A group of engineering students at West Virginia University wants to put its membersskills to work improving the lives of people in developing countries worldwide.

The students recently formed a chapter of Engineers Without Borders, a nonprofit, humanitarian organization that combines the efforts of professional engineers and engineering students to implement sustainable engineering projects around the world.

The Engineers Without Borders chapter at WVU is planning a trip to Mexico to help build greenhouses over spring break, and it is hoping to participate in future projects in other parts of the world.

The club became an official University-sponsored student organization in September. In October, the clubs officers traveled to New Jersey for the organizations regional conference, where they met students from several other universities with Engineers Without Borders chapters.

At the conference, the WVU chapter also won first place in a competition to create a working solar oven out of pizza boxes, winning a real solar oven for their efforts.

Emily Calandrelli, a mechanical and aerospace engineering junior from Morgantown, is the publicity coordinator for the organization, which has 70 members so far. She said one of the biggest challenges facing the organization is funding; it has to raise all of the money for its projects.

The greenhouse project in Mexico will be on the lower end of the price scale at $3,000-5,000 because it is already in progress and the supplies are already there,Calandrelli said.Future projects, like one were considering in Nicaragua, could cost a lot more. Were looking at a lot of ways to raise money to help these communities, including fundraising, corporate sponsorship, individual sponsorship and grants.

Were interested in helping with local projects, too, like Habitat for Humanity,she added.That way, we can help our local community, and its more cost effective than going on an international trip.

Victoria Wheaton, a civil engineering major from Fairmont, is the chapter president. Other club officers include Emily Rengers, a civil engineering major from Morgantown, vice president; Jackie Grimes, a mechanical and aerospace engineering major from Sewickley, Pa., project coordinator; Adam Harrison, a civil engineering major from Morgantown, treasurer; Tim Rock, an industrial engineering major from Glen Allen, Va., fundraising coordinator; David Blake, a civil engineering major from Virginia, secretary; and Brandon Caratel, an engineering major from Preston County, the groups webmaster.

But Engineers Without Borders isnt just for engineering majors, Calandrelli said.

We would love to have students from other colleges get involved, too,she said.We need help with publicity, design, computer skills and management, and we would like to have public relations majors, advertising majors, business majors and foreign language majors join us. Anyone who’s interested is welcome.”

“Students can make a huge difference in the world by being part of it,”Calandrelli said.”Getting involved with different organizations looks good on your resume, but this is one organization you can also just feel really good about helping.”

Engineers Without Borders members recently participated in Trunk or Treat, a Halloween activity for children that was hosted by the Institute of Industrial Engineers in October, and they plan to get involved with other activities on campus.

We want to get our name out there,Calandrelli said.We think that if people know we exist, theyll be interested in learning how they can help.

For more information about the student organization, contact Calandrelli at ecalandr@mix.wvu.edu or Wheaton at vwheaton@mix.wvu.edu .