SHPE - Fall 2007 - (Page 40) REGIONAL CONFERENCES extent to which RLDC involved teamwork. “It’s amazing how complete strangers can work together to achieve a goal,” he said. Guzman added that the most valuable thing he learned was to trust his teammates. Thus it comes as no surprise that conference chairwoman Molina credits the success of the event to the committee’s cohesive teamwork. As with all its large events, SHPE-UPRM dedicated RLDC to a person or company that it considers exemplary. This year, the recognition was unanimously bestowed upon Max Roldan, who chaired the first RLC in Puerto Rico in 2002 and contributed to its success again this year. “We also really want to thank our corporate sponsors,” Molina said. “Without their ongoing sponsorship we couldn’t give these wonderful opportunities to students who are just now making decisions as to what they want to do with their adult lives.” REGION V 12th Man Spirit Rises Above the Storm SHPE leaders are volunteers who demonstrate a spirit of readiness for service, a desire to support and an enthusiasm to rekindle the devotion of others. These qualities epitomize the 12th Man Tradition at Texas A&M University, site of Region V’s RLDC. To cultivate that spirit beyond campus borders, RLDC provided practical and physical training to 106 student and 27 professional participants with the ultimate goal of helping them rise above the gathering storm – a lack of U.S. technical talent. The conference offered informative workshops that equipped officers from 10 student and five professional chapters with basic leadership tools. The 40 Region V members received leadership training at RLDC to help them address and rise above the gathering storm – a lack of U.S. technical talent. practical topics ranged from business etiquette and presentation skills to time management and preparing the End of Year Report. Personal and professional development was addressed through workshops on recognizing the personality traits of others, motivating members and resolving conflicts. “Career Warfare” and “The Global Market and You” highlighted the important role engineers play in a diverse international environment. RLDC also offered various opportunities for friendly competition. The top teams from the region’s North and South Sub Regional outings mixed it up in the volleyball championship, while other students played basketball and soccer. Those out for adventure took on TAMU’s challenge course as a way to build trust, communication and leadership among their members. Both the workshops and the challenge course helped Lyndsey Espinosa, a civil engineering senior at UT San Antonio, connect with other members and their concerns. “It helped us realize that we are all in this together,” she said. “We all want to grow as a chapter and increase membership and participation in regional and national events.” By far, the banquet was the pinnacle of RLDC. The evening’s keynote speaker was retired Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez. A decorated hero who most recently served in Iraq, he was responsible for deploying one of the largest combat forces in U.S. military history and leading the military mission in support of the Coalition Provisional Authority to restore and restructure Iraq’s infrastructure and security forces. In his speech, LTG Sanchez noted that diversity in engineering strengthens the nation against terrorism by providing educated citizens in industry and in the military. Impressed by the committee’s organization, discipline, teamwork, manpower and dedication, Marcos D. Stocco, flight controller for NASA/United Space Alliance and SHPE-TBAC president, was especially moved by the banquet. “They had things that were definitely distinctive to the local flavor … the colors presentation, the cadets escorting the guest speaker, the choir singing the anthem and the Mariachi band,” he said. Like many other participants, Stocco appreciated having a part in the 12th Man Awards presentation, where every chapter recognized one of its members for his or her will- ingness to stand ready in dedicated service to SHPE. While RLDC chairman Victor Bazaldua would like to see this tradition continue at future RLDCs, he especially hopes that participants came away with a valuable message. “Educated leaders change the world for the greater good of its citizens,” he said. “There are many gaps that must be filled in order to continue the technological advancement of the United States, the protection of our freedoms and the overall health and welfare of our nation. Leadership will get us through this storm.” REGION VI Researching the Engineering Industry As the University of Wisconsin-Madison prepared to host its first RLDC, it set out to design a program that would engage the 76 student and nine professional attendees in networking to develop valuable skills they could use at work or at school. Chairman Loren Brent Cortez Tiede said RLDC’s intimate environment helped meet these objectives. RLDC included two teambuilding activities. Student and professional members that arrived early on Friday participated in the Lean Lego Exercise SHPE R Fall 2007
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