and staff in attendance.
On Wednesday, Feb. 23, the College of Engineering held an open house. This event was open to the public and everyone in attendance got to experience what the student organizations had to offer and learn about engineering programs, meet faculty and discuss their project demos, the Javelina Engineering Student Success Center and Engineering Scholarships.
E-week began wrapping up with Introduce a Girl to Engineer Day on Thursday, Feb. 24, at the Memorial Student Union Ballrooms. This event, created for high school and middle school students featured guest speaker and alumnus Jina Fuentes. In addition to Fuentes, students got to hear from Alumnus Mike Howard about “Delivering Positive Energy.”
E-week ended with the Engineers Week Competition Friday, Feb. 25 at the Student Recreation Center. Close to 120 middle school and high school students worked in teams and got to learn the main aspects TAMUK students and faculty follow as engineers. Each team received a bag with minimal materials and were given the instruction to build a fast-moving propeller car.
“The number one thing I expect students to take from these activities is that any engineer needs to work in teams. There is no small project that cannot be completed if you are not working with teams. If they work in teams, they will certainly accomplish so many things no matter what major or what career they follow,” Dean of the College of Engineering and Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Dr. Heidi A. Taboada said.
Because the goal of Engineers Week is to call attention to the contributions that engineers make to society, Taboada mentioned this event is put on every year, and different schools from areas close by are invited in hopes that interest in engineering is sparked when they try hands-on experiments.
“This week middle school and high school kids come to campus to look around, socialize and see what to expect in the future when they go to college. It was important that they do things like this because lot of kids are lacking that kind of experience,” Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Associate Professor Dr. Chung Lueung said. “Once they get into university, they will realize it’s completely different. This will be a good hands-on experience.”