Coach Mainieri's Motivation Highlights LSU Engineering Camp
August 28, 2009
The College of Engineering hosted its third annual Encounter Engineering E2 bridge camp, the largest ever with over 100 incoming freshmen and 30 upperclassmen participating in this year's program. Students attended sessions in physics, math, study skills and time management. Peer mentors led their teams in the Ropes Adventures Team building and in the Rube Goldberg Design competition. The highlight of the camp was the "Business and Baseball" Luncheon at the new Alex Box Stadium with guest speaker, Coach Paul Mainieri, Head Coach, LSU Baseball.
"I look through the room of engineering students - you've been blessed with intelligence and have worked hard to build analytical skills," said Mainieri. "Your potential is ready to burst at the seams and is endless."
Mainieri was very motivational in challenging LSU Engineering students to make a difference stating "Go out into the world and apply your trade. See how will you affect society and contribute to the betterment of community. Your goal is well defined to be an engineer. Our world can not survive without successful engineers. You have been given a gift of intelligence - push yourself. I implore you to challenge yourself to be great- you have a chance to make a difference."
The second part of the "Business and Baseball" Luncheon featured LSU alumni and industry leaders who offered wisdom into engineering careers and what LSU students need to succeed.
When asked by LSU's engineering freshmen what was needed beyond the engineering curriculum, Erick Comeaux, 1997 LSU chemical engineering alumnus and manager of Engineering & Technical Services for The Williams Companies, Inc. advised to "#1 get real world experience before you graduate; #2 enhance your business skills, and #3 develop your communications skills, which is the hardest one to achieve."
Will Pecue, LSU petroleum engineering alumnus and president of Taylor Energy Company, LLC recommended that engineering students look at involvement and leadership positions within the University's non-engineering organizations, stating "Consider things on the other side of campus, it will open up the world."
Students also inquired about suggested minor degrees of study or additional skill sets that would help in the engineering field. Comeaux offered the following options: "business administration, chemistry, especially for chemical engineering, and communication skills." Pecue added that there are many global opportunities in engineering and strongly encouraged those interested to study a foreign language.
E2 participants are asked to evaluate camp activities for enjoyment and perceived value. The majority of the students responded that they would recommend the camp. The following quotes from evaluations support the intentions of the camp, stating:
"E2 really helped me pick up study tips and get a feel for what majoring in engineering is all about... "
"It was a great experience. I found myself waking up early for the next day because of the excitement. It really helped me assimilate into LSU life."
"E2 was an amazing experience! I had so much fun and met so many new friends. It was worth every minute."
Encounter Engineering is an integral part of the College of Engineering's Engineering Engagement for Student Success (ENG2), an academic initiative is designed to increase the retention and graduation rates of engineering and construction management students during the pre-college, freshman, and sophomore years.
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Article by Mimi LaValle for the College of Engineering, mlavall@lsu.edu, 225-578-5706, information and quotes provided by Summer Dann Johnson, STEP Coordinator, 225-578-8195
