Upcoming Events
MASS A&WMA jointly with the Wilkes Student Chapter of A&WMA is hosting a virtual student career panel
When: Friday, June 12, 2020 | 3:30—5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
Panelists
When: Friday, June 12, 2020 | 3:30—5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
Panelists
- Scott Heffelfinger, Wilkes Graduate, Enrolled in MS and Ph.D. programs at Lehigh University
- James Rooney, SUNY ESF Graduate, Project Engineer in Water and Wastewater group at MJ Engineering and Land Surveying
- Elizabeth Brown, Wilkes Graduate, Project Engineer at Cowan Associates
- Guo Quan, University of North Texas Graduate, Air Resource Engineer at the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
- Jillian Weston, Wilkes Graduate
- Universities and colleges design programs to prepare us with knowledge for a successful career. However, there is more to being able to secure a job. Securing a job requires a set of skills and actions beyond technical aptitude. These skills and actions include the ability to engage people in productive conversations, knowing how to generate interest by framing your value, being skillful in active listening and communication.
- Education and networking have been challenging with physical distancing. The interpersonal skills that are so critical to being successful in the job market are honed through collaborative and cooperative learning that is hard to facilitate via remote formats. Understanding what action plan a student or a recent graduate must design and pursue to secure a job is crucial. Launching a successful career requires mobilization of certain resources to take the necessary steps of the individual student's action plan. There are do’s, and don’ts with the cover letters, the resume, interviews, the follow-ups, job interview technical assignments, and the negotiations.
- Networking with fellow students and employers has become an invaluable tool in the job search. Gathering information and making oneself visible to the employers and the potential future colleagues already at workplaces of interest is one of the most important items in the job search action plan every student or recent graduate should do.
- Learning about the actions your fellow recent graduates undertook to secure their current jobs will help you get a head start in your job search. The Mid-Atlantic States Section of the Air & Waste Management Association has organized a social networking event with a virtual panel of recent graduates who were successful taking the necessary steps to launch their professional careers or advance their education through graduate programs. They will share their experiences and talk about the action plans and steps that led them to their early professional success. The event will also provide a platform for students to share their remote educational experiences, network, and learn about resources for a successful career.
Biography of Elizabeth Brown
Elizabeth is a recent graduate of Wilkes University with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering. She is employed at Cowan Associates, Inc. as a project engineer in the environmental department. In her current position, Elizabeth works on water and sewer line installation and technical studies for water filtration plants.
Elizabeth is a recent graduate of Wilkes University with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering. She is employed at Cowan Associates, Inc. as a project engineer in the environmental department. In her current position, Elizabeth works on water and sewer line installation and technical studies for water filtration plants.
Biography of Scott Heffelfinger
Scott has worked on several research projects including the assessment of the impact of a natural gas pipeline in native species under the mentorship of Dr. Ken Klemow and North Lake (Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania) water quality under the mentorship of Dr. Holly Frederick. He presented this research at the Ecological Society of America Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2018, and the North American Lake Management Society Conference in Burlington, Vermont, in 2019. He had a summer internship at BrightWind in Dublin, Ireland, where he analyzed wind data and generated Python code to process that data. Scott was the recipient of the 2019 Environmental Engineering and Earth Science’s Department Extracurricular Achievement Award. Scott has served as the president of the Wilkes University Student Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers and was a member of the Wilkes University President’s Student Advisory Council. Scott plans to attend Lehigh University to pursue a doctoral degree in environmental engineering.
Scott has worked on several research projects including the assessment of the impact of a natural gas pipeline in native species under the mentorship of Dr. Ken Klemow and North Lake (Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania) water quality under the mentorship of Dr. Holly Frederick. He presented this research at the Ecological Society of America Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2018, and the North American Lake Management Society Conference in Burlington, Vermont, in 2019. He had a summer internship at BrightWind in Dublin, Ireland, where he analyzed wind data and generated Python code to process that data. Scott was the recipient of the 2019 Environmental Engineering and Earth Science’s Department Extracurricular Achievement Award. Scott has served as the president of the Wilkes University Student Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers and was a member of the Wilkes University President’s Student Advisory Council. Scott plans to attend Lehigh University to pursue a doctoral degree in environmental engineering.
Proposed Events
- Participate in a trail clean-up in a local town this fall;
- Invite professionals as guest speakers to our university to discuss topics such as careers in air quality, professional development, what to expect post-graduation, and help building resumes;
- Attend any available local/regional/sectional meetings;
- Utilize AWMA contacts to organize field visits to see air pollution control equipment;
- Visit local schools during National Engineers Week in the spring to help students with science projects and positively influence their perspective on engineering;
- Attend the AWMA-ACE;
- Look into scholarship opportunities for student members.
Past Events
4/25/17
4/7/17 3/31/17 3/24/17 12/6/16 9/13/16 9/8/16 |
2017-2018 Elections!
New officers for the 2017-2018 school year were elected. President: Kelly Egan Vice President: Purvit Patel Secretary: Rachel Hodgins Treasurer: Mitchell Steiner Volunteering: IEEE Engineering Olympics Members volunteered at the The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers student chapter's annual "Engineering Olympics" which brings teams of high school students to compete for a chance to win a scholarship. This competition focuses of tasks related to electrical, mechanical, and environmental engineering. Volunteering: SWE Amazing Race Members volunteered at the Society of Women Engineers student chapter's annual "Amazing Race". This event brings local high school girls to the university to complete a number of STEM-related and team-building tasks. A&WMA Wilkes Lab Day Wilkes student members went to Wyoming Seminary Lower School to help students grades 2-8 with science experiments related to their course work and spread the word about environmental engineering. Trail Clean-up Wilkes student members joined with members of the Wilkes University club "Students for Environmental Sustainability" to complete a trail clean-up located at the Sugarnotch Earth Conservancy. 2016-2017 Elections! New officers for the 2016-2017 school year were elected. President: Patricia Thomas Vice President: Kelly Egan Secretary: Purvit Patel Treasurer: Ryan Rompolski Wilkes Club Day A&WMA hosted a table at Wilkes Club Day to attract new student members. |