4th Grade Engineering Day!

COMPETITORS WORK TOGETHER TO PUT ENGINEERS IN SCHOOLS

In the fast-paced world of changing technology and closely guarded secrets, engineers from three competing high-tech companies have agreed to let down their guard and work together as volunteers in Poudre School District classrooms during National Engineering Week, Feb. 12-23.

Engineers from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Hewlett Packard (HP) and Intel will give presentations to 4th and 5th graders that explain what an engineer is, and then students will work on hands-on engineering projects. The presentations are part of an annual event in which more than 40,000 engineers across the US and Canada visit local classrooms and talk to students about using math and science in their jobs.

Last year, engineers from Intel reached ­­­­­ almost 1,000 PSD students in 28 classrooms at 15 schools across the district. This year, with more companies participating, organizers are hoping to reach even more students.

Russ Herrell, an engineer who is coordinating the project for HP, added that engineers know they are having a positive impact on students. “Last year a little girl asked if girls could be engineers, too. We were able to tell her, and other students that with the right education and experience, they can do anything they want to,” Herrell said.