Oregon Tech’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Klamath Falls chapter hosted an annual Engineer for a Day event Feb. 22, inviting community youth and families to campus as part of Engineers Week celebrations.
Organized by SWE, Engineer for a Day offered participants a unique opportunity to explore engineering through interactive workshops, demonstrations, and projects led by more than two dozen Oregon Tech students from various programs.
From building bridges to programming robots, attendees had the chance to immerse themselves in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in a fun and engaging environment. The event inspires the next generation of engineers, particularly encouraging girls to pursue careers in STEM fields where they are traditionally underrepresented.
Lane Hughes, President of Oregon Tech’s Society of Women Engineers Klamath Falls chapter, said Engineer for a Day is not just about introducing kids to engineering concepts; it's about encouraging exploration and discovery that can lead to future careers in STEM.
“This is an important event because it gives younger students an idea of what engineering is like so they know they have options for things to do when they grow up,” Hughes said. “This event teaches younger students early on that engineering is an option and that it can be fun. It is also a way for our school to give back to the community as this is a free event for younger students to attend.”
The event was designed for Klamath County kindergarten to sixth grade students but welcomed children from pre-kindergarten who attended with older siblings.
It is the second year Hughes has participated in the event. “Both times I have loved seeing the younger students enjoy making the projects,” Hughes said. “I loved seeing them smile as they finished the project and then seeing them play with the project and try to understand how it works. I also enjoyed seeing the Oregon Tech students interact with the younger students.”
Oregon Tech remains committed to promoting STEM education to younger generations and looks forward to continuing collaborations with organizations like the SWE to empower future generations of innovators and problem-solvers.
“SWE is a model for how our Oregon Tech student organizations prepare for their future career in industry and shape the lives of future engineers to ignite their STEM curiosities,” said Thomas Arce, Director of Student Involvement and Belonging (SIB) at Oregon Tech. “Student organizations at Oregon Tech can engage in leadership-building opportunities, to grow as an individual and sharpen skills to ensure they are career-ready. Student Involvement and Belonging supports the leadership development of our student organization leaders through offering events and activities for leading change.”
For more information about Oregon Tech and K-12 opportunities, please visit www.oit.edu/academics/pre-college-programs.
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