Bowling with Chrysler

Hanging with Chrysler

Last night was a blast. Wait rewind..
 
Chrysler Group LLC came to North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University as the focal employer for Engineer's Week 2013: Celebrate Awesome. Chrysler LLC is one of the leading auto manufacturer in the industry. With the conglomerate of the Fiat, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Mopar Electronics, and the lovable SRT, Chrysler has emerged from the brink. 

During E-Week, Chrysler conducted info sessions, enrichment seminars, and interviews in conjunction with A&T's Spring Career Fair to raise awareness about their internships, co-op, and company as a whole. Representatives were eager talk to the students of North Carolina A&T's College of Engineering. Organizations like the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and the Institute of Electrical Engineering and Electronics (IEEE) were active in conversations with Chrysler to help bring internships to students.

But yesterday for two hours Chrysler met with A&T students for a fun night. At AMF Bowling Alley in Greensboro, North Carolina Chrysler hosted the best bowling night. There was free bowling, shoes, food, drinks, and exposure. Chrysler was not only present at AMF but they were sociable and were interested in knowing what made students want to work in the auto industry. 

Throughout the night I met various representatives that all had great information about their company. I spoke with a Design Engineer named Xavier and his main function at Chrysler was the design and innovation of Bluetooth technology in Dodge vehicles. Anything that allows you to have hands-free functions in your vehicle goes through the hands of Xavier. He was great, but the best part was when he told me about taking his work home. The other representative that I spoke to was Becky. Becky was a recruiter looking for students with drive. She was telling me that even though I have high hopes in the Aerospace Industry, I could still have a role in the auto industry. I told her that I was interested in propulsion systems and she offered some great advice about joining the auto industry. She told me that engines, whether in aerial vehicles or cars, function under the same principles, so why not explore that entity. I enjoyed talking to this woman because she made me think that the auto industry isn't so bad. Don't get me wrong, my heart lies in the sky, but I might consider tinkering with the auto industry. 

Long story short, I had a great time. The bowling was great my friends had a fun too. The even handed out USB drives, headphones, info cards and booklets for our benefit. It was great turn out, but the best part was leaving AMF and seeing the representatives cars. The all had 2013 models like the Dodge Charger SRT with 22'' chrome alloy rims, the Challenger SRT, and the Dart it was awesome too see. This was great event and I hope to see something like this in the future for Engineer's Week at North Carolina A&T State University because last night was a blast.

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 

Clutch

Starbucks

                                                

Today, I have to give credit to Starbucks for allowing me to witness to this high school student name Chris from one of my tours. Thank you Starbucks.

The day started out horrible because I woke up late for class. After being up till 3 a.m. working on homework from one class, I guess I did not hear my alarm that morning. So I show up thirty minutes and figured, "Hey, I didn't miss much." So I finish out my day with another lab class that required me to work in a team to identify a metal sample based on comparing quantifiable mechanical properties. 

But I digress, I had signed up for a tour yesterday around three in the afternoon and truthfully, I wasn't up for it. It was starting to rain and I just wanted to sleep, but I did it anyway and I am so glad I did. This tour was from the Metro DC - VA area and they wanted a bus tour, tours like the Double-Decker buses in New York. Even though the tour was not as great as my normal tours, the best part would have to be when a student started to have trouble breathing on the bus. I know that sounds bad but hear me out. So, the bus was blazing hot and the air was very stuff and with this student unable to breath, he was needed an escort to go somewhere to find something hot to drink... 

Skipping to the chase, I walk this student named Chris and a chaperone to Starbucks and boom it happened. Chris was enjoying the tour and enjoying the college experience but he wasn't sold on attending college far away from home. This kid is a child of a single parent home, he mentors a fourth grader (that is making straight A's now because of him), and he takes care of his little brother. He was just sitting there trying wrap his head around taking the next step in his life without having the feeling of leaving his loved ones behind. 

So there I was, in Starbucks with this young man and I just found myself ordering a Strawberry n' Creme Frappacino with a cinnamon roll (<---that cinnamon roll cost me three freaking dollars alone. Ridiculous) and got real comfortable and talked to Chris. I told him that he can do great things and still have an impact on somebody's life. Chris wanted to make sure that his brother and his mentee taken care off and would not be overtaken by the system. I made sure that he knew that scholarships were out there for students like him with a story, drive, and a loving heart so that financial aid would not be the reason he didn't try. Leaving Starbucks, I felt that Chris was gonna make it and be able to support his loved ones in the future with the help of his successful career in Criminal Justice.

Thank you Starbucks, if feels good to make a difference. And for listening to my story here's a link for one dollar off a coffee or click the banner above for access to other Starbucks products.

Save $1 on your favorite Starbucks® whole bean coffees. Online only. Offer ends 2/10/13. 

 

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.