Cal Poly’s Society of Women Engineers chapter won it’s third consecutive Outstanding Collegiate Section Gold award last month.
Samantha Sullivan
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Cal Poly has an outstanding Society of Women Engineers (SWE) chapter, according to the SWE National Conference.
Last month, the chapter won the Outstanding Collegiate Section Gold Award for the third year in a row, and for the 10th time since 2002.
Chapter President Jessica Klemme, an environmental engineering senior, said Cal Poly SWE holds itself to a higher standard than other schools. They also expect to win.
“We get really nervous, like, ‘I really hope it’s not going to be my year that we lose it,’” Klemme said. “You’re sure, you’re confident, but there’s always that, ‘But what if?’”
Additionally, Helene Finger, the chapter’s advisor and director of women engineering programs, was recognized as the Outstanding SWE Counselor in the nation at the conference.
The Cal Poly SWE Team Tech received an honor this year as well, taking third place for its pharmaceutical recovery and rescue project, working with industry partner Mazetti Nash Lipsey Burch, according to a press release.
SWE currently has about 44 officers and 324 paid members. This past year, Klemme said, approximately 20 percent of the membership was made up of men. Members only have to support women in engineering to be a part of the chapter, she said.