11/30/2009
Engineering Advocates, an outreach program in the College of Engineering, hosted “Experimenting with Engineering Day” for low-vision and blind students on November 13, 2009 at Gamma Delta Sorority. More than 100 students, parents, teachers, and volunteers were present to participate in the fun.
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Engineering Advocates, an outreach program in the College of Engineering, hosted “Experimenting with Engineering Day” for low-vision and blind students on November 13, 2009 at Gamma Delta Sorority. More than 100 students, parents, teachers, and volunteers were present to participate in the fun.
The students (K – 12) participate in the Central Affiliation of Special Education (CASE) Program which serves 13 area counties and is based in Urbana Public Schools. Jenny Tsao and Matt Swain of Engineering Advocates, and Heather Thompson, Office of Special Programs, organized and participated in the event. Matt Seebeck and peers from Materials Advantage (Department of Materials Science and Engineering), Ashley Soriano and fellow volunteers from Hope for Vision, and Kathryn E. Dragich and sorority sisters from Gamma Delta Sorority volunteered to provide intriguing hands-on activities for the students.
During the morning session, CASE students learned about water flow and permeable materials by making edible aquifers out of ice cream, soda, and gummy bears; polymers by making slime; and buoyancy through floating aluminum boats. In the afternoon, the students and parents worked in teams to construct the highest balloon towers, the strongest bridges from marshmallows and toothpicks, and the best constructed furniture to withstand a stack of textbooks.
Following the event, students and parents alike remarked how much fun they had through the lively day of interactive and informative engineering activities.
“Students and parents loved the hands-on activities which allowed them to obtain a sound understanding of the concepts," reported Pam Duda, vision coordinator of CASE. "Many stated that this activity day was one of their favorites.”
Several CASE students reflected that they never realized previously how engineering is fundamental life and a career worthwhile exploring. The volunteers fully experienced the benefits giving back to the community.
Ashley Soriano from Hope for Vision added, “I truly enjoyed getting the opportunity to work with students of all ages and varying degrees of impairment. They were fun to work with, and I learned a lot. The students all seemed very enthusiastic and had wonderful attitudes. They are an inspiration to all.”
Engineering Advocates surely look forward to working with CASE vision students in the future!
Volunteers
Material Advantage: Matt Seebeck, Ben Rasmussen. Megan LaBahn, Michelle Drymiller, Jon Naber, Matt Wolszon, Erich Diesel, Steven Richlak, and Jingtian Hu.
Hope for Vision: Ashley Soriano, Andrew Rasch, Brad Engelbarts, Amy Silverman, Emily Evans. Aja Kimrey, Jessica Reyes, Kate Minella, and Emily Lombardo.
Gamma Delta Sorority: Kathryn E. Dragich (full list of volunteers not available).
Engineering Advocates is the largest outreach program in the College of Engineering which serves approximately 6,000 elementary, middle, and high school students annually.
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For more information on Engineering Advocates and “Experimenting with Engineering Day,” contact Dr. Susan A. Linnemeyer, coe-outreach@uiuc.edu.
If you have any questions about the College of Engineering, or other story ideas, contact Rick Kubetz, Engineering Communications Office, 217/244-7716, editor.