Engineering students gear up for industry tour day in Lincoln

Hundreds of University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering students will visit with industry professionals and learn more about career and internship expectations as they tour 15 Lincoln companies Aug. 19 as part of the Nebraska Undergraduates Becoming Engineers (N.U.B.E.) Experience.

Organized by the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development and the College of Engineering, the industry tour is an opportunity for first-year students from Nebraska Engineering’s Lincoln and Omaha campuses to connect with professional engineers and learn about what they do. The event is sponsored by Alfred Benesch and Co., JEO Consulting Group Inc., LI-COR, Olsson Associates and Schemmer Associates.

“This is a great experience for our new students as they will learn about engineering careers and go behind the scenes at some pretty unique industries in Lincoln,” said Michael Loehring, senior director for student services. “It also gives these students access to key industry partners, a chance to ask questions and make key connections for future reference.”

First-year students have toured industry in Norfolk, Grand Island, Columbus and Omaha. Lincoln was selected as the 2016 destination because of the city’s excellent economic climate and distinguished engineering-related businesses.

“We are looking forward to introducing some of the city’s most promising engineering minds to our businesses who are setting the trend nationally,” said Wendy Birdsall, president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development. “We know they will write the future and we are thrilled to help connect them to what’s next for their career.”

As part of the event, 440 first-year students will tour Alfred Benesch and Co., Cleaver-Brooks Engineered Boiler Systems, Duncan Aviation, Hudl, JEO Consulting Group Inc., Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp. USA, LI-COR, Lincoln Electric System, Lincoln Industries, Lincoln Public Works and Utilities, Molex LLC, Olsson Associates, Sandhills Publishing, Schemmer Associates and Zoetis LLC. Additional activities include a lunch and dialogue with industry panelists at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel.

The program, Aug. 18-19, is designed to get first-year students comfortable with all aspects of becoming an engineering student prior to the first day of class. Students can meet other new and current engineering students, faculty and staff; and network with professionals from across the state during industry tours, panels and roundtables.

For more information, visit http://go.unl.edu/2qsk. Tour sites and sponsor information for Engineering Industry Day are available at http://go.unl.edu/judt or by contacting Phil Carter, external and community relations coordinator in the College of Engineering, at 402-472-3198 or pcarter2@unl.edu.