The National Academy of Engineering recently announced the winners of its 2015 EngineerGirl national essay competition. This year’s national contest asked students in grades three through 12 to describe the engineering behind a technology used in playing, scoring, or training for a chosen sport.
Prizes were awarded to students in three categories based upon grade level.
“Engineering determines the way we live, spanning our health and safety to enjoying our favorite activities,” said NAE President C. D. Mote, Jr. “This year’s essay contest submissions showcased brilliantly the wide-ranging impacts of engineering contributions to our happiness.”
Seventh-grader Rebecca Yermish from Frances S. DeMasi Middle School won first place among entries from grades six to eight for her essay describing the roles of design and manufacturing/process engineers in developing arrows for archery.
Awards are $500 for first place, $250 for second place, and $100 for third place.
EngineerGirl is designed for girls in elementary through high school and offers information about various engineering fields and careers, questions and answers, interviews, and other resources on engineering. A survey of contest participants indicated that 63 percent of girls were more likely to consider an engineering career after writing their essay. EngineerGirl and Engineer Your Life, a website for academically prepared high school girls, are part of the NAE’s ongoing efforts to increase the diversity of the engineering workforce.
