Academics

Society of Women Engineers earns national gold award for second consecutive year

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For the second year in a row, the Penn State student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) was recognized with the SWE Outstanding Collegiate Section (OCS) Gold Award, the highest possible collegiate recognition.

They were honored during the SWE National Conference Oct. 22-24 in Nashville, Tennessee.

The SWE OCS Award was established in 1975 to recognize outstanding collegiate sections and encourage continuous improvement and growth of each section.

They acknowledge measurable yearlong impact in outreach, professional excellence, membership recruitment, and innovative, new or expanded activities.

Award levels include certificate of participation, certificate of merit, bronze, silver and gold.

Cassandra Baum, senior in mechanical engineering and vice president of student relations for Penn State's SWE chapter, said the OCS Gold Award is evidence of the hard work that the society's leadership puts into the organization.

Industrial engineering senior Ellen Fagan, president of Penn State's SWE chapter, added that the award shows the dedication of all of the Penn State SWE members who make the society's 120-plus events per year possible.

Emily Pringle, senior in industrial engineering and secretary of Penn State's SWE chapter, echoed Baum's sentiments. "As a leadership team, we spend a significant amount of time planning events and activities for our members so they can have the best experience within Penn State SWE. This award shows that at Penn State, we do have one of the best SWE chapters and it helps make all the time spent worthwhile."

All three women agreed that SWE has afforded them endless opportunities to network, grow and develop both professionally and personally. "We couldn't be prouder of Penn State's SWE section for winning this award two years in a row."

Cheryl Knobloch, Women in Engineering Program director and Penn State SWE counselor, said, "Penn State SWE members epitomize the attributes of a world-class engineer. Earning the SWE OCS Gold Award two consecutive years is a tremendous accomplishment in view of the incredibly high standards and fierce national competition to recognize measurable year-long impact. Members consistently commit to excellence and innovatively generate programming to advance their engineering peers and enrich the college. Their well-deserved recognition distinguishes them as visionary leaders and models for collegiate SWE chapters nationwide. We are very proud of this recognition and thankful for the SWE chapter's contributions to the college."

SWE is a not-for-profit educational and professional organization dedicated to the advancement of women in engineering; SWE also recognizes members for their life-changing contributions as engineers and leaders.

Penn State Society of Women Engineers members celebrate winning the SWE Outstanding Collegiate Section Gold Award at the SWE national conference in Nashville. Credit: Elena GowdyAll Rights Reserved.

Last Updated November 10, 2015