Engineering week marked at Grambling - KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

GRAMBLING, La., (KNOE 8 News) - The Grambling State University College of Engineering held its 10th annual Clayton A. Wiley "Engineering Week" this week.

About 100 students from Ruston High School, Jonesboro High School and Carroll High School attended a day of creative brainstorming and competitions involving mechanical puzzles, electrical circuit design, bridge building design and a poster competition. Winners from each school received awards, even cash.

The event honors Wiley, one of the founding members of the engineering department during the early 1950s. He was known as a student-oriented professor, and was responsible for the design of many buildings on campus. University Provost Connie Walton joined engineering graduate Eric Bowie and Tyrone Harris, owner of Harris Construction, each providing encouraging words. The day ended with a reception, including a hot buffet of catfish, a vegetable medley, green beans, rice pilaf and butter baked apple pie.

Daron Spence, president of the university's National Society of Black Engineers chapter, added that he wants to see these students again, getting them interested in science, engineering, technology and math (STEM) research by exposing them to different aspects of science.

Lots of university students know the face and name of Johnny Patterson, who leads a lot of career services efforts. Many don't know he was an engineer before he became a key student advisor, counselor and mentor to many as director of career services on campus. He was recognized for his contributions to the Department of Engineering, and he was lauded with gratitude for helping students succeed and numerous contributions.