Higher Education Matters: SIUE to introduce girls to engineering

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Society of Women Engineers will host its fourth annual “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” on Feb. 20 in the SIUE School of Engineering building.

Activities will begin at 8:30 a.m. and last until 3 p.m.

About 250 girls from grades 5-8 are expected to attend the event that offers exposure to the engineering field. Participants will complete a total of five activities, covering the fields of civil, mechanical, electrical, industrial and computer science engineering.

The theme this year is “A History of Famous Women in Engineering.” Small groups will use teamwork to design and create their projects.

“This event is so great because it shows young ladies that they have the opportunity to pursue a career in the STEM (an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math) fields,” said Ashley Huels, a sophomore computer science engineering major and SWE youth outreach chair. “Our goal is to achieve diversity in engineering and to show these young ladies how much fun engineering can be.”

Professional women engineers and SIUE students will be on site providing support and guidance to program participants. Following the completion of each activity, the professional engineers and the SIUE engineering students will offer analysis and ask the participants probing questions about the project.

During the event, the creative problem solving aspects of engineering will be discussed and explored. The participants will work collaboratively on projects, be encouraged to ask questions and use their imagination.

The program will be led by volunteers through SWE. The $15 registration fee includes all activities, lunch and a T-shirt for each girl.

For more information, contact the SIUE SWE at 618-650-2541, swesiue@gmail.com or by visiting www.facebook.com/swesiue.

McKendree Speech and Debate convincing in spring semester start

The McKendree Speech and Debate team took home 43 awards in its first two tournaments of the spring at Butler University and Webster University.

Fourteen colleges and universities, including Illinois State University and Ball State University, attended Butler University’s Bulldog Classic on Jan. 16-17. Representing McKendree were juniors Katie Reining and Taylor Rossi; sophomore Hannah Zickefoose; and first-years Andrew Wagner and Emma Webster.

At the first half, Reining finished third in both after dinner speaking and poetry, sixth in communication analysis, and fifth in individual sweepstakes. Webster took third place in drama. Zickefoose got fourth in extemporaneous, fifth in prose, and sixth in poetry. Rossi placed fifth in informative, while Wagner took second in novice impromptu. As a team, McKendree placed fourth.

At the second half, Reining won in after dinner speaking, and earned second in both communication analysis and individual sweepstakes. Rossi finished first in informative speaking, fifth in poetry, sixth in impromptu, and third in individual sweepstakes. Wagner took third in persuasion, sixth in extemporaneous, and fifth in individual sweepstakes. Zickefoose finished third in poetry, fifth in after dinner speaking, sixth in prose, and fourth in individual sweepstakes. Webster took fifth in persuasion. McKendree finished second in team sweepstakes.

Thirty-four colleges and universities attended Webster University’s Gorlok Gala, Jan. 29-31. Representing McKendree were senior Rodney McBride; juniors Dylan Comer, Katie Reining, and Taylor Rossi; sophomores Alex Baldwin, Beth Graham, Kaitlyn Hutchison, David Junge, Adam Kaul, Jazzmine Mitchell, Gage Simmons and Hannah Zickefoose; and first-years Justin Fausz, Adeja Powell, Andrew Wagner and Emma Webster.

In individual events, Zickefoose won first in programmed oral interpretation, fourth in after dinner speaking, semifinalist in extemporaneous, excellent in impromptu, and third in individual sweepstakes. Reining took second in duo improv (with Comer), third in after dinner speaking, and fifth in individual sweepstakes. Rossi finished second in communication analysis. Comer took second in duo improv (with Reining), fifth in duo (with Webster), semifinalist in prose, and excellent in programmed oral interpretation. Finally, Webster took fifth in duo (with Comer) and semifinalist in prose. McKendree also won third in individual event team sweepstakes.

In open parliamentary debate, the team of Kaul and McBride went 3-2, but due to a ballot were not allowed to advance. They were recognized as quarterfinalists, however. Baldwin and Simmons also posted a 3-2 record, finishing as octofinalists. In junior parliamentary debate, Hutchison and Mitchell went 3-2 as well and placed as octofinalists.

McKendree will compete at Loyola University on Feb. 12-14.

SWIC to help students make jump to four-year school

Southwestern Illinois College will host the annual Metro East Baccalaureate College Fair on Feb. 28 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Belleville Campus Main Complex, 2500 Carlyle Ave.

High school and college transfer students have the opportunity to speak to representatives from nearly 100 national colleges and universities. College recruiters on hand will include the University of Illinois, the University of Missouri and the United States Military Academy at West Point. For a complete list of institutions, visit swic.edu/collegefair.

Additionally, SWIC will offer three workshops to help students navigate the financial aid and transfer processes more easily:

▪  FAFSA Financial Aid Application Assistance: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid online.

▪  Financial Aid 101 — Types, Qualifications and Process: Find out about the numerous types of financial assistance available and how to apply.

▪  Transfer Planning Workshop: This workshop will provide tips and tools for students beginning at SWIC and transferring to a university.

The college fair and workshops are free and open to the public.

For more information about the event and a complete list of schools, contact the SWIC Counseling Center at 618-235-2700, ext. 5186, or visit swic.edu/collegefair.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 1:32 PM with the headline "Higher Education Matters: SIUE to introduce girls to engineering."