A full slate of activities, including a leadership summit and an appearance by comedian Don McMillan, highlight a week of activities planned at West Virginia University as part of National Engineers Week, scheduled for Feb. 22-28.

The celebration kicks off on Sunday (Feb. 22) as WVU hosts its second Engineering Student Leadership Summit. Sponsored by The Williams Companies, Inc., the event features everything from an etiquette luncheon to tips on how to survive your first job.

Williams will also host an on-the-spot resume workshop, which will offer tips, tricks, and suggestions on how to create an effective resume that will help you land your first job out of college or be accepted into graduate school. The event is free to Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources students and seating is limited. For more information and to register online, visit http://www.cemr.wvu.edu/corp/esls.php.

“The Leadership Summit will provide students with the necessary skills to land a career or internship, such as resume writing, networking and interviewing,” said Sarah Glenn, assistant director of employer relations with WVU Career Services Center. “They will also learn what it takes to succeed in their first year on the job and how to establish themselves as an emerging leader in their organization.”

On Monday (Feb. 23) comedian Don McMillan, who graduated from Stanford University with a master’s degree in electrical engineering, will present “Technically Funny,” at 7 p.m., in the Gold Ballroom, at the Mountainlair. After stints with AT&T Bell Laboratories and VLSI Technology, McMillan won the 16th Annual San Francisco International Stand-Up Comedy Competition and he uses his unique background to take a lighthearted look at computers, technology and the high-tech life. Tickets will be available as part of a Twitter scavenger hunt, organized by the College’s Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.

The Eaton Corporation will host Engineer Appreciation Day on Tuesday (Feb. 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.

Throughout the week, representatives from the Statler College will be bringing a number of hands-on activities to schools across the state in an effort to get school-aged children excited about careers in engineering. They will also be judging the College’s first-ever essay contest. The contest is an effort to increase the public dialogue about the need for engineers and to bring engineering to life for students, educators and parents. Prizes for the winners, which include an iPad Mini, a scholarship to one of the College’s Engineering Challenge Camps or, for seniors, a WVU Statler College scholarship, are sponsored by The Thrasher Group.

“As part of Engineers Week, we are trying to reach as many K-12 students across the state as possible,” said Cate Schlobohm, outreach coordinator. “Our goal is to help teach students about engineering and the impact engineers have on society.”

Other events scheduled during the week include the Engineering Career Fair on Feb. 25, from noon-2 p.m., in the ESB foyer; the annual Society of Women Engineers formal on Feb. 27; and the annual SWE Murder Mystery Luncheon for Girl Scouts will be held on Feb. 28.

“Engineers Week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the many contributions engineers make to our everyday lives, many of which are often taken for granted,” said Gene Cilento, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the Statler College. “I would like to thank The Williams Companies, Eaton Corporation and The Thrasher Group for their financial support of these activities.”

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.

-WVU-

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CONTACT: Mary C. Dillon, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
304.293.4086, Mary.Dillon@mail.wvu.edu

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