FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii (Feb. 9, 2018) - - More than 250 engineers and friends of the 17 organizations within the Hawaii Council of Engineering Societies (HCES) plus invited local VIPs, dignitaries and engineers from the Honolulu District will gather at the Hale Koa Hotel Feb. 20 for a luncheon to kick off Engineers Week 2018, which runs Feb. 18-25.
The 2018 Engineers Week theme is "Engineers - Inspiring Wonder."
Engineers Week is a time for everyone to celebrate and wonder what the next big innovation will be. It’s also a great opportunity for volunteers and educators to inspire students by engaging them in hands-on engineering outreach, show them that their school subjects can help solve real problems, and encourage them to wonder "is engineering my future?"
The celebration of National Engineers Week was started in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers in conjunction with President George Washington's Birthday. President Washington is considered the nation's first engineer, notably for his surveying work.
Hawaii Statewide Engineers Week activities include: signing of a 2018 Engineers Week Proclamation with Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell; signing of an Engineers Week Proclamation with Hawaii Gov. David Ige; Engineers Week static displays at Windward Mall Center Court Feb. 19; attendance at the kick-off luncheon Feb. 20 at the Hale Koa Hotel and the HCES (Hawaii Council of Engineering Societies) Engineers Week Annual Awards Banquet held Feb. 24. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers supports all of these events.
The Engineers Week static displays and a VEX IQ Qualifying Tournament held Feb. 19 at Windward Mall Center Court in Kaneohe features hands-on activities and displays showcasing how "Engineers Inspire Wonder" in Hawaii. VEX IQ teams participate in fast-paced skills challenges as they fight for a spot in the VEX IQ world championship tournament. Each year during Engineers Week, the HCES organizes display exhibits to increase public awareness and appreciation of the engineering profession.
Our Department of the Army PATHWAYS interns created U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Honolulu District photographic exhibits that showcase the District’s missions for public display at Windward Mall.
The 2018 Kick- off Luncheon featured keynote speaker is Capt. Gregory D. Burton, USN, Commander Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF), who’ll speak on the "PHNSY & IMF Capital Investment Program."
Prior to Engineers Week, Honolulu District engineers and staff attended the Oahu 2018 MATHCOUNTS competition with 25 District and Pacific Ocean Division personnel volunteering their services as moderators, proctors and scorers at the Oahu competition Feb. 10 at Kamehameha Schools, Honolulu. Sixth, seventh and eighth graders from more than 24 Oahu public and private schools will participate in the competition.
Twelve District and Pacific Ocean Division personnel will provide volunteer services at the State MATHCOUNTS championship on Oahu March 10 at Kamehameha Schools, where respective winners from Oahu, Maui and the island of Hawaii meet for a chance to represent Hawaii at the national MATHCOUNTS championship in Washington, D.C. The MATHCOUNTS program, in its 35th year, is sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers at the state and local levels to emphasize the importance of mathematical skills in the development of future technology and encourage students to excel in these areas.
Also coinciding with this year’s National Engineers Week activities is the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s College of Engineering Career Fair on Feb. 21. Honolulu District Workforce Management staff and District engineering personnel will be on hand to provide future engineers with educational career guidance, information on potential job opportunities within the Corps as well as discussing potential STEM field career paths.
Honolulu District Department of the Army ACTEDS program recent graduates are also volunteering to help judge events at the Hawaii State Science Olympiad on March 3 at Leeward Community College.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recognizes the critical role that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education plays in enabling the U.S. to remain the economic and technological leaders of the global marketplace, and enabling the Department of Defense and Army in the security of our Nation. The Corps is committed to teaming with others to strengthen STEM-related programs that inspire current and future generations of young people to pursue careers in STEM fields.