Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. -- Students from area high schools will soon get an inside look at the engineering profession as the Arnold Engineering Development Complex, or AEDC, prepares to host its long‑standing Engineer-For-A-Day event on Feb. 25.
The event will include a tour of the base and working alongside base engineers for a day mentorship. This day’s event is in conjunction with Engineers Week, which will take place from Feb. 24-26, with events planned at both the base and with the University of Tennessee Space Institute.
Aligned with National Engineers Week, the three-day celebration is hosted in partnership with UTSI, local educators and engineering professionals, and aims to inspire the next generation of innovators through immersive STEM experiences.
Now in its third year since being revitalized, the event series continues to grow in participation and impact. Event organizer and retired AEDC engineer Paul Kelly said the momentum is driven by strong community collaboration and a shared commitment to cultivating future engineers.
“In this third year of bringing these events back to life, I am proud of the involvement of so many people to make these events happen,” he said. “We have Air Force civilians, contractor employees, UTSI personnel and grad students, retired engineers, and members of the Hands-On Science Center all working together to make them happen. We also have received good support from the area schools. The science teachers and guidance counselors tell us that they are excited to be able to send students to activities like these. I hope that we continue them in the future and continue to have interest and involvement from the students.”
According to the UTSI website, the week begins with the Student Design Competition on Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at UTSI. High school students in grades 10 to 12 from Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Lincoln, Moore and Warren counties will compete in two-person teams.
Kelly added that participants will not know the design challenge ahead of time. Instead, they will spend the morning designing, building and testing their creations before breaking for lunch. In the afternoon, teams will put their designs to the test in a scored competition, with prizes awarded to the top three teams.
On Wednesday, Feb. 25, students in grades 11 and 12 will experience a day in the life of an engineer through the Engineer-for-a-Day program. The day begins at 7 a.m. at AEDC, where students will be welcomed by the commander or a designated representative before participating in a panel discussion and touring key AEDC facilities.
After lunch at Café 100, students will meet their assigned mentors — engineers and technical professionals who will guide them through an afternoon of job shadowing. Some students will remain on base, while others will follow their mentors to offsite work locations.
According to Kelly, the goal is to give students a realistic, inspiring look at engineering careers.
“I hope the students take away an enhanced interest in engineering as a field of study in college and as a career opportunity,” he said. “Most of the students that take part in these activities are already looking at engineering for their college studies and for a career option. I hope that they can get some questions answered and their interest in engineering piqued.”
UTSI’s website stated that the week’s events conclude on Thursday, Feb. 26, with the Engineers Week Banquet at the UTSI Dining Hall from 5:30-8 p.m. The evening will feature a buffet dinner, recognition of student participants and a keynote address from Janet Ivey of Janet’s Planet, known for her award-winning educational work in science and space exploration.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for students.
As Engineers Week continues to expand, Kelly said he and the event organizers remain focused on fostering meaningful connections between students and the engineering community.
“I am proud of the involvement of so many people to make these events happen,” the organizer emphasized. “I hope that we continue them in the future and continue to have interest and involvement from the students.”
Sponsors of the event include AEDC, Southern Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers, the Tennessee Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, UTSI, the Hands-On Science Center of Tullahoma, and the AFSTEM program.
To reserve tickets for the Engineers Week Banquet, contact Paul Kelly at pgkelly2011@gmail.com.