E-Week 2024 celebrates modern achievements, paves a path for future engineers


  Thursday, February 15, 2024
  Community

By Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – FEB. 15, 2024 – Engineers Week 2024 kicks off Friday and continues into next week, celebrating the theme “Welcome to the Future.”

Hosted by the UTRGV College of Engineering & Computer Science faculty, this year’s events feature activities to get students in the community from Kindergarten through 12th grade immersed in the world of engineering.

The “Welcome to the Future” theme is meant to celebrate modern achievements and help pave the way for a brighter, more diverse future in engineering.

The goal is to reach students and help them realize engineers of each generation can make the world a better place and help shape the world of tomorrow.

Dr. Ala Qubbaj, dean of the UTRGV College of Engineering & Computer Science, said this year’s event has aligned with the Equity in Engineering Summit, supported by an NSF grant, to help increase enrolment, retention, and success of Hispanics (particularly Latinas) in engineering.

“E-Week fosters a sense of community among students, educators, and industry professionals, creating networking opportunities and support systems that can be invaluable for students as they navigate their academic and professional journeys,” he said. “It promotes inclusion within the engineering field, encouraging students from underrepresented groups to participate and showcasing a wide range of perspectives and talents within the engineering community.”

Overall, E-Week serves as a catalyst for inspiration, education and collaboration, Qubbaj said.

“It empowers students to explore their passion for engineering and envision themselves as future innovators and problem-solvers,” he said.

 

E-WEEK SCHEDULE

  • Friday, Feb. 16 – InnoVaquero Challenge Kickoff: 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. - Makerspace (EENGR 2.454) and Zoom


  • Saturday, Feb. 17: Community Day
    - RGV Regional Science and Engineering Fair – Brownsville Campus
    - Familia Day: 1:30 to 2 p.m., Brownsville campus


  • Monday, Feb. 19: Innovation Day
    - Final Shark Tank Presentation: 12:15 p.m. - Makerspace (EENGR 2.454)
    - Poster Competition Round 1: All day – EENG Lobby, 2nd floor & Brownsville Lobby

  • Tuesday, Feb. 20: Student Engagement & Recognition Day
    -Girls Camp (K-12): 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – EUCTR Ballroom
    - Girls Day Welcome: 9 to 9:15 a.m. – EUCTR Ballroom
    - Girls Day Engineering Activity: 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. – Makerspace
    - E-Week 2024 Resolution: 10 to 11 a.m. – Hidalgo Courthouse
    - Girls Day Lunch & Women’s Panel (Open to all): 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. – EUCTR Ballroom
    - Girls Day Engineering Tour: 1 to 1:30 p.m. – EENG Lobby
    - Girls Day Wrap Up: 1:30 to 2 p.m. – TMAC

  • Wednesday, Feb. 21: Student Engagement & Recognition Day
    - Civil Engineering Ribbon Cutting: 11 to 11:45 a.m. – EACSB Eastside Lobby
    - Civil Engineering Forum Lunch and Learn meeting: Noon to 1 p.m. – EUCTR Ballroom
    - CECS Student Organization Fair:  1 to 3 p.m. – EENG Lobby 1st Floor
    - Student Recognition Banquet: 5 to 7 p.m. – EUCTR Ballroom

  • Thursday, Feb. 22: Career Development Day
    - Mock interviews with industry professionals: 10:30 a.m. to noon – EENG 2.212
    - Industry Keynote Speaker: Noon to 1 p.m. – EENG Auditorium
    - Los Alamos session by Michael Lackner: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. – EENG 2.212
    - Los Alamos session by Bill McKerley: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. – EENG 2.212
    - Industry Tabling & Networking Event: 1 to 4 p.m. – EENG Lobby 1st floor
    - Poster Competition Round 2 finalists: 6 to 8 p.m. – EUCTR Ballroom
    - Summit Kick Off / Opening Dinner: 6 to 8 p.m. – EUCTR Ballroom


  • Friday, Feb. 23: Summit Day
    - Registration, Networking & Breakfast: 8 to 9 a.m. – EUCTR Ballroom
    - Welcome & Keynote: Messages Matter: 9 to 10 a.m. – EUCTR Ballroom
    - Industry & National Labs Panel: 10 to 11:15 a.m. – EUCTR Ballroom
    - Recognitions & Lunch Keynote: SWE CEO & Executive Director Karen Horting: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – EUCTR Ballroom
    - Closing Remarks: 1:30 to 2 p.m. – EUCTR Ballroom

For more information on this year’s E-Week, visit the following links:



ABOUT UTRGV

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. This transformative initiative provided the opportunity to expand educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley, including a new School of Medicine, and made it possible for residents of the region to benefit from the Permanent University Fund – a public endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and other institutions.

UTRGV has campuses and off-campus research and teaching sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley including in Boca Chica Beach, Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus), Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus), Harlingen, McAllen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City, and South Padre Island. UTRGV, a comprehensive academic institution, enrolled its first class in the fall of 2015, and the School of Medicine welcomed its first class in the summer of 2016.