9:09 a.m., Nov. 11, 2010----Michelle Oswald, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Delaware, has received the 2010 Outstanding Collegiate Student Award from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).

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The award was presented at the Annual Conference for Women Engineers (WE10) held Nov. 4-6 in Orlando, Fla.

Candidates for the student award are selected based upon their leadership activities and contributions to SWE, the engineering community and their campus.

Leading by example

As a student member of SWE since 2003, Oswald has worked to strengthen and improve opportunities for women in engineering. She is currently a regional collegiate SWE senator and serves on the SWE National Conference Planning Board and the SWE Collegiate Interest Committee. She also served as treasurer and president for a student SWE chapter.

One of the most valuable experiences gained from participation in SWE, Oswald says, was the opportunity to introduce Brownie Girl Scout troops to the field of engineering.

“Activities such as building towers out of marshmallows and dried pasta ignited my desire to become an engineering teacher and adviser for women in engineering,” she explains.

In addition to her SWE activities at UD, Oswald is currently chair of UD's Women in Engineering (WIE) graduate advisory committee, which plans and executes activities, events and workshops for engineering graduate students, especially women. In this new role, she bridges the relationship between SWE and WIE by organizing activities that promote interaction between graduate and undergraduate students.

Pam Cook, associate dean in the College of Engineering and professor of mathematical sciences, describes Oswald as energetic and efficient. “Her enthusiasm and 'can do' attitude are infectious. She is an excellent woman in engineering role model for younger students and she is highly deserving of this award,” says Cook.

During the WE10 conference, Oswald was selected as a finalist for a poster presentation entitled “Getting Graduate Students Involved! - Women in Engineering Graduate Advisory Committee.”

“I hope to pursue a career in academia as a professor in civil engineering so that I may provide other women the same opportunity and support I was given through the Society of Women Engineers,” says Oswald.

About SWE

SWE is a not-for-profit educational and service organization dedicated to empowering women to succeed and advance as engineers and leaders.

Article by Karen B. Roberts