National Engineers Week Foundation And Partners Honor Top College Engineering Students

First Annual New Faces of Engineering College Edition Recognizes the Most Promising Engineering Professionals of Tomorrow

Reflecting the increasingly critical role engineers are destined to play in shaping the world of tomorrow, 15 of the most promising college engineering students from the United States – and across the world – have been recognized by National Engineers Week Foundation and its partners, through its first annual New Faces of Engineering College Edition. 

Since 2003, National Engineers Week Foundation has honored young engineering professionals with its New Faces of Engineering award.  This is the first year the popular initiative has expanded to recognize the best and brightest college engineering students.

The 15 winners, all third, fourth or fifth year engineering students, represent a cross-section of interests, specialties and backgrounds.  Winners are recognized for academic excellence, leadership within student organizations, outstanding communication skills, non-engineering related community service and involvement in the engineering industry.

Winners include students from the University of Lagos and British University in Egypt.  One winner is leading a team of 100 engineering students to develop ways to make the world more sustainable.  Others tutor and mentor children in their communities, thus inspiring the next generation of engineers.  Winners include past participants in National Engineers Week Programs, such as Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.

The honorees, along with the participating engineering societies with which they are affiliated, include:

Joe Wyatt – American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
University of Arkansas
4th year
Joe volunteers as a mentor and works to increase the number of minority students in the college of engineering.

Esther Bruce – American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
Oklahoma State University
5th year
Esther’s school programs and internships have taken her to Japan, England, Guatemala, and Spain.

Aaron Nissen – American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)
Iowa State University
3rd year
A hands-on internship at the Vermeer Manufacturing Corporation showed Aaron he was on the right career path.

Danielle Antonellis – American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
4th year
As President of WPI’s Habitat for Humanity Chapter, Danielle helped raise $11,000 to benefit the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans.

Ibrahim Ogundeko – American Society of Heating, Refrigerator and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
University of Lagos, Nigeria
3rd year
Ibrahim’s first internship at Nestle Nigeria Plc gave him hands-on experience in the food manufacturing & processing industry.

Michelle Rosen – American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
University of Maryland
4th year
Michelle volunteers to get more elementary, middle and high school girls interested in engineering by leading them in fun, hands-on challenges.

Charles Shi – Chinese Institute of Engineers (CIE-USA)
University of California, Berkeley
5th year
Charles is interested in the entrepreneurial side of engineering – transforming concepts into tangible products that change lives.

Jeremy Blum – Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Cornell University
4th year
Jeremy leads Cornell’s 100-member Sustainable Design program team, which this year built a passive schoolhouse in South Africa.

Tariq L. Walker – National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME)
North Carolina A&T State University
4th year
Tariq’s high school teacher inspired him to pursue engineering by demonstrating physics concepts on interesting field trips.

Adegoke Olubusi – National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Morgan State University
3rd year
Adegoke describes engineering as the ability to implement the art & creativity in technology, which he utilized at a Goldman Sachs internship.

Colby Hietbrink – National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
4th year
Colby’s love of engineering was sparked by his father’s enthusiasm for learning how things work and working to improve things.

DeeAnn Turpin – Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
Kansas State University
4th year
DeeAnn helps people in India, Guatemala, and Ecuador by volunteering for Engineers Without Borders.

Alexandria Moseley – Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
Oregon State University
4th year
Alexandria coordinated OSU’s student efforts to bring engineering presentations to 100 high school classrooms last year.

Moustafa Ezzat – Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
British University in Egypt
5th year
Moustafa strengthened his communication, networking, and technical skills as a co-founder and active member of SPE’s student chapter.

Heather Sweeney – Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Purdue University
4th year
Heather’s manufacturing engineering internship sharpened her career goals by piquing her interest in improving efficiency and product flow.

New Faces of Engineering College Edition is live on Facebook

The page provides a source of academic and professional development opportunities available to students from National Engineers Week Foundation’s engineering association, university, and corporate partners.  Students can meet with their engineering peers in every field and learn about other events, internships, jobs, competitions, engineering associations and more.  Information specifically about the winners can be found at  http://on.fb.me/sMHnYw. 

Information on National Engineers Week Foundation can be found at www.eweek.org. 

Funding for New Faces of Engineering College Edition is provided by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).  ASHRAE spearheaded the launch of New Faces of Engineering in 2003 and has submitted nominations every year since the program started. 

About Engineers Week

The National Engineers Week Foundation, a formal coalition of more than 100 professional societies, major corporations and government agencies, is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers among young students and by promoting pre-college literacy in math and science.  Engineers Week also raises public understanding and appreciation of engineers’ contributions to society.  Founded in 1951, it is among the oldest of America’s professional outreach efforts.  Co-chairs for 2012 are Battelle and ASME. 

For more information, visit eweek.org.