TRIO SSS Student of the Month-December 2012: Kyle Heltemes

We congratulate Kyle Heltemes on being Trio Student of the Month for December 2012. Kyle was nominated for this honor because of his hard work and dedication to his courses, his use of the Trio program's advising and campus visits, and his dedication to figuring out what he would like to do for a career.

With Kyle’s strong GPA and rigorous courseload, he has proven to be a strong student through dedication and resourcefulness, makes good use of tutoring, and has good communication with his instructors.

Kyle plans a career with Electrical Engineering, which he has always been interested in, or Computer Networking, a newer interest. Whichever path he chooses, we are confident in his success. Congratulations, Kyle, on being Trio Student Support Services’ Student of the Month. We wish you all the best in your continued success, and we look forward to continuing to work with you throughout your educational journey.

I Want To Be An Engineer---Just for the Hat

What is an engineer?

This person could be someone who drives a train...but for a short definition, an engineer is someone who uses math and science to invent things and solve problems.

If you enjoy a lot of math and science and solving problems, engineering might be a good career path for you. Through middle and high school, it's suggested that you take plenty of math and science courses, that is, more than you are required to, in addition to building design, pre-algebra, geometry, chemistry, and any courses in engineering concepts that might be offered. Challenge yourself with puzzles. You can also seek out opportunities to explore engineering when you are off school in summers and weekends. Internships can be helpful to be sure that engineering is for you.

Here are some engineering careers:

Aerospace--these engineers design spacecraft including all systems within a spacecraft. They may also design satellites.

Architectural--these engineers design buildings and the systems that help run them, such as heating and cooling, electrical, water, lighting, and safety.

Bioengineers--help find ways to prevent or cure diseases by manipulating the way cells work.

Civil--these engineers work for communities, helping to make sure the infrastructure is safe and up-to-date, making sure the community's drinking water is safe, as well as city planning and roads. Civil engineers can help plan transit systems and plan for traffic control as well.

Computer--this type of engineer may work on new programming, computer games, problem-solving, and also fraud.

Speaking of problem-solving, check out this video...in the end, it's a commercial...but the process is what is fascinating to watch:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+engineering&mid=FB5A7CBB4F79BC3E99C9FB5A7CBB4F79BC3E99C9&view=detail&FORM=VIRE6

And what about this one involving getting an egg from one place to another: How creative would you be?

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+video+engineering+egg&view=detail&mid=59607FBB064C9F90594559607FBB064C9F905945&first=0&FORM=NVPFVR

Electrical--this type of engineer designs and helps build electrical systems.

Industrial--this type of engineer would help a manufacturer find the best ways to produce a product. He or she may design a robotic device, a machine to produce a part, or a way to reduce pollution at a manufacturing plant, as examples.


Nuclear--this type of engineer makes sure that nuclear energy is safe.

Check out this video, with people working in the engineering field---it has everything from wind power, automobile design, Disney World, Hershey's, and hospital technology, to NASA. (It is a marketing video, but it will open your eyes to the many careers you could have in engineering)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMbJuTlajsw

Colleges in Minnesota offering engineering courses include: University of MN-Twin Cities; Winona State University; St Cloud State University, St Thomas University, and Bemidji State University. Check out what types of engineering are offered at these and other colleges by calling or visiting their websites.

If you have other questions about a career in engineering, check out this website for interviews with both working engineers and students of engineering for their words of advice:

http://www.tryengineering.org/life.php?page=meet_engineers

The Good Old Days??

In 1913......


The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.

Fuel for cars was sold in drug stores only.

Only 14 percent of homes had a bathtub.

Only 8 percent of homes had a telephone.

There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.

The average US wage in 1910 was 22 cents per hour.

The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000

per year, A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian
between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical

engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95 percent of all births took place at home.

Ninety percent of all doctors had no college education.

Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard.' In a small town, a veterinarian might also be the town doctor for humans, as well as the dentist, even though he or she had no such training. In the past, frequently, the town barber was also the dentist.

Sugar cost four cents a pound.  Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.  

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.

The Five leading causes of death were:  1. Pneumonia and influenza

2. Tuberculosis 3. Diarrhea  4. Heart disease  5. Stroke.

The American flag had 45 stars.

The population of Las Vegas , Nevada , was 30.

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't  been invented yet.

There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores.

Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'.

The infant mortality rate then was 15%. That means for every 100 births, 15 of those children would not live to the age of 5. 100 years later, the infant mortality rate is .8% (less than one percent).

18 percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.

There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A.

  The next time someone says "those were the good old days," you may want to stop and think about that. Were they?