High School Conferences and Programs Expanding Your Horizons Annual Fall Event for 8th - 10th grade girls RIT's Women In Engineering Center along with RIT's student section of Society of Women Engineers (SWE), which was nationally recognized this past year as the Outstanding SWE Student Section, are hosting a new exciting outreach program entitled "Expanding Your Horizons." This one day conference held at RIT on October 2nd, 2004 targets an audience of 8th, 9th, and 10th grade girls and their parents with a goal of enlightening them about the world of engineering. In the morning, a keynote speaker will kick-off the event followed by two hands-on workshops for students and a panel discussion for parents. After lunch, families may attend demonstrations and displays by various RIT engineering clubs, such as the RIT Formula One Team. Two afternoon workshops for both students and parents will close off the event. Purpose — This program, held on the first Saturday in October, will give young women a look into the field of engineering and how it is used in the real world. Girls explore career options by attending hands-on workshops. There are four workshops, and every participant will attend all of them. Student workshops offered in the past included Flying Lessons 101, Polymers and Plants, Programming Robots, and Surveying Concrete. All participants will have the opportunity to interact with female engineering faculty and female engineering students in a fun and comfortable environment. In addition, there are adult workshops designed for people who would like to learn more about helping their daughter down the path from high school to college, and providing these young women with ways to be successful inside and outside of the classroom. To help offset the cost, a registration fee for students and adults is required. A limited number of scholarships are available and awarded based on need. SWE Overnight Shadow Program Annual Spring Event for 11th graders Purpose — This 2 day sleepover event is entirely organized and facilitated by RIT's Student Chapter of SWE (Society of Women Engineers). The event includes observing an engineering class, meals in the dining hall, an RIT campus tour, a mentoring luncheon, and interactive sessions that contain projects which help the participants understand several of the different disciplines within engineering (mechanical, electrical, industrial). The event concludes with a competitive design activity and closing ceremony, which parents are invited to attend. WE@RIT Open House Annual Spring Event for accepted female students in the College of Engineering RIT's Women in Engineering Center is hosting a weekend of activities for our accepted female students. The activities include many opportunities to meet other current and future female students in the College of Engineering. Purpose — This event is held at the conclusion of the general accepted student Open House in April. It helps to introduce accepted women to the RIT community and make connections with faculty and other accepted students before the May 1st commitment deadline. The weekend's activities include interaction with our senior design project teams, discussion of our co-op program with upper level students, a fun and challenging design and build session, and several entertaining social events that allow participants time to meet other current and future female students in the College of Engineering. The weekend concludes with a brunch and panel discussion. Panel members are alumni of engineering programs at RIT, who offer perspectives on the many opportunities their engineering degree has provided them. Parents are invited to the panel discussion, as well as the co-op and careers chat session at the beginning of the weekend's events. All meals, lodging, and local transportation within Rochester are provided for the events associated with the WE@RIT Open House. In addition, a travel stipend is offered to help offset travel costs. View the event schedule to find out more about what this event is like. College and Careers Annual Summer Event for 12th grade girls Purpose — Offered in conjunction with the Admissions Office. Event is being planned; more info to come as details are known.