Y-12 engineers visit local schools in support of Engineering Week

  • Posted: Wednesday, April 4, 2018, 3:55 pm

Oak Ridge High School students work on a project brought by Y-12 volunteers during Engineering Week, or EWeek. Oak Ridge High School students work on a project brought by Y-12 volunteers during Engineering Week, or EWeek.

Some 30 Y-12 engineers visited schools across East Tennessee for Engineering Week, a yearly effort to celebrate how engineers make a difference, increase public dialogue about the need for engineers, and bring engineering to life for kids, educators, and parents.

Students learned about the basics of engineering, the variety of engineering specialties, and how to become an engineer. Volunteers shared what inspired them to pursue the profession and challenged students with a design competition. Many of this year’s volunteers were visiting schools that they attended; it was an opportunity to give back and inspire the next generation of students.

“Y-12 engineers have been faithfully serving area schools through Engineers Week for many years. It’s encouraging that in my seven years of involvement, I’ve seen a noticeable increase in the number of students who say that they know what engineers do, and that they would like to become an engineer, which is what this effort is all about,” volunteer Anita Hazlewood said.

Engineers visited 14 area schools, reaching more than 2,800 students.