L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science will celebrate National Engineers Week Feb. 18-24

L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science will celebrate National Engineers Week Feb. 18-24February 16, 2007Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

The L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science (LCS) will mark National Engineers Week, Feb. 18-24, with a series of events aimed at celebrating the contributions that engineers make in the daily lives of humankind and to build camaraderie among LCS students.

“E-Week is an opportunity for LCS and the University — and the community as a whole — to celebrate the engineering profession and the important role that engineers play in society,” says LCS Interim Dean Shiu-Kai Chin.

E-Week events will begin with the annual PRIDE Incentive Reception on Sunday, Feb. 18 at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center. The event, which celebrates the achievements of students who participate in the college’s Programs Rooted in Developing Excellence, is by invitation only. LCS alumna Anne Milne `85, production engineer from GE Inspection Technologies, will be the keynote speaker.

The week will include several opportunities for career exploration and networking. On Monday, Feb. 19, a Career Connections fair will be held from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the lobby of Link Hall. Twenty-nine employers will be showcasing their companies and recruiting for full-time, permanent and summer co-op/internship positions in every major offered in engineering, as well as IT, environmental science, biology and chemistry. Also on that day, professional development workshops, facilitated by participating company representatives and campus-wide career services, will take place. They include: Interview Skills, Katzer Collaboratory, 347 Hinds Hall, 2-2:40 p.m.; Negotiating the Offer, 120 Hinds Hall, 2-2:40 p.m. and Job Search Skills, 120 Hinds Hall, 3-3:40 p.m.

“Beyond Networking,” an evening of global connections in the fields of science and technology, will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. Monday evening in Room 304 of the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center. A brief program will include remarks from Can Isik, LCS senior associate dean, and Ray von Dran, dean of the School of Information Studies, as well as an overview of the Mentor@SU program. Developed by the Center for Career Services, Mentor@SU connects students with more than 1,500 alumni around the world who can assist in the career exploration and development process. Following the brief program, alumni and recruiters will be available for networking opportunities. Those planning to attend the event should R.S.V.P. to Denise Hendee at 443-4345 or dahendee@syr.edu.

On Tuesday, Feb. 20, local seventh- and eighth-graders will “shadow” LCS students during a series of events organized by the University’s Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP). At 4 p.m. that afternoon, the Technology Alliance of Central New York will present “Engineering Careers Forum” in Room 369 of Link Hall. Panelists will include Mark Abramski, systems engineer at Sensis; patent attorney and LCS adjunct professor Harold Burstyn; Howard Hollander, program senior manager at Lockheed Martin; Jennifer Reina, automation engineer at Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co.; Peter Koval of TACNY; Julie Hasenwinkel, assistant professor of bioengineering in LCS; and Dilip Kumar Kommineni, associate engineer at National Grid. The event is co-sponsored by the American Association of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

On Thursday, Feb. 22, LCS will partner with the Liberty Partnerships Program to bring approximately 22 female junior and high school students from the Syracuse City School District for “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.” Members of the Alpha Omega Epsilon engineering sorority, the Society of Women Engineers and the Academic Excellence Workshop Facilitators will work with students on a K’Nex tower design and egg-toss vehicle (ETV) competitions and hold a panel discussion, among other activities.

Also part of the weeklong celebration is the LCS Olympics, which brings together more than 170 students (both LCS and non-LCS students) to compete onteams in a week of friendly athletic, academic and design competitions. This year’s activities include volleyball, a game of Taboo, K’Nex design, Twinkie eating, sudoku, Guitar Hero, a snowtube race and human bowling. This year’s LCS Olympics theme is “Engineers Keep the World Running.”

“The camaraderie between students magnifies one of the underlying aspects of the engineering discipline. In order to get a job completed, successful teamwork with a diversity of perspectives and ingenuity is required,” says Kate Pynn, director of student support and PRIDE programs in LCS and organizer of E-Week. “I encourage everyone to think about what their lives would be like without the influence of an engineer and then rightfully thank them for their contributions.”

The week will conclude with a LCS Sock Hop on Saturday, Feb. 24, from 7-11 p.m. in the Regency Room of the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center. Tickets are required and may be obtained in the LCS Student Support Office, 123 Link Hall, or by calling 443-2582.

For more information on E-Week activities, visit the LCS website at http://www.lcs.syr.edu.