UWF Student SWE Chapter

Society of Women Engineers

ASPIRE * ADVANCE * ACHIEVE

Student Chapter

University of West Florida

UWF SWE chapter supported
in part through donations from

Our Activities:

SWEet Social '09
September 26, 2009, we had 12 people attend the SWEet Social including 3 prospective members. The social included a tower building contest, free food, and a guest speaker.

Build a Better Future
March 28, 2009, we had 36 Cadette Girl Scouts and 11 leaders attend our event during which girls rotated among different stations where they learned about different topics related to building a better future. Topics included reading blueprints, famous inventors, recycling, medical devices, training/careers in engineering, and service in engineering. SWE provided lunch and t-shirts for all attendees. Girl Scouts earned their Build a Better Future badge and a SWE fun patch.

GEMS
March 7, 2009, SWE members facilitated workshops for GEMS, a Capstone project for the Communication Arts Department that exposes Girl Scouts, ages 8-10, to Math and Science. We spoke to a total of 80 young girls about engineering opportunities, training, and principles. SWE members also assisted the Girl Scouts in building a tower made of plastic straws. Each group had approximately 30 minutes to build their tower. The girls then presented their design to the group. Winners were chosen based on their towers ability to handle a predetermined weight.

EWeek Banquet
February 18, 2009, we organized a "Famous Engineers and Scientists Game" for attendees at the EWeek Banquet hosted at UWF. The game was composed of ten questions about famous female and male engineers and scientists. Each table was given one answer sheet and had to work together. The winners were awarded gift cards to the on-campus bookstore.

EWeek Outreach
February 16, 2009, we invited high school and middle school girls to the university for fun engineering activities. The girls that attended this event participated in an egg-smashing competition, mixed together lip gloss, and created motors out of batteries, paper clips, and magnets, and ate pizza. We had a small turn out, but SWE counts it as a success.

UWF Open House
January 31, 2009, we talked with prospective students and parents at the Open House.

SAME Meeting
January 15, 2009, we attended the Society of American Military Engineers meeting at the Officer's Club at NAS Pensacola.

Ronald McDonald House
December 1, 2008, we cooked and provided dinner for families residing in the Pensacola Ronald McDonald House.

WE'08
November 5-9, 2008, five SWE students attended the National SWE Conference in Baltimore, MD. Attended sessions regarding professional development, engineering careers, and outreach. Networked with other SWE students from all over the country. Volunteered as runners during the career fair, and a couple of students were interviewed. See our slide presentation -- takes a couples of minutes to load.

SWEet Social
September 20, 2008, was a smashing success! See the story!

Objectives/Mission

The Society of Women Engineers is the largest non-profit educational and service organization representing both student and professional women in engineering and technical fields. SWE was founded in 1950 with over 17,000 members in 90 professional sections and 300 student sections.

The objectives of SWE are to inform young women, their parents, counselors, and the general public of the qualifications and achievements of women engineers and the opportunities open to them, to assist women in readying themselves for a return to active work after temporary retirement. Serve as a center of information on women in engineering, and to encourage women engineers to attain high levels of educational and professional achievement.

The mission of SWE is to stimulate women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity.

Strategic Priorities:
SWE will provide opportunities for women to attain, enhance, and demonstrate leadership, professional, and technical excellence that results in career aspiration, advancement, achievement, and satisfaction. SWE will embrace and promote the value and power of diversity in specialties, age, race, ethnicity, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, and interests. SWE will share its acquired knowledge and promote programs that bridge the gaps in recruitment, professional development, and retention of women in engineering. SWE will inspire girls and women from diverse backgrounds and life stages to aspire to engineering for meaningful and rewarding careers.

Education and Outreach:
The technical professions will benefit, and the quality of life will be enhanced by more women of all backgrounds pursuing the profession of engineering.

Inclusive Organization:
SWE will be an inclusive organization focused on issues of interest to women of all backgrounds in engineering and technical careers.

Knowledge Source:
SWE will be a worldwide leader and preferred partner in the creation and advancement of information about women in techincal careers.

Professional Leadership:
Women will be acknowledged as demonstrating the skills required to be effective leaders in a global marketplace.

Value and Benefit:
SWE programs and services across the organization will provide value and benefit and meet the diverse and changing needs of Society members and stakeholders.