Pi Tau Sigma students engage young future engineers

MechSE students who are members of the Pi Tau Sigma honorary society have been busy engaging B.T. Washington students in engineering activities designed to excite these students about possible future careers in engineering.

Each week several Pi Tau Sigma members go to the Champaign elementary school to conduct the after-school engineering club. 32 elementary students have joined the club, and there are another 32 who want to join next semester. The Pi Tau Sigma members start each club meeting with a short presentation describing the day’s activity and introducing the type of engineer or scientist who would work in that area.

The young students then spend most of the time engaged in the activity, interacting closely with the MechSE students. These MechSE students not only guide the young students, but they serve as potential role models for the young future engineers. The Pi Tau Sigma members get to practice reaching out to the public as they have fun with the elementary students. Nick Kolpack, the organizer of the club, stated, "I probably get as much out of it as the kids do, it is fun to see their faces light up as they learn."

Over eight weeks this semester, the Pi Tau Sigma members have been exposing the B.T. Washington students to different types of engineering. Each week, the young students are exposed to different areas of engineering and science. These students were mechanical engineers designing a device to grip various types of objects; they were electrical engineers designing circuits; and they were civil engineers as they designed earthquake-resistant structures.