Society of Women Engineers host ‘Little Sister Weekend’
April 11, 2005
Twenty female high school seniors arrived on campus Thursday evening to participate in the annual Little Sister Weekend, sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers.
The participants, identified as “little sisters,” were accepted as freshmen into the University engineering program for next semester. Each girl was sponsored for the weekend by a current society member, or “big sister,” in her area of interest. They had the opportunity to visit classes, tour the campus and learn about many aspects of campus life.
“It was an occasion to meet and talk and spend time together,” explained Tonia Shen, president of the society. “Many of the ‘little sisters’ wanted to see what it’s like to be an engineer and I think they got that.”
According to board members and veteran participants, the main objectives of the weekend were for the girls to get oriented to the campus, to get their questions answered and to make connections with other women in engineering.
“It really gives them a chance to get to know other women in the field,” said Meena Babu, “big sister” and junior in engineering. “There are so few of us.”
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Of the 5,338 students enrolled in engineering during the Fall 2002 semester, only 911 were women.
The Little Sister Program has been in existence for more than ten years and continues to aid prospective students in their decision to attend the University and get acquainted with the campus.
Little Sister Weekend is preceded by The Calling Program, which took place in February. During that weekend, society members contacted every female student accepted into a University engineering curriculum in an effort to answer questions and promote involvement in the organization. Twenty future University students accepted the invitation to participate as “little sisters.”
“It was a little more informal than past years,” Shen said. “Everything was on a smaller scale, which was still okay.”
After checking in at the Computer Lab Atrium Thursday evening, the girls attended an official society chapter meeting and an ice cream social held in their honor.
“(The meeting) is almost like a reunion; it is so easy to make connections there,” Shen said.
Members of the society said they are determined to encourage as many women to continue in their studies as possible.
“Recruitment of women into the wonderful program we have here is really important,” said Becky Milczarek, “big sister” and graduate student in engineering. “I think a greater good is being served.”
Both Milczarek and Babu commented on how events such as the Little Sister Program have a great impact on women in scientific fields.
“As ‘big sisters,’ we have so many opportunities to really influence the high school students to go into science and engineering,” said Babu, who directed the Little Sister Program two years ago.
During the day Friday, the “little sisters” had the opportunity to shadow their “big sisters” as they attended classes, and they also witnessed panel discussions by engineering alumni and current members.
“There really is no better way to get a feel for campus than by staying here,” Milczarek said. “Many of the girls attended introductory classes in engineering that they will probably take next year.”
Friday evening, the participants had a pizza party and watched The Incredibles in Gregory Hall. They then broke up into smaller groups with their “big sisters” to play board games and look around Campustown.