Students inspire future engineers through ‘You CAN do Engineering!’ community event

Twenty Carthage engineering students developed and ran the event “You CAN do Engineering!” for the Kenosha and Racine communities Nov. 16, at the Civil War Museum in Kenosha.

“You CAN do Engineering!” was developed as an outreach event to teach engineering principles to children ages 8 through 14 using food cans as their primary construction materials. More than 20 children participated in the activities.

The event was developed and operationalized as a part of the engineering course Managing an Engineering Venture. In the course, students collaborated by dividing their work across four sub-teams: marketing, fundraising, coordination, and activities to conceptualize the event, identify a venue, develop engaging activities, and collect cans — donated by the Carthage community, greater Kenosha area, and corporate partner ULINE. In addition to the engineering students, volunteers from Carthage fraternities and sororities, as well as Shoreland Lutheran High School, were key contributors in the success of the event.

In total, 680 cans and additional non-perishable food items were donated for the students to use during the event. Weighing in at 867 lbs, all food items contributed for use during the event were donated to the local food pantry.

Sponsoring Department, Office, or Organization:

Engineering Departmnent

For more information, contact:

Jessica Lavorata