Recruitment and Outreach

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Emerging Leaders in Engineering

Established in 2002, the goal of the Emerging Leaders in Engineering program is to attract and retain an exceptionally capable and diverse group of young women and men to study engineering and become leaders in society. The program includes two groups: the High School Emerging Leaders in Engineering, and the UW Emerging Leaders in Engineering Scholars.

Emerging Leaders in High School

The High School Emerging Leaders in Engineering program recruits from a group of outstanding, high achieving, high school juniors and seniors from around the Puget Sound area who have shown interest in science and engineering.  These recruits are invited to attend events designed to provide an introduction to the University of Washington, the College of Engineering, and the field of engineering.

1. High school juniors are invited to the Emerging Leaders in Engineering High School Spring Invitational, which is held in conjunction with the College of Engineering’s Annual Open House. Students receive a brief overview of the College of Engineering, and hear about the different courses of study offered by Engineering departments at the UW. There are also presentations by representatives from the UW Admissions Office, the Scholarship and Financial Aid Offices, and First Year Programs. The event typically features a student panel, comprised of current UW Emerging Leaders Scholars, and a brief campus tour. Participants are encouraged to come back to the Open House event, where they can explore their interest areas more fully.
   
2. High school seniors are invited to attend the Emerging Leaders in Engineering High School Fall Invitational, which is held on the same day as the UW Career Fair. This event is somewhat similar to the Spring Invitational; however the focus is more on helping the students become competitive applicants to the UW. This event also includes an employer panel, designed to provide student with valuable tips and information about current and projected market trends, and to give them a little insight into what to expect in their future careers. Information about the Emerging Leaders in Engineering Scholars program is also shared at this event and students are invited to apply to be selected as a UW Emerging Leader Scholar. Approximately 15-20 students are selected each year, with increasing offers expected as the program grows.

High school students wishing to apply to the High School Emerging Leaders in Engineering program are encouraged to complete the online application.

UW Emerging Leader Scholars

The UW Emerging Leaders in Engineering Scholars are UW students selected based on their leadership potential, academic excellence and long-term goals. The scholarships are $500-$5000 a year, and can be renewable up to four years, as funding allows, and provided the student remains in good academic standing and continues to participate in the program.

In addition to the scholarship funding, Emerging Leaders Scholars participate in seminars, led by faculty, staff and corporate partners, covering topics such as leadership and professional development, undergraduate research and internship opportunities, and academic and career planning. They are encouraged to develop their leadership skills by acting as ambassadors for the program, visiting local high schools to talk about the UW and engineering, serving as tour guides or hosts for visiting students, serving as tutors or peer mentors, speaking at recruitment and donor events on campus, and helping to further develop the Emerging Leaders program.

For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program, contact Cindy Bush, Emerging Leaders Program Manager, at bush@engr.washington.edu, or 206/685-1678.