Engineering Students Spend Spring Break Learning About Employment Opportunities

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Back row, left to right: Derrick Echoles, College of Engineering Student Services Specialist, Brian Henderson, Joseph Cebuhar, Trenton Thompson, Julio Rayo, Jesse Pipkin, Heng Du. Middle row: Mihir Kulkarni, Christine McAlpine, America Sotero. Front row: Ailton da Sailva, Mohammad Fouad Qureshi, Moises Guerra-Garcia, Wisam Siddiqui

The University of Arkansas College of Engineering hosted its first-ever Alternative Spring Break Trip March 24-26. The all-expense-paid trip included four company visits across Arkansas and an evening at a Grizzlies basketball game in Memphis.

Brian Henderson, director of employer relations, took 13 students to visit Acxiom and Garver headquarters in Little Rock, and the headquarters of Nucor Steel and Tenaris in Blytheville. The students, who are studying biological, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, learned about the companies’ divisions, positions and majors they seek to hire. “The purpose was to connect employers and students,” said Henderson. “It’s very beneficial for our students to look at companies before they apply for internships and jobs.”

“The trip was a really beneficial experience for me as I had never toured a company before,” said Wisam Siddiqui, a junior studying mechanical engineering. “It really gave me insight on what an actual job as a mechanical engineer could be like.”

Tenaris, a corporate sponsor for the college, helped fund the trip. As a corporate sponsor, Tenaris supports the professional development of engineering students through activities and programs such as the Alternative Spring Break company visits.

Henderson hopes to make Alternative Spring Break an annual trip. College of Engineering students can follow the E2 series for more information about company tours and networking events in the fall.