The Greatland Section of the Society of Women Engineers participates in various programs to encourage students to perform well in school and educate them about the engineering profession. Some of those activities include organizing workshops for the Girl Scouts, volunteering at the E-Week student competitions, and awarding scholarships to high school female students who are interested in pursuing a degree in engineering. Click on the links to the right to view how our programs work and see how you can become involved!
Smart Girls Rock!
Smart Girls Rock started to help encourage more girls to enter Dimond High School’s Engineering Academy. The event was so successful that it has become an annual occurrence, with returning graduates as keynote speakers and more! SWE Greatland provides volunteers to share their lives and profession with curious young women.
Girl Scout Workshops
The SWE Greatland Section has been an active volunteer at the Girl Scout’s Women in Science and Technology Day for many years. Two to three workshops are hosted by section volunteers each year. SWE Greatland introduces girls to a variety of math and science concepts and experiments, including geology, making asphalt, polymers, and more!
E-Week Student Competition
SWE Greatland organizes the Egg-Drop Competition during E-Week at University of Alaska Anchorage. Volunteers assist in assembling the supplies, setting up, cleaning, judging, and determining winners for the competition. The competition consists of building an egg contraption with limited supplies to be dropped at a pre-determined height, depending on the age group. The object is to get as close to the target as possible without breaking the egg. Medals are awarded to the winners of each age group.
Other Programs
ASPE Engineering Explorers – Fall
SWE supports ASPE in providing a high school sophomores a peek into different fields of engineering with a weekly series of activities – each week a different field of engineering.
UAA Women in Engineering Night – Fall
SWE supports UAA during their annual Women in Engineering night to talk with collegiate engineers about career opportunities and life in the workforce.
Anchorage School District – Ongoing
ASD is often interested in having engineers speak to students in classes at different levels and age groups. SWE members offer talks during class periods or during after-school events. SWE members also participate in the Gifted Mentorship Program which allows high school upperclassmen to shadow and work with a professional for 50 hours in a profession of their interest.
Robotics Competitions – Ongoing
SWE members support the First Lego League and other robotics programs by volunteering during competitions or during other events as needed.