E-Week 2013

Engineer's Week 2013

Its that time of year again, the third week of February, Engineer's Week. Engineer's Week was set in motion by the National Society of Professional Engineers in 1951 in conjunction with President George Washington's birthday. Why George Washington's birthday you ask? Well, Washington, a gentleman farmer of inherited wealth and limited formal education, acquired credible surveying skills early in life, but excelled as a manager, strategist, and leader. Throughout his lifetime he directed a growing nation toward technical advancements, invention, and education. He promoted construction of roads, canals, the Capitol, docks and ports, water works, and new efforts to extract coal and ores and develop manufacturing resources. Washington's efforts made him American's First Engineer and his work fell under the Civil Engineering discipline, but since George Washington many new branches have been spread. The Engineering family has grown to encompass Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Chemical, Computer, Architectural, Biomedical, Biological, Aerospace, Marine, and many more. The field of engineering is very extensive and will continue to grow with the advances in technology. 

I might be biased but Mechanical Engineering is the way to go because it is the most versatile. Being in Mechanical Engineering allows you to learn what all disciplines are about. It is great. But lets talk about E-Week. Engineer's Week was intiated to highlight a time for engineers to emphasize the importance of learning math, science, and technical skills. However, this is not a just a time to educate, but to publicize the contributions made in the field. My illustrious university, North Carolina A&T State University of Greensboro, North Carolina is doing it up big with a full week of programs for students, faculty, and staff of the College of Engineering. We kicked of E-Week with a Ceremony given by Dean of the College of Engineerig Robin Coger and will end with a community outreach program on Saturday. This year Engineer's Week 2013 theme is "Celebrating Awesome."The highlight events through the week include the Spring Career Fair, the Order of Engineers Ceremony, and the PCI Event: Introduce a Girl to Engineering. This week is the second most hype time at A&T (second only to #GHOE).
 

Personally, I will be taking advantage of all the activities E-Week 2013 can throw. Today I will be attending a Beyond the Classroom Invitation-only session. It will be about how to increase your competitiveness through Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. I can't wait. We have tons of people coming to be apart of something great. If you're in the Triad this week, come on by A&T, McNair Hall, and party up with some Aggies and maybe you'll get a taste of the one and only Aggie Pride. 

222222222222222222222222222222222222222 HYPE! Deuce Deuce Deuce Deuce....

http://www.ncat.edu/academics/schools-colleges1/coe/News/Engineers%20Week.html 

February One

History Made Simple

To you the first of February is just another winter day; to others its a reminder that Valentine's Day is approaching, but to the city of Greensboro and the community at North Carolina A&T State University, February One was a defining moment that drastically changed the outlook on life.

On February 1, 1960, four freshmen A&T students, David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair, Jr (Jibreel Khazan), and Joeseph McNeil, decided to do something that's never been done. They decided to go down to Woolworth's Diner for a bite to eat. [For some background, Woolworth's Diner was an all white diner.] So, the owner did not want to serve the young men in his diner so he told them to retrieve their meals from the back door. As a result, Richmond, McCain, Blair, and McNeil thought that living as a second class citizen was not acceptable so they decided to start a non violent protest to gain equality. The action these four men took was very simple, a sit-in.

In this era of the Civil Rights Movement, the A&T four did not see sudden success. They came back to Woolworth's weeks upon end, but all they wanted was social equality. The store owner thought that if he ignored them long enought, the boys would just give up, but that did not happen. Instead, the sit-in started growing in number and gaining tons of media publicity because social inequality was a national issue. The sit-in grew from just four A&T students to students from Bennett College, what is now UNC Greensboro, and citizens of the community. The actions that Richmond, McCain, Blair, and McNeil took sparked a movement in the south where students and other people in communities were sitting in public entities demanding social equality.

What these four freshmen students started on February 1, 1960 changed how African-Americans live America. I believe this action also paved the way for other races to have equality in America. The courage and audacity of these men speaks volumes about their maturity; to be freshmen students and have the desire to change the world is awesome and that is pride, Aggie Pride.

These men helped resurrect the Civil Right Movement spearheaded by Martin Luther King, Jr that was on a decline. However, with the efforts of Richmond, McCain, Blair, McNeil, and the community around them, the Civil Rights Movement took off and the rest is history. So now you know, February One should always be in your heart because what these men did not just affect them, but you also. The A&T Four will not only last for eternity, but it will inspire others to be great. The moral of this powerful story is that, at any age, you can make a change. The change could be in the nation, community, or in someone's life. So, lend a helping hand because no one knows the effect it could have.

I take it as an honor to have met the A&T Four. I met them last year during the 52nd Anniversary of the Sit-in and will be seeing them again, today, February 1, 2013 for the 53rd Anniversary. It is a privilege to even walk the same campus as these great men. I just hope someday I can leave my impact on this world for the better.

 AGGIE PRIDE!!!

If you get the chance, come down to North Carolina A&T State University and experience the history.