Online Staff Report

As part of National Engineers Week, Rock Valley College (RVC) will host an Engineering College & Career Night from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19, in the Physical Education Center (PEC) on the RVC main campus, 3301 N. Mulford Road.

The event will focus on “Engineering in the Aerospace Industry” with a panel discussion from 7 to 7:30 p.m., including local aerospace engineering representatives. The panel discussion will introduce each company’s engineering projects and career opportunities by answering the questions: What do you find exciting about your work in the aerospace industry? What drew you to become an engineer? What career opportunities in the aerospace industry are available in the Rockford region?

Area employers, regional colleges and universities, and professional societies in the area of engineering and quality will be present to provide a career exploration opportunity for the community of high school and college students, and community members looking for engineering opportunities.

This event is designed to recognize National Engineers Week and to encourage young people to consider critical thinking, creative careers in engineering and engineering technology. Dozens of engineering company representatives and engineering schools for transfer will be on hand. Last year, more than 200 students and their parents attended this event.

The event will also feature a paper airplane contest. The winner will be the person whose plane flies the farthest. This contest is open to people of all ages, and the winner will receive tickets to this summer’s Rockford AirFest.

RVC’s celebration of Engineers Week also included the annual Math Counts competition Feb. 9 at the RVC Woodward Technology Center (WTC) on the RVC main campus. Area middle school teams competed in this event, sponsored by the Rockford Chapter of Illinois Society of Professional Engineers.

Also on Saturday, Feb. 16, the Discovery Center Museum will host Discover Engineering from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Meet real engineers, enjoy amazing physics demos, take part in many hands-on challenges, and make some career connections. Special workshops for scouts are also available with advance reservations. Included with museum admission. Sponsored by TAC Rockford and the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers.

Finally, Engineers Week at RVC wraps up Friday, Feb. 22, when the annual Bridge Building Competition is held at RVC’s Stenstrom Center for Career Education, 4151 Samuelson Road. Teams, made up of three to four high school juniors and seniors, will be given one hour to build a truss bridge. Each team will have their bridge load tested by engineering staff and students. The testing is displayed on large screens so everyone can see which bridge is the strongest. The competition will take place from 8 to 11 a.m.

For more about any of RVC’s Engineers Week events, contact Vicki Brust at (815) 921-4117.

Posted Feb. 13, 2013