Tell us about your organization:

Engineering Ambassadors is an organization that focuses on advocating for engineering as a career. We give tours to prospective Penn State engineers, network with corporate sponsors, and do outreach to local primary schools to teach young kids about engineering.

 

Why do you think your organization is important and meaningful on campus?

Engineering Ambassador tours are one of the biggest ways we can reach prospective students. I went on a general Penn State tour when I was deciding where to go to school, and after, I remember still being really unclear on whether or not this was the place to study engineering. After my tour given by an Ambassador, I knew that Penn State’s engineering school was truly incredible and had everything I was looking for in a college. Our members get to share the College of Engineering with prospective students and help shape the next class of graduates.

 

How did you decide to get involved in Engineering Ambassadors?

After the tour that sold me on coming here, I knew that I wanted to do the same and give tours to other prospective students. I joined for the primary reason of giving tours. I was also really excited about making more friends within the College of Engineering.

 

How does your work with Engineering Ambassadors give you the opportunity to use your gifts and passions?

I get to talk a lot about what it is like to be a female in the computer science major. Often on tours, there will only be one or two girls, and I think that it is really helpful to see someone like you doing what you want to do. On outreach trips, I get to talk about some of the things I’ve built in my classes, and younger kids are absolutely amazed by the things that are almost magical to them. It’s cool to see what I do every day can encourage a young person to pursue a career as an engineer.

 

Why do you think your organization makes a difference in this world?

This organization has the power to reach children who may have never heard of engineering before or never thought they were capable of becoming engineers. We focus a lot on doing outreach to schools in low income areas, where the kids may not have had the opportunity to take advanced classes or learn about engineering. If one of them becomes an engineer who otherwise would not have, then our organization is doing its job.

 

Anything to say for students who might want to join this club?

I would say that it’s a lot of work to miss class for outreach trips, but totally worth it. Look back at all of the people who inspired you to be an engineer, and imagine if you had never met them. It’s easy to forget that if you are an engineer, you are lucky enough to have had the support you needed to make it this far. A lot of students never have that, but by joining this club you can help be that for someone else.