National Engineers Week has existed since 1951, but it is new to the University this year.
Despite the snow, nearly 50 Engineering students gathered for brunch yesterday at Pierpont Commons to help kick off the week's festivities.
"We're celebrating the engineering profession," said Engineering senior Ankur Agarwal, fundraiser for National Engineering Week. "We want to get people more excited about engineering."
Coordinators said the week - sponsored by Motorola and the National Society of Black Engineers - is a chance for students to reflect on accomplishments and envision the future.
Taryn Rosema, director of National Engineers Week events at the University, said she hopes this year's festivities will set the stage for celebrations in future years.
"It should be a blast," Rosema said. "People are excited, and the events are open to all students."
Tony Glinke, president of Ann Arbor Plastics - a firm supplying plastic products to local companies such as the Borders Group and Domino's Pizza - spoke to a small crowd yesterday.
"To grow, you must change," Glinke said. "To change, you must have guts, skills and conviction."
Much of Glinke's talk aimed to rally students to take a more involved role in their education and job selection.
"You must take complete responsibility for your life and career," Glinke said. "Education is a lifelong journey - not a destination."
Glinke compared products of engineering to pieces of art and asked engineers to relentlessly pursue the best. He said engineers are producing goods that are consumed, unlike art - where goods are interpreted in a "philosophical" manner.
"Engineers must produce products that are consumed - from the door handle on your car, to nuclear power," Glinke said. "Engineers who can talk to people and make them understand (concepts) are going to rule the world."
One of the largest events this week is Outreach to Schools, an opportunity for Engineering students to visit local secondary schools and entice young children to explore science.
"The demonstrations to local high schools hopefully will get kids interested in education in general," Agarwal said.
The week-long calendar of events includes a mouse-trap car contest, egg drop competition and paper airplane contest. Movies related to engineering will also be shown for students.
"It should be pretty good," said AnneMonterio, assistant dean for Engineering student affairs. "The intent is to spread the word about engineering."
Agarwal said yesterday's low turnout at the opening event should not be an indication of the level of participation expected this week, as some students already have plans to participate in various scheduled events.
"A bunch of us are getting together to do some stuff," said Engineering senior Andrew Eleazar. "We're fairly involved."
In addition to the intellectual contests, students will gather for some physical fun Wednesday night at the CCRB and cap off the week with a dance Saturday night at the Michigan League.
"We're definitely playing volleyball," Engineering senior Kim Snodgrass said.
University students can sign up as part of a team to participate in any of the events or may participate individually. Information is available at tables in Pierpont Commons or via the internet at http://www.engin.umich.edu/soc/eweek.
JEANNIE SERVAAS/Daily
Tony Glinke, president of Ann Arbor Plastics, gave career advice to engineering students yesterday at the Pierpont Commons.