“There is a lot of exciting information that will be available to students and families at this event, but the student panel is always the biggest hit.”

Registration is underway for a special program aimed at getting West Michigan students in 6th-12th grades interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education and careers.

The fourth annual “What is an Engineer?” program is collaboration between Kettering University, Aquinas College and the Catholic Secondary Schools. The program will be from 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, in the Wege Center at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. The event will feature hands-on, interactive displays showing exciting career possibilities in engineering and science, a robotics demonstration & exhibit and a panel of current Kettering University students who will answer questions about their experiences as students and as co-op employees with leading West Michigan companies.

“There is a lot of exciting information that will be available to students and families at this event, but the student panel is always the biggest hit,” said Armen Oumedian ‘49, one of the event’s founders and organizers. “They get real answers to real questions.”

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Students will learn more about science and engineering at 'What is an Engineer?' at Aquinas College.

The intent of the event is to simply get more students excited and interested in pursuing engineering and science education and careers by exposing them to the many different ways engineers impact the world.

“We have a continuously growing need for qualified technical personnel, and we want young people to know that there are abundant opportunities to have great, meaningful careers in these fields,” Oumedian said.

John Schaub ‘09, currently the manufacturing manager for Alcoa Power and Propulsion, Thermatech Coating Operation in Whitehall, Michigan, will speak to students about his Kettering experiences and his career as an engineer.

Several Kettering University faculties will be in attendance with interactive displays, including Dr. Corneliu Rablau from the Department of Physics, Dr. Pete Gheresus from Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Dr. Mo Torfeh and Dr. Girma Tewolde from Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dr. Jonathan Wenzel from Chemical Engineering and Satendra Guru from Mechanical Engineering.

Cost is $10 per student (families are free) and space is limited to the first 100 students who register. Students can register online here. There will also be door prizes and giveaways throughout the evening. For more information, see the flyer.