April 10, 2024 by Dave Sulli CMfgE, San Diego Chapter 44, Newsletter Editor, Treasurer March 2, 2024 at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CAAbout two months prior to the festival, I received an email from Howard Chan of Generation STEAM & Biocom CA Institute. Howard invited our chapter to present to the thousands of students and parents who were expected to attend this all-day event which would feature schools, organizations, and companies. Once our chapter officers accepted, I proceeded to spread the word to schools and an organization (Uplift San Diego that provides volunteer tutoring services) for which I volunteer on a weekly basis. In turn, the director of Uplift SD informed parents of students being tutored. We were certainly headed for a massive crowd experience, and it turns out that SME Chapter 44 was most likely the only organization participating in this event that paired with a team of high school students. How did this happen? Last year, I started contacting STEM-class high school teachers to offer my presentation on Manufacturing Engineering and SME, what is it like to be a Manufacturing Engineer, from education/certifications, salary and typical tasks to so much more. Of the five or so high school teachers I emailed, one replied. Perhaps my mention of our kids having graduated from this school had something to do with my receiving the response. Dawn Hester is an AP Physics teacher who also heads up a robotics class and other STEM-related classes at Westview High School in San Diego. She not only invited me to show my Powerpoint presentation, but she also gave me a tour of their facilities. I was very impressed with what I saw – 3D printers, mills and lathes (manual and CNC), drill presses, band saws and cobots. When I emailed Dawn about the upcoming festival, she suggested that some of her students join me and our co-chair so that they could demonstrate their robot arena and launcher machine. Her team emailed me, shortly thereafter. Our plans included many details about what they should do and have on the morning of the event. The day of the event proceeded exceptionally well. When I arrived, three of the high school students were already there, setting up their side of the table. I asked them to describe to me what they would demonstrate, then I proceeded to describe to them all the brochures/flyers and manufacturing-related items I brought. The lead student offered to take over our side of the table, should we need to temporarily leave for lunch. An additional five students would fill in for the initial three, when needed.Often, parents and their kids of all ages would start at the “high school end” and proceed to the SME end. I printed at least 40 sets of SME cards and by the end of the day, the majority were in the hands of attendees. The number of people at this event was incredibly high, and chapter secretary and chair-elect Alan Douglas and I were amazed at how interested these attendees were in technology and manufacturing. Having youth to attract youth is a key that we often do not have. Strive to find your key. I guarantee that your efforts will bear much “fruit”.
