Melissa Marshall is a crusader against bullet points and an evangelist for effective slide designin scientific presentations. She believes that the future depends on the innovations of scientists and engineers, and is passionate about helping them effectively tell the story of their work.

A faculty member with the Department of Communication Arts & Sciences at Penn State University, Melissa specializes in teaching speaking skills to engineering students and has also lectured at Harvard Medical School, the New York Academy of Sciences, Cornell University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Melissa is the co-founder and advisor for the Penn State Engineering Ambassadors, an award-winning science and engineering outreach communication program. She is also an organizer and the faculty advisor for TEDxPSU, a student-run TEDx event held at Penn State each year.

You can check out her presentation here:  Melissa Marshall: Talk Nerdy To Me

“Our scientists and engineers are the ones that are tackling our grandest challenges, [but] if we don’t know about it and understand it, then the work isn’t done.” -Melissa Marshall

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers is holding a Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit the Food Bank of State College. The food drive, which will conclude this Friday, November 16th, is organized by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Omega Chi Epsilon chemical engineering honor society.

If you would like to contribute to the causes there are several guidelines that need to be followed:
Items currently in need:

• Grocery store Gift Cards – any denomination is appreciated. Used to maintain our food inventory and supplement what we don’t receive in food donations
• Peanut butter
• Cream soups
• Juice (100% fruit juice in 48-64 oz size)
• Applesauce
• Canned fruit – pineapple, mandarin oranges, apricots
• Ketchup
• Thanksgiving Dinner items: Cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, canned sweet potatoes, instant potatoes, pie crust mix, pumpkin pie filling, other pie filling, canned corn.
• Frozen Turkeys or Turkey vouchers from local grocery stores

Items that will not be accepted:

• “Best if used by” date on all items if past due
• Opened items, such as half used bags or boxes of rice or pasta, or home-canned items
• Bread/pastries that are not prepackaged
• Large, gallon or #10 cans

They also always need:

• Granulated sugar
• Mayonnaise, Miracle Whip type Salad Dressing, and Salad Dressings
• Cooking Oil
• Coffee
• Bars of soap
• Personal hygiene items (toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, etc.), and diapers

Donation boxes are located at the East, West and Student Lounge entrances of Fenske Building until Friday, November 16th.

For more information, please visit their website: http://foodbank.centreconnect.org/index.html

Where do you think your shoes could take you? Could you explain it effectively in 350 words for cash prizes for your organization?
“Where will your shoes take you?” was the essay question that the Penn State Society of Women Engineers (SWE) answered in 350 words that won them a total of $16,800 in prize money to be given in part to their engineering programs.

The contest, named Create Your Own Path, was sponsored by Schlumberger and the National Society of Women Engineers. This is the third year that the organization has won this essay competition.

Contestants had to creatively answer where they thought their non-traditional careers would take them. Penn State had 148 entries followed by Ohio State with 95. Penn State was awarded $100 per entry and an additional $2,000 for having the highest number of entries.

Kelsa Benensky, a mechanical engineering junior, won first-place for an essay about her parents’ influence on her to go for her dreams.

“I learned from their example that if you follow your heart and really go for it that there is nothing stopping you,” said Benensky. She also said it means a lot to Penn State’s SWE organization to have done so well in the competition because their success raised money to help young women in engineering at Penn State.

“SWE really gives women engineers a great opportunity to network, make friends and give back to the Penn State community,” explained Benensky. She intends on using her prize money to attend the American Nuclear Society’s winter meeting, meet her mentor and network with other professionals in this field.

SWE President Kylie Sheplock echoed what Benensky had to say. “I am so happy that this year SWE has continued the tradition with winning the essay contest. Schlumberger is a wonderful company who has been always generous to Penn State SWE, and it is nice to see how important it is for them to get women interested in engineering.”

All engineering students are invited to a meet and greet with Conigent TONIGHT at 5 p.m. at Adam’s Apple, located behind the Tavern Restaurant, 220 E. College Ave.

Students will meet Conigent’s CEO, 1995 engineering science alumnus Ameet Shah, and learn about his journey from college graduate to entrepreneur. Shah will discuss Conigent’s product Wodify, which is designed specifically for the CrossFit Industry, and available internship and full-time job opportunities.

For more information about the company, please visit www.conigent.com.

Today marks 100 days until THON — the annual IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon that supports children and their families in their fight against pediatric cancer. In 100 days, students will stand on their feet for 46 hours without sleeping in remembrance and support of all those who have been affected by pediatric cancer.

More than 15,000 student volunteers engage in a year-long fundraising effort — the largest student-run philanthropy in the world — for the Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. To date, the organization has raised $89 million for the fund, including last year’s record of $10.56 million.

Among the volunteers are several engineering students and organizations. They dedicate their free time helping to combat a disease that’s the number-one killer of children in the U.S. – more than asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined.

As the clock ticks toward THON weekend — Feb. 15-17, 2013 at the Bryce Jordan Center — the College of Engineering will host its own countdown by featuring some of the students and organizations who are helping to make a difference.

Over the next 100 days in this blog, we’ll be featuring three engineers who are also THON overall chairs, sharing updates from various organizations and posting news about THON-related events.

For the Kids!

Proceeds from the first ever Penn State engineering alumni tailgate will go a scholarship for engineering students.

The Penn State Engineering Alumni Society (PSEAS) is hosting a tailgate before the Nov. 17 Penn State-Indiana football game with proceeds going to the PSEAS Endowed Scholarship for engineering students.

The event starts three and a half hours before kickoff at the Bryce Jordan Center’s Founders Lounge and will feature a hot buffet, children’s activities and a silent auction. In addition, engineering deans, students and alumni groups will be in attendance.

Cost is $20 for adults, $5 for students and free for children under 12.

Deadline to register is Nov. 7. For details and registration, go to www.engr.psu.edu/tailgate.

Four engineering student groups are doing their part for the annual Penn State vs. Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge.

Kunkle Lounge will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 2. Donors will receive a challenge T-shirt, pizza and coupon package from area businesses.

To schedule an appointment, donors can go to www.psuredcross.org.

The event is sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Engineers Without Borders, Society of Women Engineers and Engineering Graduate Student Council.