St. Lawrence College crowned National Engineering Month Ontario student challenge winner

We’re pleased to announce St. Lawrence College civil engineering students Lianna Grice and Cally Barrett are the 2017 winners of the National Engineering Month (NEM) Ontario College Student Challenge, winning a $2,500 cash prize and complimentary one-year OACETT memberships.

In addition to Lianna and Cally sealing the big win, St. Lawrence student Mark Ellis Smith and his team finished strong with a second place ranking in the highly spirited, competitive challenge. 

Funded by OACETT and supported by the Association’s local chapters, the Challenge, during each NEM campaign, invites engineering technology students to organize events that promote NEM’s theme “There is a Place for You” and has them compete for the grand prize. 

In March, 17 teams from 10 colleges (Centennial, Conestoga, Confederation, George Brown, Humber, Mohawk, Niagara, Seneca, Sheridan and St. Lawrence) put on 28 outstanding events across Ontario. Of these events, Lianna and Cally’s ‘Engineering Technology Speaker Series’ event exceeded expectations and the criteria necessary to win the competition, earning them the top ranking position.

From designing beyond limits to using reverse engineering to solve problems, engineering technology students during the four-day alumni speaker series engaged with a diverse group of highly qualified St. Lawrence graduates to learn more about the many creative ways civil engineering tackle some of today’s complex challenges.

The ‘Engineering Technology Speaker Series’ and the other Challenge events were scored on effectiveness of
messaging, integration of NEM theme and visual elements and participant engagement, with the final results determined by the NEM Ontario Steering Committee.

Each year Challenge teams become more creative, innovative and insightful in their ideas and event execution, creating more engagement, deeper discussion and larger audiences.

The commitment of these students, faculty, volunteers and OACETT chapters has made the Challenge one of the hallmarks of the NEM celebration and is playing an important role in educating the public and future leaders in the profession.  

A list of the rankings and information about each of the events is available here. 

Congratulations to all teams, their colleges and the OACETT chapters for participating in the Challenge and inspiring the next generation of engineers, engineering technicians and engineering technologists!