By Mary O'Hara Smith, IEN Staff
September 5, 2008 -- Labor Day is behind us, and across the country, it’s back to school time. And all the problems that characterized our education system yesterday are still with us today. In fact, add school maintenance and construction to the list: the Economic Policy Institute informs us that the American Society of Civil Engineers recently graded U.S. schools a “D.”
But we’re setting aside the problems today to report instead on some good news – a trio of stories from ABB, Grainger, and NASA about educational initiatives that are working.
Engineering Leaders for the Future
On August 26, at ABB’s division headquarters for Power Products in Raleigh, NC, representatives from all five of ABB Inc.’s U.S. divisions met with a group of recently hired university graduates, handpicked for the company’s Engineering Leaders for the Future program.
"We started the program this summer to give students with an expressed interest in engineering a very concrete track from study/graduation to employment," said Noelle Heinrich, program administrator. Over an 18-month period, graduates with mechanical, electrical, or industrial engineering degrees go through three rotations across ABB’s five divisions, and visit businesses located in the U.S., Canada and/or Mexico. At the end of the program rotation, the graduates are sought by, and placed into, the divisions and countries they identify as of high interest -- and where ABB managers have identified the opportunities they want to place graduates into.
At the August 26 session, representatives profiled the engineering opportunities within the company’s many local business units that comprise the five divisions.
"ABB and this program are part of something larger than our individual businesses and divisions," said Heinrich. "Like all technology driven, and automation-based companies, ours needs to identify, attract, and retain engineers who want to work in electrical, mechanical, and/or industrial applications.”
The global nature of ABB's business is attractive to students, according to the team of presenters.
"New employees can choose among opportunities that span from the oil-sand fields of Calgary, to pursuing work in one of the most deeply funded R&D centers -- among all automation suppliers -- in Zurich, Switzerland," said Heinrich.
The early success of Engineering Leaders for the Future is creating momentum and interest. Presenters at the August meeting are already looking forward to future gatherings with students/new hires and other potential ABB employees.
Tools for Tomorrow
Also stepping up to the plate is well-known facility maintenance supplier W.W. Grainger, Inc. which recently announced an almost fourfold increase in its technical education scholarship program -- from the original nine community colleges to 35 across the country.
"The economic health of America depends on the availability of qualified, skilled workers," said Grainger president and CEO James T. Ryan. "Grainger is proud to help students complete their technical education through our Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program."
The expansion comes at the beginning of the third year of the Grainger Tools for TomorrowSM program, which provides funding for students at select community colleges to finish their second year of a technical career program such as HVAC, Welding, Electrical, Plumbing, or Construction Management. Upon graduation, the program recognizes their achievement with a Westward® tool package to successfully launch their careers.
"Students enrolled in technical career programs will help to meet a serious and growing skills gap in our country," said American Association of Community Colleges President George R. Boggs. "By stepping up to support their efforts, Grainger is not only helping deserving students, but the company is also investing in our nation's economic success."
Listen to a couple of last year’s recipients:
- "I've always wanted to venture into the construction management field. A few of my professional goals are to start my own construction company, encourage other women to enter the construction management field, and help them develop the skills and business acumen needed to be successful in this industry. With this scholarship, Grainger has helped give me the opportunity to realize my goals." Cherylle Brown, Baltimore
- "After working a few years in other jobs, I decided that the best way to successfully support our four children was to go back to school and earn a degree. I'm grateful that Grainger's generous contribution has helped to further my career in electrical engineering and computer technologies." Brandon Bogle, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
To date, Grainger scholarships have helped 16 students complete their technical education programs.
Imagine…
A new NASA competition challenges high school and college students to research and describe a small supersonic airliner that could enter commercial service in the next decade. Individuals and teams of high school students will prepare well-documented short papers describing what needs to happen to make supersonic flight available to commercial passengers by 2020; advanced curriculum high school students and college participants will prepare longer papers describing a highly efficient, environmentally friendly commercial aircraft that would emit only low sonic booms and be ready for initial overland service in 2020.
The competition’s goal is to encourage students to develop science and engineering skills and to choose careers in aeronautics research and development. Entries will be judged on informed content, imagination, innovation, creativity, relevance, organization, and writing by the Fundamental Aeronautics Program of NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate in Washington, sponsor of the competition.
Prizes include individual cash awards of up to $1,000 and team awards of up to $1,500 at the high school level; university-level winners may be eligible for paid student internship offers and cash awards of up to $5,000.
Also, NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate expects to award 20 undergraduate and five graduate scholarships to students in aeronautics or related fields for the academic year beginning in fall 2009. Undergraduate students in their second year of study are eligible for up to $15,000 per year for two years and a summer internship with a $10,000 stipend at a NASA center; graduate students, up to $35,000 per year for three years and two summer internships at a NASA center with $10,000 stipends.