Penn State Berks celebrates history through National Engineers Week

Michael Aboulhouda, a Berks Engineering student hard at work.
Credit: Photo Courtesy of Theo Anderson

WYOMISSING, Pa. — Penn State Berks is celebrating its history while preparing students for the future through National Engineers Week events and activities, to be held Feb. 17 to 21. Penn State Berks is the only college in Berks County to offer not one, but two nationally accredited baccalaureate degrees in engineering. Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering are both accredited by ABET, the global leader in accreditation of engineering programs. Students in both programs complete hundreds of internships, and many establish their careers in the greater Reading area.

E-Week events and activities

Engineering Club Collaboration

Monday, Feb. 17, 12:15-1:15 p.m., Perkins Student Center Lion’s Den

Penn State Berks Engineers Week begins with presentations from the student chapters of engineering clubs on campus (American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers, Entrepreneurship Club, Combat Robotics Club, Society of Women Engineers, Technology Club and Women in Science and Engineering). In addition, students who participate in FiERCE, (Futures in Engineering Role-models Can Empower) will discuss their mentorship activities. This event is open to student members of these clubs, faculty, and club advisers.

Celebration of Excellence in Engineering Alumni Reception

Monday, Feb. 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building

Alumni of the college’s engineering programs are invited to a special reception celebrating excellence in engineering at Penn State Berks. Attendees will be able to tour the state-of-the-art engineering labs in the Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building and visit the Flemming Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Center for a showcase of the college’s most significant engineering projects. Light refreshments will be served.

Presentation on Industry 4.0 and the Digital Design and Manufacturing Center

Monday, Feb. 17, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building, Room 121

Terry Speicher, associate teaching professor of engineering, will give a presentation on Industry 4.0 and plans for the college’s new Digital Design and Manufacturing Center. This presentation is free and open to the public.

Industry Showcase

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building Lobby

Students will have the opportunity to visit display booths, meet with representatives from local engineering companies, and discuss career opportunities in the engineering field. This event is open to students, faculty, and staff of the college.

'What engineering employers want'

Wednesday, Feb. 19, 12:15-1:15 p.m., Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building, Room 121

Local engineering leaders will discuss what it takes for graduates to get their foot in the door and be successful in their first role as an engineer. Speakers include:

  • Richard Aulenbach, president and CEO, RPA Engineering
  • Khaled Bahei-Eldin, director of engineering, energy storage systems, EnerSys
  • Jackie Hollenbach, vice president of research and development, Teleflex, Inc.
  • Lisa Peterson, president, Aftan Engineering

This event is open to students, faculty and staff of the college.

Society of Women Engineers visits Boeing plant

Wednesday, Feb. 19

The Penn State Berks Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers will visit the Boeing plant in Philadelphia. Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners, defense, space and security systems, and service provider of aftermarket support. This event is open to student members of the Penn State Berks Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers.

Open house of engineering labs

Thursday, Feb. 20, noon-1:30 p.m., 6-7:30 p.m. Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building

Community members and students from area high schools are invited to tour the state-of-the-art engineering labs in the Gaige Building. In addition to the tour, attendees will view a showcase of Learning Factory projects in the Gaige lobby, a panel discussion with FiERCE students, and a poster display on flow visualization from the college’s Fluid Discovery Lab, the only teaching fluid dynamics lab in the Penn State system.

*Students interested in attending Penn State Berks in the fall will have their application fee waived when they attend the open house. (Students must meet requirements.)

'Smart cars, smart cities and smart medical devices – how electronics miniaturization has and will impact the engineering field'

Thursday, Feb. 20, 6-7 pm, Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building Lobby room 121

Lecture by Professor Robert Caverly, head of the Microwave Lab at Villanova University. This talk will cover the history of electronics miniaturization and its impact on many fields of engineering, not just electrical engineering.  An overview of 'smart' applications will be presented and will include a look at smart objects and medical diagnostic devices.  Since peer reviewed publications are the venue where many of these applications are reported, and short presentation on the peer-review process will be provided. This presentation is free and open to the public.

Student competition: Egg Drop

Friday, Feb. 21, 1-3 p.m., Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building Lobby

Students will design and build a package that can support an egg when dropped from a certain altitude. The competition is open to all Penn State Berks students and the college community is invited to attend.

High school visits

Student from local high schools will visit the college from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 20-21, to learn more about the college’s engineering degree programs. The program will begin with lunch and an overview in the Perkins Student Center Multipurpose Room, followed by a tour of engineering laboratories in the Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building. The day will conclude with the high school students participating in a problem-solving activity before departing at 2 p.m.

For more information about Penn State Berks Engineers Week events, contact Robert Zambanini at 610-396-6178 or [email protected].