Mohawk College Wins National Engineering Month Ontario Student Challenge
We’re pleased to announce Mohawk College biotechnology students Jodi Turner and Santosh Kumar Veerbadra are the 2018 winners of the National Engineering Month (NEM) Ontario College Student Challenge, winning a $3,000 cash prize and a complimentary one-year membership with OACETT.
In addition to Jodi and Santosh being crowned the big winners, St. Lawrence student Brianna Coco finished strong with a second place win and her comrades from St. Lawrence Mackenzie Charles and his teammates Mike Dias, Elizabeth Doran, Josie Grady and Matthew Snider ranked third in the highly spirited competition.
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 these students compete against each other for first, second and third place cash prizes and complimentary OACETT memberships.
In March, 10 teams from six colleges (Centennial, George Brown, Mohawk, Seneca, St. Clair and St. Lawrence) put on 14 lively, interactive and educational events across Ontario. Of these events, Jodi and Santosh’s ‘Engineering Technology, Rated ‘E’ for Everyone’ multi-day event, which spread well-aligned messages about engineering technology in unique and innovative ways, exceeded expectations and earned them the top ranking position.
From celebrating Women in Technology on International Women’s Day to talking about research and entrepreneurship in S.T.E.M. to discussions on cosmetics science, Jodi and Santosh’s collaboration with like-minded organizations and individuals successfully promoted dialogue on gender inclusion, diversity in the profession and innovative thinking to groups of engineering technology students attending Mohawk.
The ‘Engineering Technology, Rated ‘E’ for Everyone’ 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.
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!