UHMC student engineers host innovative high-tech event April 18

Maui College
Contact:
Nicole Beattie, (808) 984-3549
Director of Marketing & Community Relations, University of Hawai'i Maui College
Posted: Apr 18, 2013

UHMC Engineering Technology student Lindsay Komai at work in the classroom.
UHMC Engineering Technology student Lindsay Komai at work in the classroom.

Kahului, HI — Students at the University of Hawai'i Maui College are gathering high-tech gurus from Maui all in one place for the inaugural Engineering Innovation Day (EID) Thursday, April 18.  Hosted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) student group, the event will showcase technical innovations that students in the college’s engineering programs have been working on throughout the year.

Students from the Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology (ECET), an associate’s degree program, and Engineering Technology (ET), a 4-year bachelor of applied science degree program, will demonstrate their engineering projects from 1:30pm-4:30pm in the foyer of 'Ike Le'a, the new science facility.

“We have worked hard to bring this event together,” said Spencer Eldred, a senior in the Engineering Technology program and chair of the IEEE. “We have many innovative engineering projects being presented during the [EI] day.”

Kanoe Hardin, a junior in the ET program and secretary of the IEEE, added that there have been a number of students who offered to help with the event. “We have over 15 students participating, ranging from planning the setup for the day, ordering food, making the schedule and the flyers. We have been working hard the past few months to make this happen.” 

Faculty in the programs says that they are excited to have students go above and beyond their curriculum to learn soft skills in the profession.

“By participating in out-of-classroom activities such as EID, students learn teamwork and project management -- important skills for success in the workforce,” said UHMC faculty member Dr. Jung Won Park, who is also the program coordinator for the ET program.

Dr. Anil Mehta, a UHMC faculty member in the ET program, added, “It is a delight to see students gain critical entrepreneurial and networking skills. When we host a conference we bring people from various backgrounds in one place, and the outcomes from such interactions are phenomenal. Jobs for students, collaborations [between academia and industry] are all possibilities”. 

The EID will also include groups from outside the campus that host technical activities on the island including Maui Makers, a group that builds technical projects in the community, and the HAM Radio operators of Maui, a group that preserves the knowledge of HAM Radio operation.

The EID is a free and open event for all members of the community. Following the student demonstrations, there will be a panel discussion from 5:00pm – 7:00pm and a social hour for participants to network with each other. Refreshments will be served.

Questions and media inquiries can be sent to parkjung@hawaii.edu or by calling 808.984.3423