The Mechanical Engineering department at Virginia Tech has been fortunate to have several alumni come back to the univeristy and share their work with our students. This is a great way for young people to see what careers and options are available to them after graduation.
Automotive Engineering Awareness Conference
This past April, alumni from Ford Motor Company, Cummins, Goodyear, and General Motors planned an event to give students the opportunity to hear more about current technologies within the automotive industry. Participants chose three 75-minute sessions to attend. Each session provided a hands-on, interactive experience to a small group of students. Session topics included Vehicle Electronics, Vehicle Noise & Vibrations and Automotive Engineering Opportunities at Virginia Tech. Topics were presented by industry reps and VT faculty, and the day concluded with a barbeque, product displays, contests and prizes, and an informal atmosphere to network with faculty and company representatives.
How Do Students Benefit?
The following comments are from students who participated in the Automotive Engineering Awareness Conference:
Henning Lohse-Busch, a master's student in mechanical engineering says, "It was great to see these real industry applications and processes, and it was even better to be able to relate them to my course work.
"At events, such as AEAC, I get the feeling I am in the middle of an unlimited source of information. The alumni answer all of your questions about the different aspects of their jobs. They even answer the questions you did not even know you had."
Stephen Gurski, a second year MS student in mechanical engineering says, "The conference was an intersting display of how industry can reach out and grab the attention of the students and provide them with a new, exciting learning environment. Alumni and corporate sponsored activites give students the benefit of exploring their interests in engineering."