University of Louisiana at Lafayette Chemical Engineering Students Visited Science Classes at St. Charles Catholic High School in LaPlace, LA

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Engineering Ambassador and Chemical Engineering Senior, Marissa Templet, graduated from St. Charles Catholic High School (SCC) in 2012. Templet and fellow UL Lafayette chemical engineering students Katie Border, also an Engineering Ambassador, and Richard Hessler recently returned to Templet's high school alma mater in LaPlace, LA. They visited the SCC students to promote engineering as a profession.

Their presentation included an informational PowerPoint and chemical reaction demonstrations. They also highlighted the many internship and co-op opportunities available to engineering students and the career options available in for engineering and technology graduates, with special attention to chemical engineering. All three UL students talked about their own experiences at UL and how much they enjoy what they are learning because it is not only interesting, but a lot of fun. They also talked about their recent experiences on the Chem-E Car team, where they built a car that is powered by chemical reactions, for a national competition.

Engineering Ambassadors, who are the UL College of Engineering's best and brightest students, participate in outreach activities as a way to recruit high school students into the fields of engineering and technology. A student must meet academic requirements, be recommended by a faculty remember of their respective department, and audition to become an Engineering Ambassador. Once selected, they commit to a set number of volunteer hours per academic year. This outreach program allows current engineering and technology students opportunities to talk to high school students who may or may not have thought about engineering or industrial technology as a profession.

Pictured left to right are Marissa Templet, SCC student Nicholas Lorio, Katie Barder, and Richard Hessler