Outstanding Student Section

Katie Murphy, the president of the Notre Dame student section of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), has announced that the University section received the first place award for Outstanding Medium Collegiate Section (36 to 100 members) at the SWE national conference in October 2006. During the conference, SWE also honored large (more than 100 members) and small sections (35 members or less), as well as the Outstanding New Collegiate Section. A not-for-profit educational and service organization founded in 1950, SWE consists of nearly 100 professional and 300 student sections

“We’re thankful and excited to be recognized for the work we do to enhance awareness of the opportunities for women in engineering,” says Murphy. SWE-ND adviser Cathy Pieronek, the director of academic affairs and the Women’s Engineering Program, credits the award to the enthusiasm and commitment of the SWE-ND members. She says, “SWE-ND has become one of the most active and vibrant engineering organizations on campus. They hosted the 2005 Region H Conference and increased membership more than 40 percent last year alone.”

In addition to on-campus events SWE-ND is active in the community, participating in programs such as Ms. Wizard Day and Expanding Your Horizons (annual workshops that introduce middle school girls to careers in engineering and science), assisting local Girl Scout troops with technology badges, and judging local middle school science fairs.

The award is not the first the SWE-ND section has brought back to campus. In the last four years the group has received the Best Student Section award from the SWE Chicago regional section three times.