SHPE - Spring 2009 - (Page 22)

ETCC 2009 ❚ By Leilani Rangel Regions Connect and Explore Common Base A s it celebrates its 21st year, the Eastern Technical and Career Conference (ETCC) demonstrated that an adaptable program continuously meets the needs of Region IV and Region VII members. During January’s winter break, 250 college students gathered in Washington, D.C., for two days of professional instruction, career development and SHPE familia bonding. According to Monique Jackson, conference chairwoman, ETCC serves a valuable purpose. In the past, regional conferences were held early during the academic year. When the national conference moved into that timeframe, ETCC was rescheduled early in the spring semester, thereby providing a regional event well before board transitions. “Bonds within Region IV and Region VII need to be strong so that chapters feel comfortable going to each other for lessons learned, guidance, assistance and anything else that they need to build up that family unit,” Jackson said. As a result, this year’s program offered more opportunities for students to network not only with corporate recruiters but also with various chapter members. The conference began with workshops such as “Effective Meetings” (L’Oreal); “Résumé Writing” and “Latest Trends in Enterprise Software” (IBM); and “Interview Readiness and Techniques” (Citi). A favorite among students was Northrop Grumman’s “What Are They Really Thinking,” which gave the recruiter’s perspective during the interview and selection process. Region IV and Region VII professional leaders also presented sessions on financial responsibility and green engineering. In addition to a tour of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, 60 pre-college participants explored the U.S. Naval Academy campus. Information sessions were a special highlight for SHPE-DC member Ximena Rivera. “They were very thorough, and company representatives spoke to SHPE members personally. That does not occur at every career conference,” she said. “It also helped me to see that there are others with similar interests who can help me in my career goals and provide me with great Procter & Gamble’s hands-on team project showed principles of a high-performance organization. Chairwoman Monique Jackson (far right) has served on the ETCC committee for the past 11 years. insight on career and educational resources for Hispanic professionals.” That extra face time with corporate reps left a positive impression on Michael Romero, a mechanical engineering senior at Hofstra University. “They remembered my name when they talked to me, whether they were working or just hanging out at the end of the day,” he said. “They were really personable and talked to me as if I was already working with them.” Similar networking continued during the career fair. Student teams competed in a number of different events, from quizzes and relay races to scavenger hunts, all part of the ETCC Olympic Games. “We always try to think outside the box,” Jackson said. “Instead of just lecturing about different leadership, communication and networking skills, we tried to use this as an opportunity to teach some of those skills outside of the lecture room.” At the end of ETCC, each student got to vote for an MVP member of his or her team that excelled in demonstrating those skills. The Olympic Games format offered a SHPE ❘ Spring 2009 22 Jose E. Rivera Eunices Simon-Alexander

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SHPE - Spring 2009

SHPE - Spring 2009 Contents President’s Letter A Letter from the CEO Calendar Browser Diana Gomez, SHPE: The People's President Grace Lieblein, GM: A Driving Force in Mexico Dr. Elsa Murano, Texas A&M: Education with Impact Regions Connect and Explore Common Base 'Learn by Doing' A Grad Degree, for Free? Programs & Services Think, Pair, Share: Partnering to Increase STEM Awareness Inner Circle Employer Profiles STAR Awards: Call for Nominations Regional Roundup

SHPE - Spring 2009

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