College of Engineering Celebrates Engineers Week

During the week of February 15-21, 2009, the College of Engineering joined with other schools across the nation in celebrating Engineers Week. From recreational to educational to inspirational, the events planned by the Engineering Student Council (ESC) and sponsored by Exelon Nuclear reached out across campus and into the community to highlight what the College has to offer. “Ultimately, E-Week was a chance for Villanova’s engineering students to celebrate their decision to enter this exciting field,” said Jordan Sarruda ME ’09, the ESC’s Engineering Traditions Chair.

In addition to providing activities that revealed the lighter side of engineers, the ESC lined up offerings that demonstrated the critical role engineers play in society. To tie in with Villanova’s Year of Sustainability, the ESC invited David Fernandez, Chief Operating Officer of GES USA, Inc., a renewable energy services firm, to be E-Week’s featured speaker. Mr. Fernandez encouraged students to make the most of their opportunities and to accept international assignments because “engineering is the true world language.”

On Wednesday, representatives from Exelon Nuclear unveiled the Villanova-Exelon Engineering Program (VEEP). Coordinated through the Career Services Office, VEEP is designed to promote careers in the field of nuclear power generation by providing undergraduates with practical learning experience and activities, including preference in receiving paid internships. Up to two freshmen from each of the engineering disciplines will be selected.

Finally, faculty and students visited several middle schools to stimulate sixth graders’ interest in engineering. They showed how engineering has affected industries such as sports and entertainment and then led the students in a team competition to build a load-bearing structure from note cards. “When I was their age, I knew nothing about engineering,” said Caitlin Kiernan CEE ’10. “It was fun to see the students getting so enthusiastic about it.”