E-Day 2016[
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Students from across the state have been invited to the Capstone to learn about the University’s engineering program.
The University of Alabama College of Engineering is hosting E-Day on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The annual event is an invitation for sixth through 12th grade students to visit campus and learn about the engineering field and what the college has to offer students interested in studying the discipline.
Attendees will choose one of the seven engineering departments to tour while on campus. The tours will stop at labs and classrooms located in several buildings, and the guests will have the opportunity to talk with faculty members and current students.
Student organizations, like the Society of Women Engineers and Alabama Astrobotics, will set up display tables in the South Engineering Research Center for the visitors to see how engineering students get involved. Some displays will be interactive giving the guests a tangible experience.
“I’ve been describing it as a science fair set-up,” said Lizzy West, a mechanical engineering senior from Dallas, Texas. “You can walk around and see all the different student orgs., and they’ll have time to see everybody if they want to.”
About 1,000 people are expected to attend E-Day. Public and private, middle and high schools from across Alabama will attend the event as a field trip while some students will attend as individuals.
Blythe Johnston, a junior in civil engineering from Albuquerque, New Mexico, said E-Day is a one-of-a-kind event compared to regular college tours because so many faculty, staff and students are gathered at one time to answer questions and present the facilities.
“E-Day offers an entirely unique experience,” Johnston said.
Johnston, who along with West serves as co-chair of events for the Ambassadors of the College of Engineering, said this event is important for the College to host because it can help take away some of the intimidation students may feel towards the field of study.
West agreed and said it gives guidance to grade school students who are starting to think about their future by showing them the many facets of engineering they may not know about.
“I think it’s really important to bring them here so we can show them there is something for them. This is a really cool place that is accepting and progressive, and it’s a good place for them to make their ideas realities,” West said.
Lunch will be provided by Crimson Smokers on the Science and Engineering Quad.
For more information, visit eng.ua.edu/admissions/e-day.