Getting Involved: Academic-Related Activities

Penn State is home to a large variety of organizations, resources, clubs, and so much more! As an engineering major, you will definitely have a lot of work to do; however, many resources are available to help you in your quest to become an engineer. You will learn more, make friends, have fun, and the list goes on! I am providing a rundown of some academic-related activities below that you may be interesting in participating in below!

WEP 

The women in engineering program (WEP) is a resource that is available for all women engineers, and that includes you! Come to WEP Wednesdays (several times throughout the school year in Kunkel Lounge, Hammond) to get expert tips on studying, tackling the career fair, and so much more! Get dinner provided to you by the WEP team, sit down with your friends, and listen to Cheryl and her panel of upperclassmen. Other activities under WEP includes facilitated study groups and WEPO. Facilitated study groups are small groups of women who gather together each week to discuss homework problems and questions for a specific course. They are lead by a facilitator, a female engineering student, who has earned a good grade in the course. Be on the lookout for an email that will ask you if you would like to participate in one (or more)! Lastly, I will cover WEPO - you will be participating in WEPO as a first year, but you can participate again by joining the WEPO organizing team and becoming a role model for the incoming women engineers! You will get more information about the opportunity to become a lead, mentor, or envoy near the end of the first semester and the beginning of the second.

Clubs for Specific Majors 

There are clubs for every major! Check out the following link to find a club for you specific major or other clubs that you might be interested in:
https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/hub/studentorgs/orgdirectory/Search.aspx

You will meet other students in the same major, and you will also find students who are taking or have taken the classes on your schedule. If they are currently in the classes, you will often see them and you even may become partners for group projects. Upperclassmen who have already taken the classes will provide great advice for tackling the assignments. Consider joining one!

Research 

Research is a great way learn more about your engineering discipline outside of the classroom! You will learn a lot of material that isn’t covered in your classes, and you will work with graduate students and professors who will also be great mentors. I was able to find a research position thanks to WISER (Women in Science and Engineering Research), which Cheryl will talk about in a WEP Wednesday. For now, you can learn more about it using the link below:
https://sites.psu.edu/paspacegrant/opportunities/scholarships/undergraduates-penn-state/wmf/

If you are interested, be sure to check out the descriptions for the laboratories that are participating in WISER. There are other ways to participate in research, however, if you don’t plan to apply through WISER but still want a research position! I know some have found success by emailing their professors and expressing interest in their respective lab. Good luck!



The list above is just intended to give you an idea of what you may want to participate in. I hope you found it a bit helpful! See you at WEPO! :)

By: Jenny Ngo (Envoy Team i)

Getting Involved: THON

Penn State has over 1,000 student organizations. There is definitely a club for you, no matter what your interests are! Going to the involvement fair on the HUB Lawn can be a little bit overwhelming, so here is a well-known and active Organizations you can get involved in!

 THON- https://thon.org/

THON is a student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer. THON’s mission is to provide emotional and financial support, spread awareness, and ensure funding for critical research- all in pursuit of a cure. Penn State THON is a 46-hour no sleeping, no sitting dance marathon which raises money for Pediatric Cancer. THON benefits the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. It has become the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, something Penn Staters take pride in! The event is held in February in the BJC (our basketball stadium) where you will find thousands of volunteers, participants and organizations come together for an incredible cause. There are various events held throughout the year that lead up to the 46-hour dance marathon in February. How can you get involved? There are many opportunities to get involved in this amazing cause!

v Join a Committee!

There are 16 different Committees that help run THON and events throughout the year. Each Committee serves a different purpose in order to ensure THON is the best it can be. THON Directors, Captains and Committee Members help plan and volunteer at THON events throughout the year.

v Join an Organization!  

There are different kinds of Organizations related to THON: Special Interest Orgs, General Orgs and Greek Orgs. Special Interest Organizations have the sole purpose of raising money for THON. Throughout the year, they hold fundraisers and spend time with their Four Diamonds families they support. General Organizations have other purposes and also raise money for THON. For example, SWE (the Society of Women Engineers) is an academic and professional club that is also involved in THON through their fundraising efforts and the Four Diamonds families they support. SWE THON is a great opportunity to meet women in the College of Engineering while staying involved in an amazing cause! You can also get involved in THON through your sorority if you’re in one. Fraternities and Sororities pair up to raise money for THON together throughout the year.

v Get involved through your Commonwealth Campus!

If you are not a student at University Park you can still participate! Commonwealth campuses are also involved in THON and come up to University Park in February for the 46-hour dance marathon!

v Dance for THON!

Each Organization involved in THON elects representatives to dance for 46 hours during THON Weekend. Over 700 dancers stand and can’t sleep for 46 hours straight on behalf of their respective Organization. Dancing for THON is a huge commitment but also and incredible honor. You can also dance Independently with a partner, meaning you don’t represent a specific Organization involved in THON. In order to dance Independently, you have to raise a minimum of $2,800 with your partner to be placed in a lottery system which randomly selects dancer couples.

THON has truly impacted me in ways I can’t describe. It’s incredible seeing such a diverse group of people come together for an important cause. I’ve had the opportunity to meet some amazing people outside of my major by serving as a Committee Member during my Freshman and Sophomore year and by being a Technology Captain this year. I’m extremely passionate about THON’s mission and enjoy getting to know the Four Diamonds families we support. Hearing their stories is very important and a constant reminder of why we THON. If you have the opportunity to get involved, whether it’s through a Committee or Organization, I highly recommend it! I can’t imagine my four years at Penn State without THON! The event never fails to amaze me and is truly one of the best weekends of the year!

By: Liza George (Mentor Team i)