Students in West Virginia University’s College of Engineering and Mineral Resources are planning a full week of activitiesfrom a freshman design competition to a basketball tournamentto celebrate National Engineers Week Feb. 19-25.

National Engineers Week is celebrated each year at the time of George Washington’s birthday,said Migri Prucz, coordinator of enrollment management for the College.Washington, our nation’s first president, was a military engineer and a surveyor. The purpose is to increase the public’s awareness and appreciation of the engineering profession.

Activities at WVU will kick off a day early on Saturday, Feb. 18, with Eighth Grade Day in Engineering. Approximately 70 middle-school students will visit the college to participate in hands-on engineering activities led by WVU students.

On Sunday, Feb. 19, students from various departments within CEMR will team up for a basketball tournament from noon-4 p.m. at the WVU Student Recreation Center.

Engineering students will gather at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, to watch the WVU -Syracuse basketball game in the Mountainlair Side Pocket.

Engineering freshmen will put their design skills to the test on Tuesday, Feb. 21, in an egg-drop contest that will be held in the atrium of the Mineral Resources Building at 3:30 p.m.

At the Mountainlair, Friday, Feb. 24, students will participate in a bowling tournament from 7-9 p.m.

On Saturday, Feb. 25, high school students will visit CEMR for the Team+S Competition and engineering demonstrations. Also on Saturday, engineering students will hold a formal from 8-11 p.m. at De Lazy Lizard.

Various student organizations within the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, under the umbrella of the student advisory council, are in charge of the week’s activities, said Prucz.

Our goal is to celebrate engineering,said Kelly Smith, president of the college’s student advisory council.As engineers, we work hard, and we are very proud of what we dobut we also know how to have a good time.

The college will also have a display at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh on Feb. 17-18 as part of the center’s Engineering Week celebration.