Summary

My classmates, as seniors in the UW Aero/Astro program, are graduating in the spring and looking to
find relevant employment-making interpersonal connections within industry is vital to any job
search. As UW American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics student section secretary, I want
to organize a Networking Night, where local industry professionals come give a brief introduction to
their company, and mingle and network with interested students. My supervisor expects me, with
the help of the other AIAA officers, to recruit professionals to attend, to drum up interest within the
department, and to make arrangements for room space, refreshments, and technology for
presentations.
Explain how your project fits the provided Honors Program definition of the
Experiential Learning area you selected:
This project fits the definition of experiential learning well - I have a vision for a project that will
positively impact a group of students, and will be collaborating both with professionals and with my
fellow officers to make it a reality. I am leading the organization of this networking night, which
constitutes a guiding role, and illustrates my commitment both to furthering the professional
interests of my classmates, and to my peer-elected role as a UW AIAA officer.
How and why did you select this engagement?
I selected this engagement because there was a need for a single event that could facilitate
introductions between Aero/Astro students and members of industry. Getting an engineering job is
all about who you know; who can review your cover letter, who can tell you which skills to brush up
on before an interview, who can make sure your resume ends up in the right pile. I want to make it
easier for my classmates to find jobs that interest them and excite them after graduation. I hope to
gain experience communicating professionally with engineers. I also hope to hone my skills in
organizing large scale events, which will require effective delegation to my assistants and
cooperation with groups of people.
How does this project connect to your concurrent or past coursework? How does it
speak to your broader education goals and experiences?
It connects to all my coursework undertaken within the William E. Boeing Department of Aeronautics
and Astronautics because my and my classmates' utilization of the skills we learn in our classes
depend on our ability to find jobs in the aerospace industry. In addition, I have just begun taking my
capstone senior design project class, which involves designing a lunar colony mission with a team of
about 25 people - five times larger than any group setting I've worked in previously at the UW.
Should 10 professionals choose to attend our networking night, coordinating with them and the 11
other AIAA officers should be invaluable preparation for working successfully in such a large group
setting.
How will your project contribute to the larger goals of the organization or those of
your partners?
The AIAA's unofficial mission statement is to contribute to the mental, academic and professional
health of our student members. This networking night is the best way to promote student
involvement and attachment to industry - we want graduates from our department to find jobs
doing something they love and are prepared for, which will be more easily facilitated if they are able
to sit down and talk with the engineers who are already doing these jobs.
Final Reflection
Project Title
Connecting Classmates to Industry
Reflection
Overall, this event was a success, both for the professionals involved and for the students who
participated. While it took a lot of work to coordinate the refreshments, attendees, room
arrangements, and volunteers, it was well worth it to see the students mingling with members of
industry in a setting that wouldn't otherwise be possible. When I undertook this project, I expected
there to be a fair amount of coordination required, as my experiential learning application reflects. I
did not expect there to be such a large dependence on professional communication - on answering
emails in a timely and respectful fashion and on following up and offering reminders without
annoying the recipient. This was great preparation, as predicted, for my senior design class - practice
making sure that a project gets done without micromanaging or appearing mistrustful of the
recipient's abilities, a skill I've already used several times this quarter and will no doubt use through
the rest of my life. The project also benefitted the students and professionals involved; at least two
or three students found summer jobs from the event, and the rest increased their network within
industry. Representatives from aerospace companies got to see what our department has to offer,
and got to share their experiences with students who were eager to hear them. My fellow officers
and I completed a full document about the organization and set-up of this event, with contacts in
industry, to pass on to next year's officers so that they can host a networking night again next year.
In addition, I will make myself available next year to answer any questions they may have, and if I'm
in the area, may come back to participate on the other side of the aisle, as an engineering
professional. I look forward to staying involved in this continuing project.