SHPE - Fall 2008 - (Page 14)

C O V E R S T O RY SHPE National staff The first NPS Award recipients included FiveStar Chapters at UC Berkeley, UNR, Rutgers, UPRM, U. Houston, UT Austin and UIUC as well as Blue Chip Chapter Cal Poly SLO. Professionals were encouraged to step up to service leadership. best practices and brainstorm new initiatives related to SHPE’s strategic areas of community service and academic excellence as well as professional, leadership and chapter development. Corporate representatives helped the students explore various aspects of diversity, team dynamics, professionalism and networking – areas that capable leaders must understand and master. SHPE National staff members also introduced the officers to the plethora of resources available through the AHETEMS Foundation and OneSHPE. “The workshop speakers were great,” said a sleep-deprived Leonel Soto, chapter president at Rutgers University. “They got people involved and sharing ideas.” One bit of advice that he passed along was “You control your work, not vice versa. If I’m overwhelmed it’s because I need to take control of the situation and make it work for me.” The best guidance he received at NILA came from RSRs who encouraged him to think outside the box. “The worst thing that can happen is that something doesn’t work and you don’t do it again,” Soto added. “If it does work, you can continue building on it.” Student leaders also contend with the school/SHPE balance. Dr. Mike Smith, NSBE director of programs, addressed this during his “Academic Survival Kit” workshop. Not only did he encourage students to support each other in achieving academic goals, but he also taught them to “just say no” to any type of peer pressure that would distract them from study time. Another workshop counted among the students’ favorites was “Business Etiquette,” Gracias NILA Sponsors Banquet Sponsors U.S. Navy, Texas Instruments Attendee Scholarships Toyota, IBM, ExxonMobil, Medtronic, BAE Systems, PG&E, Kimberly-Clark, BP, Westinghouse PDAs Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman Bag co-sponsor Procter & Gamble Breaks & Receptions Toyota Binders Chevron T-Shirts Texas Instruments Case Studies IBM, Lockheed Martin Badge Holders The Clorox Company Workshops Kimberly-Clark, Texas Instruments, American Airlines, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Procter & Gamble, U.S. Intelligence Community, Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin led by Accenture’s Fernando Rosario, which offered practical advice on communicating a professional self-image. After a 10-year hiatus, the SHPE Leader Q&A session with national and regional representatives was well received as was the revised digital handbook to help chapters implement the Society’s strategic plan. Several officers also took advantage of résumé and essay writing workshops which gave them additional tools with which to help their chapter members. A similar thread of networking and peer mentoring was sewn into professional workshops including “Crucial Conversations,” board transition and obtaining nonprofit status. During a session led by CEO Gomez, professional members brainstormed ways to generate demand for SHPE membership. “I learned many marketing and recruitment ideas,” said Danny Cardenas, New York City chapter president, “even something as simple as bringing a laptop to recruiting events so that you can get people to sign up as members right on the spot.” The valuable information obtained during workshops was reflected in case studies prepared by both student and professional leaders. Students had the added challenge of creating one-minute videos to market SHPE programs and services. “The students really outdid themselves,” noted SHPE President Diana Gomez. “We appreciate their efforts, and they can be sure that they won’t go to waste. It just goes to show that great ideas SHPE ❘ Fall 2008 14

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SHPE - Fall 2008

SHPE - Fall 2008 Contents President's Letter From the Vice President Calendar of Events National Board of Directors The Great '08: Chapter Leaders Learn to Spread 'SHPE Fever' Browser National Retreat Provides a Redefinition An Engineer and a Politician Capitalizing on Engineering Talent Grupos de Afinidad A Focused Approach to Getting the Job You Really Want SHPE Conference 2008 IPC Update Programs & Services Keeping Warm with 'Yuper' Familia Spirit Promise of Spring Recruit, Engage and Retain Regional Student Representatives Regional Roundup Advertisers Index

SHPE - Fall 2008

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