College: The Best See-Saw Ever

Hey girls! I hope you are getting psyched for college, because now that the Fourth of July has passed, fall semester is just around the corner! The very near future brings promise of so much, from EDSGN projects and Homecoming to FRESH START and THON. You’ll make friendships that will last a lifetime and be amazed at how fast time flies.

If there’s one universal lesson that every Penn Stater learns in this whirlwind that is college, it’s that balance is key. Completing homework, cheering at football games, rocking out at concerts, learning the bus system, exercising at the White Building, and eating ice cream at the Creamery are soon to become typical things to do in your future life as a Penn Stater, and in order to get a healthy amount of sleep, it really is best to keep your life balanced.

All work and no play is equally as bad as all play and no work. Don’t do either. Or rather, do both. Have fun! Work hard! Figure out what is best for you so that you get the two things Penn State is really unique in offering: the full college experience and the best possible education.   

Now go get ready for WEPO ’12, because it is going to be a fantastic kick-start to the best 4+ years of your life as one balanced Penn State engineering major.    

Fun at broomball during WEPO 11

Adriana Philip is a Junior. She is a mentor for WEPO 2012.

   

How to Rock Out Penn State!

Why hello everyone! As you start to adjust to life at Penn State, you will quickly discover that State College is not only home to an awesome University, but also is a frequent stop for musicians and concert tours.  I wanted to share with you music lovers, some events you can look forward to this upcoming year, and perhaps buy tickets in advance for!

State Theater:  Located right on College Ave, this community owned theater houses everything from local dance companies to documentary showings to small concerts.  This fall you can look forward to performances by Blue Sky Rider, Jodi Benson, and Randy Travis.  For more performance and ticket info check out http://thestatetheatre.org/

SPA Concert Series:  The Student Programming Association (a Penn State organization) puts on various concerts for us students (usually free of charge) throughout the year. Every Friday at noon in the HUB, a local musician performs.  I have seen everything from a Penn State a capella group (which are awesome) perform to an acoustical guitar player.  Although they have not announced their concert series yet for this upcoming year, SPA brings a variety of bands to campus and they usually perform in the HUB on the weekend. This past year FUN., Yellowcard, and Vanessa Carlton all gave free concerts.

BJC:  The Bryce Jordan Center (where the basketball team plays) always has a series of concerts.  This fall you can look forward to performances by Tiesto (a DJ/electronic dance music) and Carrie Underwood.  Make sure you get your tickets early, because they often sell out quickly!  http://www.bjc.psu.edu/Events/2013/04.aspx

Movin’ On: Every year on the last Friday before finals a music festival is held out by the football stadium. It’s free for students and this past year featured Ludacris and the Avett Brothers.  Mark it on your calendars now…it’s a great way to celebrate the completion of another school year with your friends!

And finally, don’t forget that State College is only 2.5 hours from Pittsburgh and 3 hours from Philly.  Much fun can be had by piling into a tiny car and heading onto 322 towards a concert for the evening!

Can’t wait to meet you all in a few weeks J

Getting upgraded to 2^nd row tickets for free at the Coldplay concert was totally worth the drive to Philly! Yayy! 

Rachel Schartner is a senior in Chemical Engineering. She is a mentor for WEPO 2012.

Getting Around- Helpful tips

Penn State may seem like a huge campus because well, it is, but thanks to all of the transportation it makes everything just a short ride away. I know during your first week or so you may be nervous to get on the bus since you don’t know which to take or where it goes, but I am here to help!

The two main buses you will most likely use are the Blue Loop and the White Loop. They run opposite directions around campus and don’t take the same exact route. The White Loop goes counter-clockwise and the Blue Loop, clockwise. I could never remember which way they ran until I thought of a little trick. Curtin Road is the one road that both of the buses run on together. Curtin Road is also the one that most freshmen will live on since it houses both West Halls and East Halls. So use this road for reference: when standing at the Creamery for instance you will take the White to West or the Blue, Back to East. Ok so the Blue Loop one doesn’t work as well, but just remember, when on Curtin, White to West. This will help you know which direction the bus goes in.

There are also many other buses that will take you around campus free of charge (It will say this on the bus) or you can pay to go off campus. If you need groceries for example, you can take the Vairo Blvd. or V bus to Walmart or Target. The M bus or Nittany Mall bus takes you to; you guessed it, the Nittany Mall. Or if you want to go skiing, the B bus or Boalsburg bus takes you to Tussey Mountain Ski Lodge. These buses cost $1.50, with exact change, and can be very useful when living in the dorms or when having a car is not an option.

Too make things super easy, there is a CATA app for your iPhone and Android. When you download it, you can choose which bus you want to take and it will tell you, via GPS, where the bus is around campus. This is very useful is deciding whether you should wait for a bus, when to leave your dorm, or whether you should just walk.

For more information on all the bus routes and to download the app you can check out:

http://www.catabus.com/

Megan Barr is a senior in Industrial Engineering. This summer she is working at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. She is a mentor for WEPO 2012.

Simba and Rafiki: My trip to Kenya and how YOU can travel internationally!

Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to take the trip of a lifetime.  After working all semester on a medical device design project, I traveled to Kenya to test the devices and determine how they can be integrated into the ongoing MASHAVU program.  For me, the project began in January as I first started taking my junior design class, BIOE 401.  Through this class we are split into teams, and were assigned to design basic primary care medical devices that cost under $10 that could be made using materials readily available in developing countries, and were extremely rugged and durable.  During the semester I also took a HESE class (Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship), which allowed me to understand the breadth of the project and to prepare for the travel to Kenya.   When the semester ended in May, I traveled with 40 other students in the HESE Program to Nairobi, and thereafter traveled on to Nyeri, Kenya, where we would be headquartered for the following weeks. 

Throughout the time in Kenya we held clinics in various different locations, where patients could come and receive information about their health for free.  Our devices had been designed to interface with a telemedicine system, so ideally patients in rural areas in Kenya who do not have easy access to healthcare can check their vital signs, or receive a consultation via the internet.  Through these free clinics we received valuable information regarding the functionality of our devices, so that next year’s teams can improve the design.  It was extremely humbling to speak with adults and explain healthcare to some who have never had their weight or blood pressure taken before.  After hearing their stories, it is easy to understand why the life expectancy is less than 60 years old.
We worked hard in Kenya, but we also had a lot of fun and different experiences, too.   During the first weekend, we traveled north across the equator to Samburu National Reserve for a safari.  We saw many elephants and giraffes, but we also saw some lionesses, zebras, ostriches, crocodiles, gazelles, baboons, and a cheetah.  It literally looked just like the Lion King.  I learned that “simba” means lion in Kiswahili, and “rafiki” means friend.  We saw a few birds that looked like Zazu, but I didn’t learn that translation.  On normal days after working, we would walk down the road and spend time at the Children and Youth Empowerment Center (CYEC).  We had lots fun hanging out with the kids, getting out hair braided (which they loved doing), playing soccer, dancing, introducing them to Frisbee, and just spending time with happy little youngsters.  They smiled all of the time and were almost as excited to have us for company as we were to be there.  In addition we were able to travel around the town – I bought a pair of sandals made from old tires, spent ample time in the markets and had more than my fair share of traditional Kenya food.  I definitely miss the homemade guacamole, but I’ll be skipping the beans for a while.

 
If you might want to travel abroad in your time at Penn State then start planning NOW!  Your opportunities are endless!  Fifteen women on the current leadership team have traveled internationally around the world.  This year you’ll find people who have traveled to France, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Honduras, Costa Rica, Argentina, Kenya, China, and Australia.  These trips have ranged from short term study abroad, to engineering projects, to international internships, and semester long study abroad trips. If you have any questions you can always ask a lovely leadership team member who has already taken the trip (and I’m sure would be happy to tell you about it), or you could also visit the international envoys.  The international envoys are students who have traveled abroad, and hold office hours in 204 Hammond so that you specifically can go to them to seek help in finding your perfect international experience! They’re always happy to answer your questions, and can help you to find something that’s just right for you.  
So to conclude -- you should travel abroad.  All in all my experience was beyond incredible!  The trip was successful, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  I wish it would have lasted way longer than it did, and can’t wait to go back!

Sarah Schopman is a senior in BioEngineering. This summer she went to Africa for the MASHAVU program. She is also working in the WEP office. Sarah is the Resource Innovations Overall Lead for WEPO 2012.

The Commonwealth Commuter Experience

Penguins game- A PSU trip!

Hi! My name is Ashlee Palm and I am a sophomore bioengineering major. This past year I lived at home and commuted to Penn State’s Beaver campus (it’s about 40 minutes from Pittsburgh).

Last year, I remember driving myself to WEPO wondering if I would even fit in with all the other girls going since I would just be going home again in three days to live at home and commute to Penn State Beaver campus which is about ten minutes from me. The three hour drive gave me a lot of time to think and worry. Turns out, four girls from my team were also commuting from home to Penn State Beaver so I had nothing to worry about.

I’m talking to all my commonwealth women out there! The commonwealth experience is one that I have grown to love and will miss when I transfer up to University Park in January. Here’s a few tips to help you get the most out of your freshman year, even on the small campuses:

1. Reach out to people: As a commuter, I didn’t get the automatic friends that come with living in a dorm, so the first day of classes was a little scary. I knew I had my WEPO friends, but I wanted to meet a lot of people. The library is the go to place on our small campus, so I met almost all of my friends there or in classes we had together. Don’t be afraid to just sit at a table with someone you recognize from class and start studying together. That’s how I met my best friend (who also commutes)!
2. Visit University Park: One of the best decisions I made during my fall semester was to buy tickets to the All-U game for Penn State football. All the campuses sell tickets and shuttle students to one football game a season. The one I went to was against Iowa and it was one of JoePa’s last games. It was an amazing experience and led me to buy season tickets this year! Grab your friends and make the trek to see a football game! You will love it!
3. Take Trips!: The Beaver campus always had some events going that were fun trips to places like New York City and Chicago for only $20! If you have no exams coming up, take advantage of these trips and have a weekend away (bring some study materials so you don’t get behind though!). I went to Wicked and Beauty and the Beast in Pittsburgh as well as a Penguins game! I love hockey and going to that game with my girlfriends was an awesome way to spend a Tuesday night!



Beauty and the Beast- A PSU trip!

4. Lastly, Get Involved!: THON has a showing on every Penn State campus in the commonwealth and it is one of Penn State’s claims to fame. Joining clubs and organizations is just as easy on commonwealth campuses! Grab some friends and head down to the activities fair at the beginning of the semester and get involved. It’ll even help you make non-engineering friends to keep you sane when exams and homework are driving you crazy.

You already made two awesome choices with Penn State and WEPO so I’m sure you will have a great time when I see you in August! Enjoy the rest of you summer! WE ARE!

Ashlee Palm is a sophomore in Chemical Engineering. Ashlee started at the Beaver Campus. She is a rover for WEPO 2012.

Taylor's Five First Year Tips

When you get to Penn State in the fall, you are going to be overwhelmed with everything. I know I was. Being away from home, eating in the dining hall, taking many classes, and having tons of free time are all things that pop up on you in college. Since I was just a freshman last year, I have a couple words of wisdom for you.

1. Join at least one engineering club and one club just for you. I am involved in WEP, SWE and NSBE on campus. I love these engineering organizations. It is fun to be around academically likeminded people. Sometimes, you will find that it is nice to get away from engineering though. One of the non-engineering things I do is the Vegetarian Advisory Board, which helps to pick some of the vegetarian food choices in the dining halls. Since I love to cook and bake, this is something that makes me happy because it allows me to have a say in what I am eating for dinner.
2. Put yourself out there as much as possible. I am usually an introverted person. When I got to college, I made sure to meet as many people as I could even though that was not my comfort zone. Even if you talk to someone once over your college career, that can be the stepping stone to something big. A friend of mine always tells me “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” So, take the shot and make a new friend or talk to someone new. I promise you wont regret it. As a freshman, I went to the career fair. Most freshmen on campus do not go. Most of the girls in WEP do and this is awesome! At first, it is nerve-wracking because these people are professionals in the workplace. After a company or two, I got my nervousness out and really was able to feel comfortable when talking to recruiters. Surprisingly, I even got an interview with NavSea afterward. All this took was a little preparation and a pep talk from my WEPO mentor Maria.
3. Use your WEPO Mentor! Your mentor is there for you to answer weird Penn State questions, to help you understand all the new programs you use or even just to chat when you need an unbiased opinion. My mentor Maria is the greatest. I may not talk to her all the time but when I needed some help with E-design, reviewing my resume or had some questions about the career fair, she is there. Maria helps me to make better decisions by telling me how she would handle a situation or how other people she knows handled it. Use the network of people that you build your freshman year. People are always willing to help you if you express a need for help.
4. Buy a planner and write everything down, even if you think you will remember everything. Honestly, you will have so many things to keep track of that they will not all fit in your head. Writing down anything important makes your life easier at school. You will always have a reference for where to be for a class or when you need to do something for a club. My planner is my best friend. I color-code by class and section each day off and making a to-do list, a should-be-done list and events for the day list. This helped me to be super organized and less stressed all year long. I remember once that I had four big things to do in one day all over campus and I needed to bring certain things with me. I was stressed out of my mind. My planner saved me being unprepared, lost and frazzled.
5. Make time for yourself as well. Making all these new friends is awesome! Joining new clubs and study groups, playing intramural sports and traveling is fun too. With all the going on, sometimes you forget that you need time for yourself too. Take time out to paint your nails, read a book, sit outside and enjoy the sun, just something that makes you happy. If you forget about yourself, it will make you even more stressed. Every Sunday, I paint my nails and read on my Nook until they dry. Then, I go back to doing schoolwork. That small amount of time makes me happy and keeps me from going insane from schoolwork.

Those are my main tips that helped me get though my first year of college. It blows by so quickly. Remember that college is your time to try anything you want to and learn all that you can. Take advantage of that in your freshman year. 

Taylor Lacey is a sophomore in Mechanical Engineering. This summer she is interning with GE Transportation in Erie, PA. She is a rover for WEPO 2012.

Why WEPO? - Videoblog!

Check out this great video about why WEPO is so helpful and great!

Divya is a junior in Industrial Engineering. She is a mentor for WEPO 2012.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go

Engineering will gain you respect from your peers and job offers when you graduate. Especially by being an involved woman in this challenging field. But more importantly, in my opinion, is all the places you’ll get to go and the people you’ll get to meet through your involvement in engineering. Let me take you on just one path – my own – and how it has opened my eyes to the world.

Hiking North and South Arapahoe
Mountains near Boulder, June 2012

Internships. Not only will you gain valuable real-world experience, but you’ll also get to explore another part of the country. Take advantage of securing internships/co-ops across the country (or even world!) because it will teach you so much more about yourself. There are limited times post-college where a company will pay YOU to fly across the country. Seriously, I urge you to go out of your comfort zone. It’s only 3 months.

1. Erie, PA – summer 2010
2. Seattle, WA – summer 2011
3. Boulder, CO – summer 2012

SWE members enjoying the
Chicago lakeside, October 2011

Organizations: Society of Women Engineers. What’s the next best thing besides WEP?! SWE!!! You will gain an even greater network of familiar faces and immense opportunities. By getting involved and taking a leadership role you have the chance to go to the Annual Conference – held in a different city each year. These conferences bring together some of the brightest and most driven women I have ever met. You will be inspired and feel like you can change the world too.

1. Orlando, FL – October 2010
2. Chicago, IL – October 2011
3. Houston, TX – November 2012

EAs with our advisor Melissa Marshall standing
in a Pratt engine in Hartford, March 2012

Organizations: Engineering Ambassadors. Through EA, I have had the chance to inspire other with engineering messages across the state of Pennsylvania through presentations and activities. I even was able to attend a leadership workshop from United Technologies Corporation where several schools from the East Coast came together to share ideas and insights.

1. Hartford, CT – March 2012
2. Numerous cities in PA from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia – school year of 2011-12

The students of ELDM in Budapest,
May 2012

Minors: Engineering Leadership Development Minor. Many minors will give you the option to travel. I say take advantage of adding some uniqueness to your resume with a minor and a splash of traveling as well! Personally, ELDM has brought me to places in the world I never even knew about before. By being emerged in a foreign culture you start to appreciate the vastness of the world and the differences between countries.

1. Budapest, Hungary – May 2012
2. Rabat, Morocco – March 2013

Carlye Lauff is a senior in Mechanical Engineering. This summer Carlye is working for Ball Aerospace in Boulder, CO. She is the Design Lead for WEPO 2012.

First Semester Tips

Congratulations on your acceptance to Penn State! My name is Emily Clark and I am a Rover for WEPO ’12. I am a sophomore studying Chemical Engineering. Everyone is probably telling you that college is going to be the best four (or five) years of your life. Well, these people have been right so far. Everything is so new and exciting, especially because you chose the BEST school there is! But, to make sure you have the best experience you can have, there are a few key things to keep in mind during your first semester at Penn State.

Put yourself “out there”

One thing you can never have too much of is friends. In college, there are a million opportunities to make friends, but you just can’t expect instant friendships to form. If someone asks you to get dinner, why not go?! Meeting new people is fun and getting to know them is even better. The first opportunity you will have to make new friends is WEPO, of course! Not only can you make friends, but also great study buddies since engineering majors take most of the same classes the first year. Two of my best friends at Penn State were in my WEPO group last year when I was a freshman, including Katie Ciccaglione, a fellow Rover for WEPO ’12. I also think it is important to have friends outside of your major, even though engineers rock. It helps you stay balanced. I became very good friends with girls that were on the same floor as me. During the first few weeks of classes go up to new people and introduce yourself, because you never know who could be your new best friend!

Get involved

The best way to make Penn State feel like your new home is to get involved. There are so many great engineering clubs, sports clubs, THON committees and organizations, and clubs for just about anything you can imagine. Attend the involvement fair in the beginning of the year and see what grabs your attention! Again, don’t be afraid to put yourself “out there” and try something new! During my freshman year I was on a co-ed flag football team and we had a blast! I also joined Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Atlas (a THON organization) and even tried out the Boxing Club. This year I look forward to being on a THON committee and possibly trying out the Penn State Biking Club. There are many great leadership opportunities within the clubs and so many new people to meet!

Time management

You have already made fantastic choices by choosing to go to Penn State, studying engineering, AND choosing to come to WEPO! One of the most important skills you can have at Penn State is time management. Engineering is a challenging major as I’m sure all of you know, but there has to be a balance in your life. You must learn to manage your time so that you can finish all of your homework and studying and still have time to do the things you love. There are SO many fun things to do at Penn State that you won’t want to miss out on! Football games are a great example, and they usually consume most of your Saturday. A great way to stay organized is to write out what you need to accomplish by the end of the week each Sunday. That way you can make sure you allow plenty of time for studying and plenty of time for your friends!

Stay healthy

Last, but certainly not the least important tip, is remember to stay healthy. Maria Poluch wrote a fantastic blog entry about staying healthy at Penn State and I can’t stress to you enough how important this is. It is amazing what a little exercise and eating healthy can do for you. It can be difficult to avoid eating past 8 pm with the late nights of studying that lie ahead of you, but only YOU can prevent the “Freshman Fifteen!” And let’s all be honest, it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to pass up free creamery ice cream each night in the dining commons, or the delicious spread of food for brunch of Saturday and Sunday mornings, but it’s all about moderation. Exercising can be made fun, too! There are so many fitness classes offered at Penn State, so take advantage of them! The gym membership is very affordable. I recommend finding a work out buddy to attend the classes with. For example, my friend and I always went to Boot Camp two days a week. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and it always leaves you feeling better about yourself.

Have a great summer and I can’t wait to meet you all at WEPO!

Emily Clark is a sophomore in Chemical Engineering. She is a rover for WEPO 2012.

The Importance of Facilitated Study Groups

During your first few days at Penn State you will most certainly have a lot on your mind.  You’ll be getting yourself situated in your dorm room, learning your way around campus, and beginning to get to know your fellow classmates who will soon become some of your best friends.  However, after a few weeks go by and things begin to fall into place, you will soon notice that your classes begin to travel to the top of your priority list. As engineers, we are the lucky ones who are gifted with a rigorous course load right off the bat. There’s no need to worry, though, because I assure you, you WILL make it through. No matter how difficult or frustrating the course work may seem at the time, keep your head up, because it will all work out in the end.  We have all gone through the same trials and tribulations that you are about to embark on and we have all made it through. But I assure you, this would not have been possible without a little help from one of my favorite benefits here at Penn State: facilitated study groups.

As a member of WEP, you will have the opportunity to join a facilitated study group (or multiple) at the beginning of each semester.  There are groups for all of the basic math and science classes which all engineers must take, including Math 140, Math 141, Chem 111, Chem 112, and Physics 211, just to name a few.  If you decide to join (which I highly recommend you do), you will be placed in a group of about 8-10 other girls who are also enrolled in the given course. The group will be led by an older women engineering student who has already received an A in the course, and therefore knows all there is to know about the course material. Your group will meet once a week to go over homework problems and review material and any other questions you may have.  By joining a facilitated study group you are not only receiving extra help outside of the classroom, but you are doing so for FREE. Many other study groups on campus, such as PSU Know How and Lion Tutors, charge money, which can get pretty costly if you need help with multiple courses.  Therefore, joining a WEP facilitated study group is the best route to take!

In addition to being free, joining a facilitated study group has many other benefits which I would like to quickly point out:

1.  Your facilitator and group members can offer additional insight which you do not get in the classroom.  Sometimes the way your professor explains things does not immediately click with you. By having the opportunity to learn the material from someone else, you are allowing yourself to hear it in a different way. I joined a facilitated study group for Chem 111 my first semester, and my facilitator, Steph, was able to teach us an easy trick for determining the molecular geometry of a molecule, something which seemed much more difficult when explained in class.
2.    Once you join, it is not mandatory to attend.  Facilitated study groups are made solely for your benefit.  I recommend joining one for all your classes which are offered, even if you think you won’t need help. It is very nice to have the option to attend the weekly session, just in case you do have a few homework problems or questions that you need help with.  Just be sure to communicate with your facilitator and let her know if you plan to attend!
3.  Joining a group allows you to make new friends!  Although WEPO and WEP Wednesdays will give you the opportunity to meet many other women engineers, you will most likely not have the chance to meet them all. Joining a facilitated study group is a great way to widen your friend circle and get to know other women in engineering.  I became friends with some of the girls in my facilitated study groups, and we would even meet multiple times during the week to work out some of our homework problems together! 

As you prepare to make the move to Penn State, I know classes and studying are probably the last things on your mind. However, when the time comes to sign up for a WEP facilitated study group make sure you do! Trust me, when it comes to exam time you will certainly be grateful that you did! 

      Can’t wait to see you at WEPO!

 Katie Ciccaglione is a sophomore in Mechanical Engineering. She is a rover for WEPO 2012.