Quick Study

Key to Empowering Youth
In April, UCSD's Society of Women Engineers (SWE) will host 30 underrepresented middle school girls for a day of enlightenment, empowerment, and fun. The Keys to Empowering Youth (KEYs) program strives to improve self-esteem among young girls and get them interested in math and science.

First, the girls participate in role-playing and career planning activities. Then, they design and build protective structures for eggs, which are dropped from the top of Engineering Building Unit II. After lunch, groups get hands-on experience with artificial skin, bacterial DNA, and computer design. "The girls get to build a real computer, learn about the parts involved, and use it once it's put together to see the result of their work," says Heather Kubert, SWE's outreach coordinator and Jacobs School electrical engineering senior. KEYs is funded through a $10,000 grant from the Ford Foundation.

Jacobs School Alumnus Honored Again as Top Athlete
Recent graduate, James Nielsen, received a Division II Scholar-Athlete of the Year award for his success in track & field. Nielsen graduated in 2001 and was a twotime NCAA National Champion, four-time NCAA All-American, three-time California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Champion, and two-time CCAA Athlete of the Year. He is continuing his study of electrical engineering at Stanford.

Tau Beta Pi Mentoring Night
On November 8, over 30 freshman, sophomore and first-year transfer students attended Tau Beta Pi’s “Ask the Engineer: Student Mentoring Night.” The goal of the informal event was to answer questions about the majors, and provide advice on a number of topics, including recommended professors and courses. Attendees left with a good understanding of what it's like to be an engineer at UCSD from the perspective of fellow classmates. Visit http://sdcc13.ucsd.edu/~tbp/ to see pictures and learn more about Tau Beta Pi.