New scholarship program aims to inspire women toward engineering
A unique entrance scholarship called the “Inspiration Scholarship for Women in Engineering”, featuring a mentoring program, has been launched by the Faculty of Engineering at McMaster University.
The new scholarship is being launched in conjunction with the Faculty's third annual Women in Engineering Exchange event on Feb. 5, 2005. The event is organized to introduce young women from Ontario high schools to the engineering profession.
“Many young women are not aware of engineering and how it can help them realize their dreams and ambitions,” says Sarah Dickson, assistant professor of civil engineering at McMaster University and chair of the Faculty's Women in Engineering Committee. “Engineering touches on all aspects of their lives whether it is health, fashion, music, travel, education, the environment, the buildings they live in or the cars they drive. We want to let them know that they can help create whatever it is that inspires them.”
The Inspiration Scholarship provides $2,000 to female high school students entering McMaster University's engineering program with a grade average of 85 per cent or better. It also pairs them with a female engineering alumna or senior student at the University.
“It can be difficult to adjust from a high school class where there are similar numbers of female and male students to a university class where there are many more men than women,” explains Heather Sheardown, associate professor of chemical engineering at McMaster University. “A mentor can help ease the transition by sharing their experiences in overcoming challenges and achieving success. They can introduce students to the workplace and show them what it is like to work in an engineering environment. They also provide inspiration and make the profession more accessible.”
One of the scholarship criteria required by the applicant is the writing of a short essay outlining what inspires them and how a career in engineering can help them achieve that aspiration.
“Introducing more women to engineering is a priority for us,” said Mo Elbestawi, McMaster's dean of engineering. “We continue to try and understand what will attract women to the profession and to undertake initiatives that will do so. These initiatives can range from scholarships and mentoring to educational activities to new programs such as biomedical engineering or engineering and society.”
The Women in Engineering Experience was created in 2003 to reach out to young women as they begin to consider career options. This year's event is being held on Saturday, Feb. 5 from 8:30 3:45 p.m. in the John Hodgins Engineering Building at McMaster University. More than 150 young women in Grades 9, 10 and 11 are expected from 45 high schools from as far away as Belleville. The full day event includes guest speakers, panel discussions with engineering students and alumni, lab tours, the popular Fireball Show, and an engineering design competition with members of the winning team each receiving a $1,000 scholarship.
