Pioneers of Progress: RIT celebrates National Engineers Week

National Engineers Week takes place at Rochester Institute of Technology Feb. 16-22. RIT is one of hundreds of universities and organizations across the country involved in the national program led by Discover E. Its mission is to sustain and grow a dynamic engineering profession through outreach, education, celebration and volunteerism. This year’s theme is “Be a Pioneer of Progress.”

The university will feature two ends of the engineering spectrum—programming for young people interested in exploring careers as engineers and recognition ceremonies of several of RIT’s most successful engineers. During the week, both colleges will have programming for its current students, including career preparation, discussions with corporate leaders and demonstrations by student clubs.

On Wednesday, Feb. 19, from noon to 4 p.m. RIT is hosting Family Day, a half-day of activities for middle school students and their families. The program, sponsored by ECCO—Engineers of Color Creating Opportunities, features a variety of hands-on activities and demonstrations by students from RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering and the College of Engineering Technology in laboratories in each of the colleges. More than 50 students from the Rochester City School District, suburban schools and nonprofit organizations are expected.

On Thursday, Feb. 20, and Friday, Feb. 21, alumni from both CET and KGCOE will return to campus to be recognized as emerging leaders in their respective fields.

• At 12:30 – 1:50 p.m. on Feb. 20, Jordan Darling ’15 (mechanical engineering technology) vice president of Nikola Powersports and one of this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 awardees, will talk about his experience as an entrepreneur, designing and building manufacturing technology for personal watercraft. His discussion takes place the Golisano Hall auditorium, room 2400.
• At 4 p.m. on Feb. 21 in the Xerox Auditorium, located in James Gleason Hall, five alumni will be inducted into the Kate Gleason College of Engineering Academies; four alumni will be recognized as emerging leaders; and two of the college’s longtime partners will receive corporate appreciation honors:
  • Engineering Academy Awards: Benjamin Castaneda ’04 MS (computer engineering); Jeremiah Frick ’00 (computer engineering); Kanika Wright Juene ’01 (industrial engineering); Christine Vargas’93 (industrial engineering) and Tim Tobin ’91 ME (microelectronics manufacturing engineering)
  • Emerging Leader Awards: Bryce Salmi ’13 (electrical engineering); Danielle Walters ’12 (electrical engineering), ’17 MS (electrical engineering); Eva Ames ’09 (mechanical engineering) and Brenda Lisitano ’13 BS/ME (mechanical engineering)
  • Corporate Appreciation Awards will be given to Gleason Corp. and The Raymond Corp. 

On Saturday, Feb. 22, the annual Girls STEM Fair takes place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the atrium of the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. Open to middle school girls, the event features information, demonstration and hands-on activities conducted by female engineering students. The event is hosted by RIT’s Women in Technology program, based in CET, and the RIT’s University Center for Engaging K-12.

The university has had regular involvement over the past few years with faculty, staff and students from the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, the College of Engineering Technology, and the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.