SSOE Group to Welcome a Dozen High School Students for Annual “Engineer for a Day” Event

Update February 18, 2025: Due to school cancelations resulting from inclement weather, this event was unable to take place.

TOLEDO, Ohio, February 17, 2025 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm, is set to host a dozen students from Port Clinton and Van Buren high schools on Tuesday, February 18, as part of the nationwide Engineers Week. Focused on promoting entry into the engineering profession, Engineers Week takes place from February 16-22, 2025, and aims to inspire interest in engineering and technology careers and address the STEM talent shortage.

During their visit to SSOE’s world headquarters in Toledo, Ohio, students will engage in the “Engineer for a Day” program from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST. The day begins with a luncheon at The University of Toledo College of Engineering, followed by hands-on activities at SSOE. Students will delve into various engineering disciplines, participate in team-building exercises, and discover the journey to becoming an engineer, all while envisioning a potential future with SSOE.

Vince DiPofi, PE, CEO of SSOE, will kick off the event with opening remarks. Next, John Colley, PE, Senior Electrical Engineer, will lead a session titled “Let’s Build a Motor,” demonstrating the principles of electromagnetism and the motor effect.

The program will then proceed with an overview of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), presented by Lauren Collier, Director of Project Technology, and Mark LaBell, VDC Practice Group Lead. Students will engage in a LEGO exercise to understand the benefits of VDC, comparing traditional 2D building methods with 3D models using virtual reality.

The day will conclude with the activity, “Construct a Building Frame,” led by Kevin Brisbin, BIM / CAD Technical Specialist, and José Arnal de la Peña, Structural Engineering. Students will work in groups to build structures using household items that will then be tested for stability in a faux seismic test.

Additionally, students will learn about SSOE’s Student Co-op / Internship Program, which offers college students valuable work experience, competitive wages, and college credits. Over the past five years, SSOE has transitioned hundreds of interns into full-time positions across the U.S.

SSOE is also a Platinum Sponsor of Engineers Week, supporting various program costs, including student lunches, administrative expenses, speaker fees, scholarships, and more.