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News Release 00-009
For Release: February 17, 2000
Sally V. Harrington
Media/Community Relations Office
(216) 433-2037
s.harrington@grc.nasa.gov
School Visits Strive to Peak Interest and Curiosity of Students
Engineers and scientists from NASA Glenn Research Center are going back to school. Their classroom assignments are to meet with students of all ages to share their experiences and enthusiasm for their profession and inspire the students to seek careers in the fields of engineering and science.
During National Engineers Week, February 20-26, 85 Glenn engineers and scientists will visit elementary, middle and high schools throughout Northeast Ohio. Through demonstrations and experiments, these men and women will endeavor to open students' naturally curious minds to the wonders of science, math and engineering.
"National Engineers Week is a great opportunity to foster the love of science and math because it is vital to our future," said June Zakrajsek, of Glenn's Space Transportation Project Office. "Often I have been told by students that they don't understand why they need to learn math or science, that it is boring and they will never use it in life. I try to work with them to show there is a real connection to life and, more importantly, math and science is fun and interesting."
The National Society of Professional Engineers established National Engineers Week in 1951. Its purpose is to increase public awareness and appreciation of the engineering profession. Engineers are practical inventors who use science and technology to turn ideas into reality, making our lives easier, healthier, more productive-and fun.
Each year National Engineers Week takes place at the time of George Washington's birthday. His agricultural, military and land-surveying skills led to his acquiring the title of our nation's first engineer. He directed a growing society toward technical advancements, invention and education. An order issued by George Washington in June 1778 called for engineers and engineering education and is considered to be the origin of the U.S. Army Engineer School.
Classroom visits are part of the National Engineers Week activities in the Cleveland area, which are supported by Glenn's Educational Programs Office with the local National Engineers Week Committee.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: This news release may be localized using the following list of schools scheduled to participate in National Engineers Week activities.
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