Last Thursday and Friday, Rose-Hulman’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) held its annual Women Exploring Engineering program. The event, which ran from Thursday evening until Friday Afternoon, introduced forty-seven high school senior women to Rose-Hulman and engineering in general. Each of the attendees has either applied or been accepted to Rose-Hulman.

Photo: Christina Davis High school women work on an egg protector during SWE’s Exploring Engineering Day.

Events included lectures in Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, dissection of electric appliances such as printers and blenders, and tours of Mechanical and Civil Engineering labs. Visiting students stayed overnight in residence halls with current Rose students.

Associate Director of Admissions Lisa Norton explained that the event was run primarily by Rose students Natalie Dickman and Kate Pippins.

Norton also mentioned some of the activities the students enjoyed most were the question and answer lunch panel by alumni of Rose-Hulman, the appliance dissection and Dr. Erwin’s lecture. They also enjoyed the opportunity to stay in residence halls. About 70 - 80% of attendees come to Rose the following year.

Dickman, who is a sophomore Biomedical Engineer, said that most girls were from about a three hour radius from Rose. “Some of them came here, they were not really sure if they want to be here or not, but by the end they’ve gotten completely comfortable and they were having fun,” said Dickman.