The Office for Diversity Programs in the College of Engineering has created an organization that introduces middle and high school students to the field of engineering.
The organization, called the Diversity Ambassadors, comprises 31 students from diverse backgrounds and engineering disciplines.
“We’re a group of under-represented undergraduate and graduate students who want to go out into the community and introduce engineering to other under-represented kids,” said Vaneshette Henderson, coordinator of pre-college programs.
The Diversity Ambassadors visit Baton Rouge schools to speak about college success and teach kids about engineering through interactive demonstrations. They encourage women, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Asian Americans to pursue careers in engineering, Henderson said.
“We want to build a strong community outreach based here in the College of Engineering,” Henderson said.
Student volunteers want to build that foundation and give back to Baton Rouge, Henderson said.
“We really try to motivate [the kids] to go to the next level beyond high school and beyond college,” Henderson said.
The ambassadors began last semester after the Office for Diversity Programs conducted a survey sent to students in the College of Engineering. The survey asked students for ideas about what they wanted to see diversity programs accomplish.
“Several students mentioned they had a desire to go out into the community and to do community outreach activities,” Henderson said.
Henderson then pooled student responses and organized the Diversity Ambassadors.
“We try to promote diversity in engineering,” said chemical engineering junior Mollie Burke, who said she joined the ambassadors to get involved with the University and Baton Rouge communities.
Burke went to Istrouma High School in the spring and participated in a presentation about light optics, in which she helped students construct a flashlight out of tape and batteries.
The Diversity Ambassadors “try to make the experience fun” for the kids, Burke said.
To introduce chemical and biological engineering, the Diversity Ambassadors help the students make colored silly putty. To introduce civil engineering and construction management, the ambassadors help the students construct bridges made of gumdrops and toothpicks.
“I’m very excited about this school year,” Burke said, “We have more events and schools visit.”
Scotlandville Magnet High School, McKinley Middle Magnet School and Istrouma High School are among schools the Diversity Ambassadors plan to visit soon.
The Diversity Ambassadors gave a presentation at Scotlandville Pre-Engineering Middle Magnet Academy on Oct. 29.
High school students “have a better connection with someone who is younger, and you can see [their] comfort level and interest” rise, Henderson said.
 
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Contact Julian Tate at [email protected]