Page 21 - SPIRIT-Spring2017

“There is always a great need for engineers who are passionate, knowledgeable
and working to contribute to the good of society. I want to be part of that!”
WomenofHeart

8- to 17-year-olds at the Children’s
engineering as my major (with French
Home Society (CHS ) summer camps importance and value of strong lead- ence helped me to decide on chemical
ership and the empowerment of pas-
for foster and adopted children. “I did sionate young women,” she said. “It’s and physics as minors). When we vis-
empowered intellectually, spiritually and morally, graduates my Cor Jesu LASTing service project at a great feeling to be involved in an or- ited Watlow, my interest was piqued
serve as responsible members of the global community.
CHS,” Haley said, “and have returned ganization that helps girls who are just by the materials and research-side of
Sarah Mohrmann ’15 | Haley Williams ’15 every summer since. The goal of the beginning to explore STEM.” engineering.”
camps is for the kids to express the Having been in those girls’ shoes Sarah agreed. “The S.E.E. Week was
“…to have real meaning and fulfill- of Tulsa, respectively, Sarah’s and feelings surrounding trauma they have just a few years ago, Sarah and Haley a real eye-opener for me and proved
ment, as you want and as you deserve, Haley’s academic quests that began experienced through music, art, dance know exactly how that journey can to be a tremendous opportunity to
I say to each one of you: ‘Put on faith,’ at CJA have ultimately steered them and writing. I play games and hang evolve. learn about engineering and careers
and your life will take on a new flavor toward future careers in engineering. out with the kids, and I listen to them For the two students who naturally I hadn’t previously considered. I’m
– it will have a compass to show you But the true navigation that drives tell their stories and try to help them gravitated toward math and science sort of embarrassed to say that I knew
the way. ‘Put on hope,’ and every one their search for meaning and fulfill- express those feelings in a positive way early on, the spark that espied their very little about engineering until my Haley
of your days will be enlightened, and ment points more directly toward through art. It’s powerful to learn the interest in the subjects can be traced exposure to the STEM programs at CJ “In addition to my professional
your horizon will no longer be dark but their desire to “put on faith,” “put on testimonies of the kids.” back to that first-ever S.E.E. Week. The during my junior year.” And it was just life,” she said, “I plan on continuing
luminous. ‘Put on love,’ and your life hope,” and “put on love”. When reflecting on how her pas- email sent to rising juniors and seniors one year later, when Sarah was named my commitment to service in other
will be like a house built on rock – your Using their gifts for good, the en- sion for service surfaced, Haley credits inviting them to engage in real-world one of two recipients of the Watlow parts of the world through Engineers
journey will be joyful, because you will gineer-bound co-eds have immersed her parents. “As I was growing up,” engineering experiences at civil, elec- Scholarship ($15,000) that she set her Without Borders and to my com-
find many friends to journey with you.” themselves in service as deeply as she said, “my parents fostered around trical, manufacturing and biomedical sights on STEM as a probable career. munity through volunteering in my
–Pope Francis, World Youth Day 2013 their academics. Having joined En- 30 children. The importance of lov- engineering sites through the new “Receiving the scholarship was piv- parish and with groups like Habitat
When Sarah Mohrmann ’15 and gineers Without Borders (EWB) as ing the unloved and forgotten has Corporate Partners Initiative (CPI), otal for me because it sparked my in- for Humanity. I think an ongoing
Haley Williams ’15 each signed up freshmen, Sarah and Haley as sopho- always been close to my heart. My was precisely what the students were terest and passion for engineering and sense of responsibility and Christian
for the inaugural S.E.E. (Summer En- mores already have been named parents showed me what it means to seeking. helped me decide what I wanted to service will guide me in the future as I
gineering Experience) Week in 2014, leaders in their respective groups. put love into action and to have a ser- Sarah and Haley accepted the invita- pursue in college and beyond,” Sarah continue to look for ways to make the
they may not have realized then that For Haley, that means working as a vant heart, and I want to do the same tion. And they have been setting their commented. The accompanying Wat- world a better place.”
they were about to embark upon their project leader for a solar-powered cell through my work and in my life.” sights on that luminous horizon ever low internship that followed the sum- “Cor Jesu taught me to be a wom-
life journeys of “real meaning and phone charging station at Youth Ser- For Sarah, who got involved last since. mer after she graduated from CJ “was an of integrity,” Haley noted, “and
fulfillment” – as projected through vices of Tulsa, a shelter for at-risk and year in the later stages of the Wash U critical, because it allowed me to really I will carry that with me for the rest
Pope Francis’ lenses of faith, hope homeless youth. EWB chapter’s Mekelle School for the Enlightening Experiences see what engineering work looked of my life. The Corporate Partners
and love. But since immersing them- “During our visits to Youth Ser- Blind Ethiopia project, putting her As a person who has “always been like beyond the theoretical concepts Initiative helped me find my passion
selves in the field of engineering dur- vices, we discovered that many of natural abilities to work now translates interested in STEM, at first without learned in the classroom.” in engineering, and I am so thankful
ing that first week of June three years the young people there have mobile to serving as a project lead for the even knowing it,” Haley was naturally Now that they are fully delving for all my teachers and advisors who
ago, the two recent graduates’ career phones and come to the facility to chapter’s next five-year endeavor. Cur- drawn to how things worked. Even into the field of engineering, Sarah in encouraged me along the way.
paths have clearly come into focus. charge them,” Haley stated. “Howev- rently exploring possibilities for the when she cooked and baked as a mechanical and Haley in chemical, “After graduation,” Haley con-
One could even make the case that er, there are no electrical outlets out- next project and location, Sarah and youngster, she enjoyed “reading about the future engineers who will gradu- tinued, “I hope to attend graduate
Sarah it was S.E.E. side where many of them hang out. her team have narrowed down the list the science behind what made the best ate from college in May 2019 are now school and do research in the field of
Week that en- We designed the project to fill this to include Uganda, Honduras or Ec- recipes.” focusing on their futures. renewable energy, more specifically
lightened their need for more electricity in a sustain- uador. “It will be an exciting next few Haley admitted that over the years, “I don’t have my post-graduation in solar and materials. I want to do
horizons and able, low-cost and environmentally- years!” she exclaimed. “Being involved the concept of engineering had been plans figured out just yet,” Sarah ac- meaningful research that helps peo-
future! friendly way. I appreciate the theo- in EWB forces me to look beyond my presented to her often, “but I still did knowledged, “but I hope to use the ple and our environment. Integrity
As college retical math and physics behind it limited world and assist people living not have a good grasp of what it meant knowledge and experience I gain in is crucial in the engineering world.
sophomores all, but to be able to design and build in very difficult circumstances.” to be an engineer. I signed up for that engineering to solve critical problems There is always a great need for engi-
at Washington something for the people of Tulsa, in In addition to her work with EWB, first S.E.E. Week simply so that I could in the world. As a woman engineer, I neers who are passionate, knowledge-
University in the career that I am passionate about, Sarah also serves as a board member learn more about the different types of hope that I can help pave the way for able and working to contribute to the
St. Louis and is really special.” for the Society of Women Engineers engineering and determine if that field other women who enter the field in good of society. I want to be part of
the University So is volunteering as a mentor to at Wash U. “Cor Jesu taught me the would be a good fit for me. The experi- the future. that!”
–DHD

“... I hope to use the knowledge and experience I gain in engineering to solve critical problems in the world.” SPIRIT • SPRING 2016-17 19