CECS preps for annual high school student competition

The event is the vision of the CECS Alumni Affiliate Board and chairman John Cole ’76, who wanted to increase high school students’ interest in engineering and computer science.

Students will compete in two-person teams in one of three competitions: engineering, computer programming and web design. Members of the first-place teams will earn $2,000 CECS scholarships or $500 cash prizes.

“The event is a lot of fun for the participants and gives them a solid connection to engineering and computer science,” says Rey Perez, director of academic services in CECS. “We hope students learn more about team work, how engineering and computer science can be fun, and how competition can bring out good ideas.”

Participants will also view the work of current UM-Dearborn students, including award-winning robots and Formula cars and student-designed video games.

CECS alumni, including featured speaker Joe LaRussa ’99, ’03, will attend the event, sharing their experiences with teachers and parents. LaRussa is the director of membership of Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). He has previously served as project manager of corporate quality at Chrysler and as project manager and engineer at Visteon Corporation.

SME will provide T-shirts and the robot kits for the engineering contest.

The Engineering/Computer Science Experience is open to high school juniors and seniors in southeast Michigan. Registration is free and includes a box lunch and T-shirt.