Engineering at the O 2017 Issue

Involvement Student Organizations

Learn more about the Engineering Student Organizations here in Omaha

E-WEEK 2017 Engineers Dream Big

See how Omaha students celebrate life in the engineering community!

Student Resource Magazine

2017

Engineering @ the O - 2017 Student Organizations Learn about the student involvement opportunities here on the Scott Campus.

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E-WEEK 2017 Take a look at how the Scott Campus celebrated National Engineers Week!

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Summer Camps + Study Abroad Interested in meeting new people in your field? Look into the summer camp and study abroad opportunities available!

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Student Resources Find some tips and tricks on how to successfully approach your time as an undergraduate student.

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Research Spotlight Research opportunities are not restricted to only graduate students! See how current students are getting involved.

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What is NESCO? What you need to know about the Nebraska Engineering Student Council of Omaha: NESCO is the student council for the College of Engineering on Scott Campus.

“NESCO” stands for “Nebraska Engineering Student Council at Omaha.” Its members take on many responsibilities for the college and the engineering student body including running events, managing finances, running social media, and even writing this magazine! You can think of it as the bridge between the college and the students.

One of main priorities of NESCO is service to engineering clubs and student organizations.

Every year, the college allocates funds to student organizations for projects, trips, and other needs. It is NESCO’s responsibility to distribute these funds towards the engineering organizations and clubs. Many organizations send representatives to NESCO for this reason. This helps clubs and organizations receive funding in an easy and productive fashion.

NESCO makes it easy for students to communicate any needs or requests. Members work to quickly address anything students may need.

You can contact them at nesco@unl.edu or talk to any of the members and your request, need, or problem will be addressed in the next meeting. Students can also sit in on, or speak at, any monthly meetings if they wish.

One of NESCO’s other priorities is hosting several events for the College of Engineering throughout the year. Members run monthly events such as games, community service, industry meetups, and other events that can be fun and valuable to engineering students. Each year NESCO also sets up a week of engineering-related events during National Engineers Week (E-WEEK), which is discussed more in the E-WEEK section.

Year round, NESCO works to serve the engineering community. Its members are committed to helping keep the college running smoothly and making sure that complicated problems are efficiently taken care of.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS The College of Engineering has a suite of programs, events, and student organizations for you to participate in throughout the year. Immerse yourself in the college experience, meet other students with similar interests, and develop your leadership and non-technical skills by joining a student organization.

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Engineering Student Organizations

aeslac@unl.edu Architecural Engineering Student Leadership & Advisory Committee (AESLAC) The Architectural Engineering Student Leadership and Advisory Committee (AESLAC) serves as Omaha’s chapter of The Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI) which strives to better the Architectural Engineering program, both through academic excellence and the creation of an enriched extracurricular environment. AESLAC oversees the AE program, student activities, and other concerns of its students. In addition, the Committee represents architectural engineering students to the faculty, to the director of the program, and to the citizens of Nebraska.

This organization offers an opportunity to improve the AE program through industry interaction, social activities, career development and AE program improvement.

By joining AESLAC, you can create a stronger connection, with faculty and industry while developing and bettering yourself and the AE program as a whole.

Here are some of the events that AESLAC puts on every year: Engineer’s Night Out, Architectural Engineering Options Conference, Freshman Mentoring Program, Architectural Engineering BBQ, Architectural Engineering Annual Awards Banquet, and assist with the Durham School Career Fair.

Freshman Engineering Student Council at Omaha (FrESCO) FrESCO is a great opportunity for freshmen to get involved, create new relationships, and to build leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. FrESCO is a group of selected freshmen who work together to put on events and add to NESCO, as well as the College of Engineering.

You create relationships with your own classmates, which makes getting accommodated to your classes easier. You also get to know upperclassmen who are in NESCO who have already been through what you are experiencing. You get to know the College of Engineering staff better by planning events, making it easy to talk and build relationships with them. You grow in your leadership skills, communication, and teamwork through planning events with other freshmen. You can also network with classmates, professors, staff, and upperclassmen.

You get out what you put into it: leadership, communication, and teamwork, all ofwhich are important for your future career.

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Chi Epsilon : National Civil Engineering Honor Society Chi Epsilon is an honor society strictly for civil engineering students. We recognize outstanding students and graduates for their scholarship, character, practicality and sociability. Chi Epsilon seeks to foster excellence, connectivity and engagement among those in the civil engineering community to improve our world. Students should join Chi Epsilon because it distinguishes them from other students.

In selection of members, eligible candidates are chosen from the entire upper one-third of those in the junior and senior civil engineering class.

This unique distinction is recognized by other civil engineers, including professional engineers and possible future employers. The Omaha chapter of Chi Epsilon has participated in volunteer events partnered with UNO ASCE student chapter, Keep Omaha Beautiful, and Habitat for Humanity.

Benefits of Membership: • Undergraduate Scholarship Competition • Ten National Level Scholarships @ $3500 • Ten District Level Scholarships @ $2000 • Graduate Fellowship Competition • Two Fellowships @ $3500 • Leadership Opportunities and Training • Service Learning and Volunteer Opportunities • Networking and Mentoring Opportunities

Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Our national mission statement is, “The purpose of SWE is to stimulate women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity.” Our student group carries out this message by getting involved and volunteering in our community with grade school/high school students, setting up mentoring and tutoring sessions for our fellow members, and networking with the local SWE professionals in our area.

Benefits of Membership: • One-time payment covers membership for all years of undergraduate studies and one year of professional membership • Networking with other students can result in the trade of study materials for a variety of engineering classes • Gain experience with volunteering in the community

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Host monthly events with free dinners and professional speakers (local engineers, professors, etc.)

Peer mentoring and tutoring for a variety of engineering courses Volunteer at local grade schools/high schools to get kids and young adults interested in engineering projects and/or future STEM careers

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Engineering Student Organizations

uno.ashrae@gmail.com American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) ASHRAE is the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers.

We are an organization dedicated to providing students with opportunities to network with Mechanical professionals, learn more about careers in the HVAC & R industry and provide leadership opportunities.

If students are unsure whether or not they want to go into the mechanical field, ASHRAE is a great resource to meet industry and learn about their roles to help determine if this is something they want to pursue. The organization is well known and can offer many scholarship opportunities, internships, and funding to go to national conferences.

ASHRAE hosts Industry Lectures during meeting times. Usually we will have someone from industry give a presentation either about an evolving technology within HVAC, code practices, or work projects.

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Other events include Brewery Tours, ASHRAE Nebraska lunches, and industry panels. Last semester ASHRAE went on a tour of UNMC’s Central Plant and was able to go inside a cooling tower and turn it on.

The Winter ASHRAE Conference is held every year in different locations and our organization will send a group of students who are interested. The conference consists of educational seminars, technical committees, code committees, student program, and much more. It is a great way to meet other students around the world in ASHRAE and have some fun, too. This past winter, it was in Las Vegas.

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unoasce@gmail.com American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) We are a group of mostly civil engineers, but are open to having any engineering or construction majors be involved. There are monthly chapter meetings, and we also have the opportunity to participate monthly in the professional chapter of ASCE.

At the student chapter meetings we have interesting speakers come and speak about different focuses of civil engineering, and other salient topics. There are two design teams that members can join: the steel bridge team and the concrete canoe team. These teams design and build a bridge and a canoe and compete in a yearly competition in April.

opportunities to interact with the state and national ASCE groups.

Students should join our organization because we offer great networking opportunities with companies around the Omaha area.

We also offer hands on experience with civil engineering concepts through our two competition teams. There are also many

Pros of joining include professional development, leadership opportunities, hands on experience with civil engineering concepts, and getting to know your fellow civil engineering peers.

We have monthly chapter meetings with professional speakers, steel bridge team, concrete canoe team, service events, social events, and we can go to the NEASCE meetings for free.

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Engineering Student Organizations

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Since 1975, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) has been dedicated to cultivating the academic and professional success of African-American engineering students and professionals. NSBE is a non-profit association that is owned and managed by its members.

It is the largest student-managed organization in the country. NSBE offers its members leadership training, professional development, mentoring opportunities, career placement services and more! NSBE is comprised of more than 35,700 members in the US, Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean.

•$500,000 in scholarships awarded annually •Graduate school test prep seminars and support •Graduate program support through National GEM Consortium •Seven Career Fairs annually with 250+ employers •Free Subscription to NSBE Magazine •Discounts on NSBE Annual Convention and NSBE Regional Conferences The National Society of Black Engineers strive to accomplish the following objectives for our organization:

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•Stimulate and develop student interest in the various engineering disciplines.

•Strive to increase the number of minority students studying engineering at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

•Encourage members to seek advanced degrees in engineering or related fields and to obtain professional engineering registrations.

•Promote public awareness of engineering and the opportunities for Blacks and other minorities in that profession.

•Function as a representative body on issues and developments that affect the careers of Black engineers.

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Mechanical Electrical Specialty Contractors (MESC) MESC is a student-driven organization partnered with the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA). This organization directly connects students with the mechanical contracting industry via various educational materials and programs. Students participate in field trips, national conferences, and engaging events.

MESC participates in the annual Heat’s On events in Omaha and Lincoln each year. In 2016, we had nine students ride along with the local steamfitters during the day to help service furnaces of widowed or elderly 464 members. We also volunteer at another annual event called Block Kids, which is hosted by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). At this event, we monitor and judge Lego creations built by young children interested in the engineering and construction industries.

In 2013, MESC teamed up with MCA-Omaha to create an exclusive group of the most involved students that have expressed leadership

skills within our student organization known as the MCA-Omaha Leadership Academy.

Ever since, the academy has given students endless opportunities to experience what local mechanical contracting companies have to offer and career paths in the industry through mentorships, internships, networking events, and full-time employment opportunities.

The MCA-Omaha Leadership Academy matches each student with a contractor mentor from various MCAA companies in the Omaha and Lincoln areas based on students’ specific interests. The students receive an outstanding opportunity to get to know this contractor and develop professional contacts.

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Engineering Student Organizations

UN Robotics UN Robotics is a non-profit student-led organization at the University of Nebraska’s PKI building. Centered around the engineering of hardware and software to compete in local competitions, we welcome any student from the Nebraska system to participate.

Club members are motivated to develop skills and use technology for solving real life challenges. The diversity of hardware and software creates an environment for students to use their knowledge and engineering principles in open discussion and design.

We can be found in PKI 313 on Mondays from 7-8 p.m.

The club has grown and taken on more projects including high altitude balloon stabilization and photography, competing in the CREATE Open, and temperature monitoring for a local brewery.

By attending our general meetings and listening to our guest speakers, members can get an idea of what type of jobs are available for internships and when they graduate.

Several of our members have obtained internships and fulltime jobs by connecting with our guest speakers.

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By participating in and completing our projects members are exposed to technologies they may not encounter in their regular course work. Our projects also provide a fun and interesting way for our members to apply the knowledge they have gained in their courses to a real, physical application.

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unoasa@gmail.com University of Nebraska Acoustical Society of America (UNASA) The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is a world-renowned scientific society in acoustics dedicated to increasing and diffusing knowledge of acoustics and its practical applications.

The Society is extremely interdisciplinary, covering 13 sub-areas in the field of acoustics: Acoustical Oceanography, Animal Bioacoustics, Architectural Acoustics, Biomedical Ultrasound Acoustics, Engineering Acoustics, Musical Acoustics, Noise, Physical Acoustics, Psychological and Physiological Acoustics, Signal Processing in Acoustics, Speech Communication, Structural Acoustics and Vibration, and Underwater Acoustics.

We always welcome new members to join our group, and membership to our student chapter is free. We host general meetings and events every month or two during the academic year, and all meetings have food and beverages provided. Joining the UNASA student chapter will expose you to the widespread application of acoustics promoted by the national ASA. Whether you’re pursuing areas such as civil engineering, speech pathology, computer science, or you simply enjoy listening to music, our student chapter is a great fit for you.

Recently, our student chapter has hosted events including venue tours, guest speakers, acoustical measurements, concerts, highschool outreach, and other social activities.

Specifically, we have toured the Holland Performing Arts Center, Orpheum Theater, and the Boys Town National Research Hospital research facilities. Acoustical consultants have come to speak at UNASA events. We have also taken background noise and room acoustic measurements at local restaurant venues in Aksarben and the Omaha area.

Visit acousticalsociety.org to find out more information.

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Engineering Student Organizations

Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) IES is dedicated to improving the lighted environment. As a student group, we: • Learn about lighting/electrical topics in Architectural Engineering • Go on tours of buildings and learn about lighting and electrical systems designs • Visit manufacturing facilities to see how light fixtures and lamps are made In the past we’ve toured: Phillips Manufacturing Facility, Baxter Arena, HE Williams Manufacturing Facility, Holland PAC.

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) The Nebraska student chapter of EERI hosts a competition for high school students every fall, where students get hands-on experience with designing, building, and testing a high-rise structure under earthquake conditions. This competition began in 2016 and is still growing.

In the spring, the Nebraska chapter competes in the annual Undergraduate Seismic Design Competition. This competition features between 30-40 undergraduate design teams from around the globe, and focuses around the design of a mixed-use high-rise building. Students learn how to design the structure, compose a project proposal, conduct structural analysis, develop a building schedule and checklist, and design a project presentation. In recent years, the Nebraska team has finished 4th place and 10th place internationally.

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PKI - IEEE A student-driven organization whose objective is to expose our members to areas of computer, electronics and electrical engineering that they may not otherwise see. We hold monthly general meetings in which we bring in a guest speaker from the computer, electronic or electrical engineering field to speak to our members about what they do. Past speakers have come from companies such as Hudl, Garmin, Omaha Maker Group, Lockheed Martin and many more.

By attending our general meetings and listening to our guest speakers, members can get an idea of what type of jobs are available for internships and when they graduate.

Several of our members have obtained internships and fulltime jobs by connecting with our guest speakers.

By participating in and completing our projects members are exposed to technologies that they may not encounter in their regular course work. Our projects also provide a fun and interesting way for our members to apply the knowledge they have gained in their courses to a real, physical application.

QUESTIONS ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED? If you’re not sure about how to get involved with, or get in touch with a student organization on campus, reach out to Alma Ramirez-Rodgers at aramirez-rodgers1@unl.edu.

Not all student organizations are listed here! Don’t see the group that you’re looking for?

Reach out to nesco@unl.edu to ask about any of our other groups on campus or visit UNO MavSYNC to search recognized student organizations.

Even if a student organization doesn’t exist yet, you can be the one to start it! You can start one with two interested students and a faculty or staff member willing to be your advisor.

Learn more at: www.unomaha.edu/student-life/involvement/student-organizations

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E-W 2

On February 20, 2017, students and organizations across the college began their long-awaited celebrations of National Engineers Week, a week-long celebration dedicated to recognizing engineering and technology. Events and activities that took place during the week were organized by NESCO and the many engineering organizations and clubs at PKI. By celebrating together, students presented the value of engineering and highlighted how interesting and enjoyable it can be.

WEEK 2017

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E-WEEK: MONDAY E-WEEK 2017 kicked off with an AutoCAD 3D Modeling Competition. The students were challenged to build the best designed castle on either Revit or AutoCAD. Judges chose the winners based on creativity and design, with the top designs winning prizes.

Monday concluded with a Game Night in the Atrium. It was an event hosted by NESCO, which provided all sorts of games and activities. Students engaged in games such as Ping Pong, Foosball, Air Hockey, and more. Like any other game night, pizza was, of course, included. The first day of E-WEEK was a success, and was a great way to kick off the celebration.

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E-WEEK: TUESDAY The second day of E-WEEK continued with the Robotics Hockey Competition hosted by University of Nebraska Robotics. Two robots equipped to play hockey were provided and moved around on a small hockey arena set up in the Atrium.

Students found the game very challenging yet engaging at the same time. The enjoyable event provided everyone with a sneak peek of the many applications of robotics and engineering.

The day ended with an off-campus Open House at DLR Group. Participants were able to speak with employees from DLR and also had the opportunity to compete in a design event. A variety of frozen beverages were also provided. The open house was a great way to end the second day of E-WEEK.

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E-WEEK: WEDNESDAY

Wednesday was one of the most competitive days of the week, with three competitions in all. The first event was the K’nex Building Competition hosted by the PKI chapter of EERI. Students teamed up to see who could create the most durable K’nex bridge. Entries were tested by placing them across two tables and seeing how much weight they could hold. In the meantime, EERI also showcased their annual earthquake test tower for the upcoming national competition. The event also included a classic incentive for students to attend: donuts.

The competitive spirit continued with the PKI IEEE’s CEENBot Challenge in the Atrium. Competitors used CEENBots with needles attached to the front and balloons attached to the back to try and pop their opponent’s balloon. While the popping of the balloons heard throughout the hallways of PKI signalled victory for some and defeat for others, it was clear that everyone had a great time in this friendly competition.

With a frenzy of events throughout the week on top of the regular engineering workload, it was nice to socialize with classmates and engineers from the industry on Wednesday night at Engineer’s Night Out. The event was hosted

by AESLAC, which provided a pizza dinner for engineers in the Atrium. The event was geared towards all disciplines of engineering. It was an engaging event and a good break from the competitive events of the day.

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The day was topped off with the SWE Engineering Pageant. In this unique competition, students competed to be the nerdiest and ‘engineer-iest’ of them all. They not only showed off their talents and passion for engineering, but also their engineering style. In the end, Emily Helzer was crowned Engineering Queen and Takumi Ito was crowned Engineering King. The end of the pageant marked the halfway point of E-WEEK

E-WEEK: THURSDAY On the fourth day of E-WEEK, students had a plethora of events to participate in as the week neared its end. The day began with a Trivia Breakfast hosted by ASA, where students answered questions about acoustics, pop culture, and much more!

This event was shortly followed by ASHRAE’s PKI Scavenger Hunt. With a window of two hours, students were challenged to search high and low throughout PKI to find certain features of the building.

Later on Thursday, students had the opportunity to participate in a Lighting Design Competition hosted by IES. The challenge of this event was to take a 3D model of a simple building and to use a palette of given light fixtures to creatively design the lighting scheme for the building. The competition was held in the lighting lab and students applied the lights in the lab to their designs. It was also a good way to showcase the lab and what kind of topics IES is involved with.

In the end, Sam Anderson was won first place, yet everyone was able to take home a prize.

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Thursday concluded with the Fabulous Feud Game Night. In this event six teams (faculty and staff included!) competed in a trivia game show where they were asked to identify items in certain categories correctly. The event was held in the Fishbowl and had a huge turn-out (due in part to the catered Raising Cane’s). After the games, prizes were selected by raffle tickets given out based on how many events students attended. The night was a successful end to the fourth day of E-WEEK.

FUN FACT! There were a total of 908 participants throughout all of E-WEEK! Our final event had an attendance of 106 people, which is nearly double the attendance of last year.

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E-WEEK: FRIDAY The final day of E-Week finished with two events. In the afternoon, FrESCO held a Popsicle Stick Design Competition. In the Atrium, several students came to eat donuts, build the most creative design from popsicle sticks, and socialize.

To conclude E-WEEK 2017, NSBE and Latin@’s in STEM co-hosted an Industry Mixer. Companies like OPPD and Union Pacific attended and talked with students about engineering and job opportunities available in the industry.

The mixer was preceded by a “How to Network” workshop with Bonnie Martin to prepare everyone for talking with professionals. High quality appetizers were also provided to attendees. In the end, students got an educational experience that helped them with their future careers.

E-WEEK 2017 turned out to be a huge success for the college. Students competed throughout the week and learned a lot about engineering.

Overall, the college showed its students and the community that engineering is fun and engaging and encouraged the community to embrace engineering for the future.

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SUMMER CAMPS + STUDY ABROAD Academic opportunities are not restricted to only the Fall and Spring semesters here at the College of Engineering! Read on to learn more about the summer camps and study abroad opportunities that will keep you busy over the summer.

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Engineering Readiness Academy

E Freshman students show off their entry for the annual Bridge Competition!

Students attempt to build the highest tower possible out of mere paper!

There were also plenty of opportunities for physical activity too!

very year, the College of Engineering hosts a weeklong camp for incoming freshmen called the Engineering Readiness Academy or ERA (formerly known as Math Prep Academy). In August, only a few weeks short of the beginning of the school year, freshmen students stay at Scott Hall and spend the week getting to know some of their classmates as well as important faculty. Students are refreshed on their math skills and prepared to take calculus. They also work together on a team project.

Meanwhile, they also get to participate in games and activities to get to know each other better.

Last year, the freshman students arrived and moved into their residence halls that they would be staying in for the week. After moving and introducing themselves, they spent the first two days getting acquainted with one another, as well as the student counselors and faculty. They also participated in a ropes course and a visit to HPER for sports and other activities.

During the week, students worked every day on a specific math-related

project such as small geometric houses, as well as straw rockets. They also worked on building a model of a pedestrian bridge every day and presented them at the end of the week.

Every night, there were group activities, including a CEENBot race and a K’NEX competition.

“I think ERA is a good opportunity for anyone who wants to get a good head start in school and meet new people.”

—Hani Q. By the end of the week, students had made many friends before the start of the school year and were prepared to take the difficult classes that are part of engineering.

If you are an incoming freshman and interested in taking part in the Engineering Readiness Academy this summer, go to:

engineering.unl.edu/ era Already a student? You can sign up to be a student counselor for next year!

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Summer Camps + Study Abroad

NUBE Experience

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few days before school begins, freshmen going into the College of Engineering are invited to participate in the NUBE Experience (Nebraska Undergraduates Becoming Engineers), a two-day event where freshmen learn more about the college and visit engineering industry sites. Students arrive on Thursday before the first week of classes and get to know one another as soon as they get there. Throughout their first day, students participate in activities that build teamwork and get them oriented with the college, PKI, and UNO. They finish the first day with a dinner with experienced engineers from the industry. On their second day, students participate in industry tours in the area, where they see industrial facilities and workplaces where they may potentially work one day as engineers.

This past year, freshmen got to learn specifically about their own engineering departments from engineering professors. They also got to participate in a scavenger hunt around UNO. During their visits to industrial sites, they visited prominent engineering

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corporations such as Kawasaki and LI-COR and talked with numerous professionals about their experiences and other important topics.

“We all got on a bus and went around to see different industries… I learned a lot from the people of Lincoln Electric System.”

—Sander S.

Because of the NUBE Experience, students could engage in early networking opportunities and were also acquainted with the college before the beginning of the year. For more information about the NUBE Experience, go to:

Students socialize over lunch before an industry tour!

Students learn how to network with industry at dinner!

nube.unl.edu

Engineering companies like LI-COR gave presentations to students.

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Engineering Abroad If you are an undergraduate student in the College of Engineering looking to study abroad, there are many opportunities for you! There are multiple programs that allow you to experience a new culture, while also helping you work towards your degree.

If your major is not listed below or you would like to explore more opportunities, visit the Education Abroad Office or email Emily Krueger at ekrueger@unomaha.edu.

ITALY - ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING • Dr. Ece Erdogmus – Trip Around Italy • Summer only • Credit for ART 3770 – History of Architecture to 1850 • $5000-6500 total What’s a better way to learn about the fascinating architecture in Italy, than to get a personal tour of the country by one of our very own professors? Dr. Ece Erdogmus, Associate Professor of Architectural Engineering, spends her summers taking students to Italy to learn about the country’s famous architectural landmarks. The trip includes stops in Pisa, Florence, Rome, and Pompeii, over the duration of about three weeks. In addition to the cultural experience, students also gain credit for ART 3770 – History of Architecture.

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Summer Camps + Study Abroad

NETHERLANDS - CIVIL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT • Delft University of Technology - Netherlands • Semester or full academic year options • UNO Exchange Program • Courses will be equivalent • Roughly $10,000 per semester The Netherlands are known as one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, which makes the study abroad opportunity at Delft University of Technology a no-brainer. Students can choose to attend the university for an entire year, or just one academic semester. The program is a UNO Exchange Program, which means that the courses will be equivalent to those here in Omaha and will also transfer towards your degree.

From the TU Delft website

IRELAND - ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • National University of Ireland - Galway, Ireland • Semester of full academic year options • UNO Exchange Program • Courses will be equivalent • Roughly $10,000 per semester The National University of Ireland, located in Galway is a once in a lifetime opportunity to study engineering.

Electrical Engineering majors can travel to Ireland to take part in seminar-style lectures, while experiencing the electrical advances being made throughout Ireland. This program is part of the UNO Exchange, so your courses taken and research completed will be equivalent to those here in Omaha. As an added bonus, you can voluntarily take Irish language courses (Gaelic) taught in English!

From the NUI Galway website

QUESTIONS ABOUT FINANCIAL AID/HOUSING? Any scholarships provided by the university can be used towards study abroad expenses, if approved by the Education Abroad Office. There are also many opportunities for funding to ensure that each student can afford these unique experiences. Most programs accommodate your housing by allowing you to reside on the campus in which you are studying at. If you are not comfortable with the arrangement, other accommodations can be made.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Brandon Pfeifer

Degree and Year of Graduation Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, May 2015 Company you are employed with and Job Title Garmin - Software Engineer Student organizations you were involved with in college and any positions held PKI-IEEE: Member (2011-2013), Public Relations (2013), Vice President (2013-2014), President (2014-2015) NESCO: Vice President (2014-2015)

What student organization had the biggest influence on you in college and why?

PKI-IEEE was the greatest influence on me because of how well it complemented my curriculum and my career aspirations. The organization did an excellent job of bridging the technical and professional gaps in the ECE industry by setting up meet and greets with potential employers. It also gave me a chance to talk to other classmates that I normally wouldn’t interact with in a lecture or lab setting.

What student organization had the biggest professional influence on you and why?

Being an IEEE officer for the back half of my college career really helped me hone my leadership skills. I learned that being the leader of an organization takes a lot of grit and there’s so much behind the scenes work required to make projects and events runs smoothly. Over time,

this became one of the biggest talking points when interviewing with employers and it’s absolutely something they look for. I believe the reason I am working for Garmin today is because of my leadership experience in PKI-IEEE. Favorite memory from your time in student organizations My relationships with others. The officer board my senior year put in a ton of hours together to make PKI-IEEE run, and during that time I built a very strong bond with other classmates that I normally wouldn’t have interacted with. I still talk to many of them today!

If you could go back to college and redo one thing with regards to being involved in school, what would that be?

I would have gotten involved in student organizations right away, especially ones related to my major.

This also means being an active participant. If you don’t like the way

something is being done, be the voice of change. I didn’t figure this out until towards the end of my college career. If you put in the work, you can have lasting effects on your organizations and institution.

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STUDENT RESOURCES Engineering Student Services (ESS) is the go-to place for assistance during your time here at the college. Whether it’s career coaching, academic advising, or finding a good place to study, we have the student resources to fit your needs!

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Q&A with the Career Services Coordinator Get to know Bonnie Martin!

Bonnie Martin is the Career Services Coordinator for the Omaha programs. Here are some of the services that she provides: • Career Advising • Resume Review • LinkedIn Profile Review • Tips on Salary Negotation • And much more!

You can make an appointment with Bonnie on MavTRACK or reach her by email at bonniemartin@unl.edu.

When should I start thinking about my professional career?

Be aware, you can have an internship your freshman year! You do not have to be a certain age to have one.

To start out, set up a profile on Husker Hire Link: http://careers.unl.edu/hhl

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• Create a resume your first freshman semester - it’s okay if it has some high school stuff and it can be uploaded to Husker Hire Link in time for the career fairs.

How do I make good career decisions?

• Try taking ENGR 100 Freshman Engineering Seminar, which is a prerequisite for ENGR 200 Career Development Seminar. Both are zero credits, FREE and meet for eight weeks. These classes go over all of the key components of a job search and important skills that

employers are looking for Attend a career fair even if you have no intent to get an internship.

Get work or project experience so you aren’t overwhelmed at your first full-time job.

Student worker positions are more than tending to a desk—they are worth putting on your resume!

Talk to your professors about research opportunities!

How do I maintain a professional social media presence?

Be aware that your social media accounts are public and that employers do research on social media accounts!

Consider starting a LinkedIn! Professional photos are available five times throughout the year at career fairs for a profile photo. Career services can help with this too. It can be intimidating, but when you meet people at career fairs and industry mixers, add them on LinkedIn!

How do I get involved?

• Build your friend network • Strengthen your resume • Join a student organization! They do not have to be engineering specific or even on the college campus—some involvement is better than non involvement • Go on the industry trip! It’s the first possible exposure to employers (NUBE Experience) What are some pitfalls to avoid?

Don’t wait too long to start searching for jobs - most majors are searching in the fall for the upcoming summer.

When talking to a potential employer, make sure you are aware of the value that you can add to them, not just what they can give you - it’s a two way relationship!

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Student Resources

TIPS

for an Incoming Freshman

from Brennan Fowler, Senior 1. Pay attention in class.

It may be boring and tempting to get on your phone, but you run the risk of missing out on important information that will probably be on the homework.

2. Don’t skip class.

Yes, nobody is telling you to attend, but it’s your money and you don’t want to waste it.

3. Start your homework early.

It’s okay if you don’t finish in one sitting, but it is extremely helpful to get a start on things early so you aren’t spending 55 hours the night before it is due!

4. Ask questions!

I still struggle with this now, so get in the habit in your early classes so things are clear before you get into more advanced concepts. Sometimes it’s a small thing that can be explained in a few minutes that will totally piece all your confusion together.

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5. Get a Chegg account.

Chegg is a great tool to check your work with.

6. Do your homework without the answer key!

This is the best way to test yourself about the concepts.

If the answer is in front of you, then you will “think” you understand it, but you will never actually learn to apply it on a test.

7. Get to know your classmates.

When you’re not in class your best resource to answer any questions you may have is your peers!

8. Be time-oriented.

Engineering is a disciplined subject. It takes devotion and focus, therefore make sure you have a planner and always know due dates.

9. Don’t be afraid to make yourself uncomfortable by taking a harder class.

Most of the times these are the best taught subjects and you will learn a great deal.

10. Approach everything with a positive attitude.

You’re learning some of the most practical skills and challenging yourself at the same time. What is more exciting than that!?

11. Don’t get stuck in a major of field you don’t want to pursue.

Take advantage of the intro classes to ensure that is the path you want to take before it’s too late! It’s easy to switch majors your freshman and sophomore year, but when you get into more major-specific classes it then becomes difficult.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Jim Butler

Degree and Year of Graduation Master of Architectural Engineering (Mechanical Emphasis) , 2016 Company you are employed with and Job Title Specialized Engineering Solutions - Mechanical EIT Student organizations you were involved with in college and any positions held UNO ASHRAE: May 2014-Dec 2014-Board Member/NESCO Representative 2015-President

What student organization had the biggest influence on you in college and why?

ASHRAE. When I first joined the organization, I did so because the time investment was minimal. I was trying to decide whether I wanted to do mechanical or structural, and after attending a handful of student events and professional meetings, I decided to go with mechanical. The monthly chapter meetings gave some great insight into applications of what I was learning in class. I was able to see some of the systems we talk about during student chapter sponsored tours, and student-ran events and gave me a unique opportunity to interact with professionals one-on-one.

What student organization had the biggest professional influence on you and why?

Again, ASHRAE. My introduction to ASHRAE started by attending the monthly professional meetings. As I mentioned in the last question, these were great informational sessions.

The best part of these meetings, in my opinion, was the interaction between students and professionals.

At every meeting, you would have the opportunity to introduce yourself to a handful of engineers, contractors, commissioning agents, energy analysts, and other professionals in the field. The student chapter also put on social events between the students and professionals, which led to even more contacts. Nearly all of my professional contacts I had prior to my internship were a direct result of my involvement with ASHRAE. In fact, ASHRAE was at least partly responsible for the job I have now. I met my current boss at an ASHRAE fundraiser, and was offered an interview for an internship, which eventually led to the position I hold now.

Favorite memory from your time in student organizations The Winter Conference. Each year, ASHRAE holds its Winter Conference in January. The two conferences I was able to go to were in Chicago

and Orlando. Both events were great.

Over the course of 4 days, I attended events with hundreds of students from around the globe, attended technical seminars on topics related to my graduate project, met dozens of professionals from around the country, attended the largest HVAC equipment expo of the year, and had a blast at the evening social events.

If you could go back to college and redo one thing with regards to being involved in school, what would that be?

I would have become involved sooner.

I thought I didn’t have time when I was a sophomore, but honestly, I only got busier. I think I would have tried to attend events from other organizations, regardless of what emphasis they were in (electrical/ structural). Having exposure to realworld applications and interactions with design professionals would have helped me get an internship sooner, and would probably have helped me choose my emphasis.sionals would

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Student Resources

Scott Technology Center A New Collaborative Space Scott Technology Center is the new educational area to the College of Engineering here in Omaha. Large classes, some ECE labs, collaborative spaces, and faculty offices are housed at STC.

All engineering students have 24/7 access to this new and exciting building!

For any issues with building access, please contact Engineering Student Services.

Students can reserve conference rooms to study in: • Ice Bear • Stoli • P2000 • 4/3 You can reserve them by calling Scott Technology (402-505-7800) or by using the touch-screens outside of the conference rooms for same-day reservations.

There are multiply study seating areas located on the main floor open for student use: • Elk Mountain • Aggies • Centennial • Mini • ZN

Need to work on a project? The computers in STC 125 are fully equipped with the latest engineering software!

There’s also a computer lab located in STC 125 (next to ZN and Mini) that is open to all College of Engineering students during business hours.

Take a look at the maps of STC on the next page!

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Quiet study spaces like this are plentiful at the Scott Technology Center!

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RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT Read ahead to learn more about some of the exciting research being done by undergraduate students here on the Scott Campus and how you can get involved yourself!

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Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks What did you do your research in, and what was the goal of your research?

“I did past research in the construction of Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB), which has the overall goal of providing sustainable, resilient housing for those of a lower socioeconomic profile.”

How time intensive was your research?

“While I was a part of this research project, the overall time commitment was about 10 hours per week. Despite my regular courseload, it was very manageable.”

How many people were working with you?

“I worked alongside 3-4 other peers, a graduate student, and under the supervision of Dr. Erdogmus, with roles varying from week to week based on the work that needed done.”

What is the most valuable thing you have learned from doing research?

“For me, the most valuable thing that I’ve learned through this experience is that persistence is key to pushing through road blocks that may come up during research.”

What advice do you have to undergraduates looking to get into research?

“My advice to undergrads looking into research is to begin asking professors what they like to study and if they need any help with research. Many faculty members are desperate for interested students!”

How did you get your research position?

“I got involved through Engineering Statics taught by Dr. Ece Erdogmus. Based on performance and involvement in the class, I was chosen alongside a few other peers to work on this project.”

Cody Largent

Senior Architectural Engineering Student

Scan the QR code to watch a video about Cody’s research! http://engineering.unl.edu/lifeinengineering/cody-largent/

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Student Research Spotlight

Cryptography, Encryption Algorithms What is the difference between “independent study” and “research”?

“Independent Study is a course where you teach yourself material that is not covered in any offered classes.

You typically write your own curriculum and weekly schedule and do your best to stick to it.

Research is using existing knowledge to figure out something new.

There generally isn’t a fixed schedule of topics, since you’re trying to do something that hasn’t (to your knowledge) been done before. Both of these are mostly selfdriven endeavors. You will typically have an advising professor who can offer you guidance, but most of the education and work will be done by you.”

What did you do your independent study on, and what was the goal?

“My Independent Study topic was studying cryptography fundamentals and the nature of hardware implementation of some common encryption algorithms, with the eventual goal of implementing AES and SHA-1. I used a book called “Understanding Cryptography” to teach myself some of

the fundamentals of encryption, as well as to help me understand the internal structure of AES, which was necessary for implementation.”

proposal and proposed schedule, and spoke with Dr. Peng about being my adviser. Once the paperwork was filled out, I got started.”

How did you get your independent study position?

“I needed a tech elective in Fall 2016, so I asked Prof. Detloff, the ECE Independent Study supervisor, about what Independent Study entails, wrote my

How time intensive was your research?

“It varied between 3 and 10 hours a week. It really depends on what material you’re teaching yourself and how quickly you can understand it.

Just like any other course, you need to understand the current material before attempting to understand what comes next.”

What is the most valuable thing you have learned from doing your study?

“How to figure things out on my own, and when to make adjustments to my schedule after finding out my initial expectations were unrealistic.”

Brian Felderman

Senior Computer Engineering Student

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Joel Robles

Degree and Year of Graduation Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering, May 2009 Company you are employed with and Job Title OPPD - Senior Energy Coordinator NERC Compliance and Training Student organizations you were involved with in college and any positions held American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Associated General Contractors (AGC) Design Build Institute of America (DBIA)

What student organization had the biggest influence on you in college and why?

ASCE had the biggest influence in my college career because I was very young when I joined and I joined as Vice President of the organization.

As a sophomore, it really help me mature as a student and it opened doors to meet seniors that I would not have met otherwise.

What student organization had the biggest professional influence on you and why?

I would still have to say ASCE for the sole purpose that it created a foundation for me to join future organizations. Once I transitioned to a professional career, I continued to stay involved as a board member of various professional organizations.

The first year I got hired, I joined three organizations from my company.

Favorite memory from your time in student organizations My favorite memory of a student organization was team building activities. During my first year in ASCE, I helped with the Concrete Canoe Competition. It was fun getting members involved and driving down with them to another school to represent Nebraska.

Although our canoe broke on the way up to the competition, it set a precedent since our school had not been involved in this competition for years.

If you could go back to college and redo one thing with regards to being involved in school, what would that be?

I would try to get more people to join student organizations since it is one of the best things I did in college. However, I must say that I did try hard to recruit while I was there!

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Meet The Magazine Staff Sam Underwood Editor

Major: Architectural Engineering Year: Sophomore What the magazine means to him: This magazine is a unique opportunity to showcase the fantastic student community that we have here within the College of Engineering on the Scott Campus.

By introducing new students to all these exciting opportunities, I hope

Jennifer Briggs

Relations Committee Chair

Major: Architectural Engineering Year: Sophomore What the magazine means to her: This magazine was something that I hoped one day that our college could put out to show new students what engineering is like here in Omaha. Our culture here is vastly different than anywhere else. I also want students to get involved early on in college and build lasting

Mia Hammerstrom Study Abroad, Research

Major: Architectural Engineering Year: Sophomore What the magazine means to her: This magazine is the perfect way to showcase all of the opportunities that students of the College of Engineering have here in Omaha and throughout the world in their respective fields. I am thrilled for current and incoming students to have so many resources in one

ENGINEERING @ THE O - 2017

that we can boost involvement for all engineering student organizations, programs, and events in the College of Engineering.

Fun Fact about Sam: I am very active in the world of music. I enjoy composing my own pieces and have even had the opportunity to conduct some of them on the national level!

connections. This magazine allows me to give back to the college that has helped me become the engineering student that I am today.

Fun Fact about Jenny: In the summer of 2016 I moved to California and worked as a construction engineer for Holder Construction Company.

place, presented in such a unique manner. I hope that each and every student who takes the time to read through this magazine, gains knowledge in some form or another.

Fun Fact about Mia: I’ve traveled to 10 other countries throughout the world and hope to someday work for an international engineering firm.

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Dalton Rabe

Student Organizations

Major: Architectural Engineering Year: Sophomore What the magazine means to him: This magazine is a huge step into making the College of Engineering in Omaha an even better college.

This magazine can help out new students who want to become involved and I wish I had a source like this when I came to PKI for

David Connolly

EWEEK 2017, Summer Camp Section

Major: Electrical Engineering Year: Sophomore What the magazine means to him: This magazine is a great way to present our college and all of our achievements throughout the year.

I’m proud to show the best of what our college has to offer. This way, we can show visitors why they should enroll in the college and

the first time. With this magazine, I hope to expand the reach of the College of Engineering and connect the students together in a way that in unique and fresh.

Fun Fact about Dalton: If I’m not stressing out over homework or working on the magazine, I’m usually playing guitar and playing basketball!

make new students confident that they are attending an outstanding establishment. Personally, I get to apply my creativity and in a place that is very technical. Plus, I get to be part of the press, which is a role I do not often fill.

Fun Fact about David: I’ve gone to Mexico more than 15 times in my life and I know Spanish.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MAGAZINE? If you have any questions about the content covered in this publication, feel free to reach out to us via email at nesco@unl.edu.

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A Letter from the Editor Dear Engineering Students, Faculty, and Staff, It is with the utmost pleasure that I present to you the inaugural edition of the Engineering @ the O Student Resource magazine—a testament to the successes of the 20162017 academic year.

First and foremost, I would like to thank each and every one of my fellow Relations Committee members for their hard work and dedication to this project and its content. I would also like to thank the Nebraska Engineering Student Council at Omaha (NESCO) Executive Board for their guidance from this project’s conception.

This magazine was born from the need for a more easily accessible gateway to the student organizations and involvement opportunities in the engineering community. Though we often remain separated in our own departments, our team hopes that this publication will help showcase some of the amazing work being done in every engineering discipline on the Scott Campus.

In order to accomplish our goals as a college, we as interdependent departments must be unified in our vision, in our communication, and in our interaction. It is all too easy to remain sheltered in our own programs without staying engaged in the engineering community as a whole. This magazine represents just one of many steps being taken to break that trend.

As such, I encourage any student reading this magazine to utilize the resources we’ve covered to the very fullest. This publication was made for you so that you may more easily find your place on the Scott Campus.

It is my hope that this magazine (and its future editions) will continue to serve as a resource to you, the academic body of the College of Engineering, for many years to come.

All the best, Sam Underwood Engineering at the O 2017 Editor

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Find NESCO on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/NESCOmaha/

Find NESCO on Twitter! https://twitter.com/NESCOmaha

UNL does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. For nondiscrimination inquiries, contact the Director of IEC/Title IX Coordinator or the Section 504/ADA Coordinator at 128 Canfield Admin. Bld., Lincoln, NE 68588, (402) 472-3417, or the Office for Civil Rights.

Study Abroad images obtained from the TU Delft and NUI - Galway websites. https://www.nuigalway.ie/engineering-informatics/electrical-and-electronic-engineering/ http://studenten.tudelft.nl/en/students/faculty-specific/ceg/master/study-abroad/