Engineering Education Starts at the K-12 Level. Robin Kvalo is the principal at Rusch Elementary School in Portage, Wisconsin who recently hosted a team of students from the University of Wisconsin, most of whom are members of Triangle Fraternity, to spend time in her 3rd – 6th grade classrooms talking about engineering. Not only did the students talk about engineering, they organized a hands-on learning opportunity for the grade school students called an egg drop. In a recent letter to Dr. Peercy, Dean of the College of Engineering, Principal Kvalo writes: Dear Dean Paul Peercy, I am writing you in regards to a very special day recently held at my elementary school with seven of your UW engineering students.  My son, Matt Kvalo, a current junior in Mechanical Engineering, organized a volunteer "Engineering Day" at Rusch Elementary on March 31st as part of his engineering

Triangle members conduct egg drop experiment with Rusch Elem. School students

It was a terrific day.  They spent time in all my 3rd-6th grade classrooms discussing their chosen area of study, what an engineer is, how to be successful in school, what it takes to be an engineer and why our students should work hard in reading, science and math at all levels of K-12 education.  They fielded many questions from students and gave wise advice for such young men.  In addition, they worked for 90 minutes with all our 4th graders (60) creating various "capsules" to protect a raw egg that would be dropped from our balcony in the gym and then from a third floor window.  All they could use was paper and masking tape.  Three eggs survived!   I've attached 10 pictures taken at various times throughout the day I thought you might enjoy.  The last picture is a "scanned" picture from the "Daily Register" newspaper coverage of the day.

Below are some comments by my teachers after they worked with us.  We do plan to continue a collaboration with Triangle and the UW Engineering department.  Next year we are hoping to combine the event with a trip to "Engineering Expo 2011". We may also try a Science Olympiad at the Triangle house as part of our visit. You should be proud of the example these young men set.  I really believe they "lit a spark" in many of my students about engineering.  I believe that we should expose our young students to as many opportunities like this in order to help them focus on a direction they may want to go.  I look forward to our future work together.  Below are three reflections from my teachers about the visit. Sincerely, Roibn Kvalo

Fifth Grade Teacher
The highlight of the week was when the UW Engineering students came in to talk to the 5th graders about their specific field of engineering that they are in.  I think it was particularly interesting to hear how they got into their certain field.  One student had asked the classes if they have hobbies?  Most of the kids said yes.  He told them that engineering is like a hobby.  You get to do what you enjoy and yet have fun doing it.  My highlight  was when my class came back to the room and we had a follow up discussion on what they had just heard from the engineering presentation.  One of my students said (he is one of my top students) "I definitely know what I want to do when I grow up."   He was like a lightbulb.  He just glowed.  Having these engineering students come in, explain what engineering is, telling students how they can do it and have fun with it was the "hook" my student needed to get motivated.  The seed was planted.  AWESOME!!!!!

Third Grade Teacher The students sure did enjoy Matt and his friends visit.  Anytime older students come in to talk to elementary students I feel it is worthwhile because they look up to them and they are very impressionable at this age. What a great day. Fourth Grade Teacher Last week was very powerful when the engineers came to talk to the students and then help the students prepare the egg for the egg drop.   1st the two engineers in my room told the students a little about what they did.  They also told the 4th graders to work hard & develop good study habits now because it would be so helpful to them later.  They told the 4th graders how much they had to read in college.  The 4th graders hung on every word.   Then when it came time for the egg drop you could see the respect the 4th