More than 200 students from 18 area school districts roamed Nitschke Hall on the campus of the University of Toledo on Tuesday, exploring labs and mingling with current students for Engineering Week.

Bryan Bosch, manager of pre-college initiatives and a part-time instructor in general engineering, said the university has hosted Engineering Week along with the Toledo Society of Professional Engineers for eight years.

“Students get to see firsthand what the college of engineering has to offer them,” Mr. Bosch said. “The day includes visiting a variety of labs, talking with instructors and engineering students, and exploring the various areas of engineering and the career paths available to them.”

The students were able to explore civil engineering, biomedical engineering, computer science, and engineering through various labs run by faculty members.

“We wanted to showcase engineering as a profession,” Mr. Bosch said. “We are very passionate about engineering, and we want to push the information to the students who are exploring and considering engineering as a profession. Really, engineering makes society better on a day-to-day basis.”

UT’s push to get engineering into the minds of young people looking for a profession also includes pushing for more young ladies to join the profession.

The week includes the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Program Series on Friday. The program is meant to provide middle school girls with a greater understanding of STEM career fields through interactive programming and presentations by women in engineering throughout the spring semester.

More than 750 girls from 15 school districts, along with 14 companies and organizations, plan to take part in this year’s program.

“Right now, about 15 percent of the people in the profession are women,” Mr. Bosch said. “We have seen a slow trend upwards of women in engineering colleges. Fifteen years ago, women made up 10 percent of our students. We now average 22 percent. The national average is 15 percent.”

Matthew Franchetti, associate dean of undergraduate studies and professor of mechanical engineering, took a group of students around various labs throughout the engineering college.

Mr. Franchetti told students that UT is one of eight engineering programs nationally that requires students to complete three full-time co-op rotations.

“The average wage our students get for working is $22 per hour,” he said. “Ninety percent of our graduates graduate debt-free because of working in internships, high scholarship funds, and the fact that we have the second lowest tuition in Ohio.”

Mr. Franchetti told students that getting a college degree in engineering would be one of the best financial decisions they would make.

“I know there are a lot of people out there that will tell you that getting a degree is a waste of money,” he said. “If engineering is what you want to do, then pick the best college out there, with the engineering field you want to focus on, and just go do it.”

London Braddy, a freshman at Adrian High School, said he is interested in civil engineering. “A lot of the work is hands-on and that is something I like to do and I am good at it,” London said. “I really like UT. It feels like a nice environment here.”

Lydia Fusik, also a freshman at Adrian, said she had considered becoming a fashion designer but decided to focus on civil engineering instead.

“I am interested in design and I really like math so civil engineering feels like it combines the two of them,” Lydia said. “This program was cool since I was able to hear about what I was interested in.”

Isiaha Holmes, a junior at Whitmer High School, was also interested in civil engineering.

“I like looking at buildings and knowing the background behind building them,” Isiaha said.

AJ Rea, a sophomore at Anthony Wayne High School, said he thought mechanical engineering was an interesting field.

“There are just so many possibilities in the field,” AJ said. “This tour was awesome because we were able to see other aspects of engineering and compare them.”

The day included the Engineer for a Day program. High school students were able to see the educational and professional side of various engineering disciplines by visiting various firms.

According to Mr. Bosch, UT has held the event for the last 20 years. Students were matched with local employers for an afternoon job shadowing program that took them into the workplaces of engineering firms throughout the area.

The SSOE Group was one of several engineering firms hosting high school juniors and seniors for the event.

Brad Rowe, Sr., vice president of People & Culture at SSOE Group, said the firm has been involved with the program for 15 years.

“This is one of the ways SSOE gives back,” Mr. Rowe said. “This event inspires the next generation of engineers and the future work force. It is great that our staff is able to interact with the students and get involved with the program. “

SSOE, as an engineering consulting group, is able to expose students to many fields of engineering including electrical, mechanical, civil, and structural engineering.

“We have brought in people who were involved with this program and hired them for the co-op program,” he said. “We have hired a few of those students as well.”

SSOE events included Let’s Build a Motor, Construct a Building Frame, and the Popsicle Stick Catapult.

Jia Thakker, a junior at Perrysburg High School, said she has always been interested in engineering.

“I like seeing how things work,” Jia said. “Engineering really does have an impact on our daily lives, which is why being an engineer is a great career for me.”

She is hoping to get into the University of Michigan to study biomedical engineering.

‘I am good at math and biology,” Jia said. “Working in the health-care field, being able to come up with solutions and innovations in the industry is my dream job.”

Derek Barnhill, a junior at Port Clinton High School, said he has thought about engineering since he was a child.

“My grandfather was an architectural engineer, and my dad is an electrician,” Derek said. “I like hands-on work and seeing how everything works.”

Derek said he is planning on attending Ohio State University and majoring in architectural engineering.

“I find it fascinating how buildings are designed and built,” he said. “I like the creative aspect of it as well. This program at SSOE is great to see engineers at work.”

First Published February 20, 2024, 9:47 p.m.