CEF Debuts Virtual Student Programming

As Chicago families and college students settle into new stay-at-home routines during the ongoing COVID-19 situation, Chicago Engineers Foundation (CEF) developed opportunities to continue supporting the city’s next generation of engineers.

CEF Scholars, the organization’s scholarship award recipients, are adjusting to abruptly closed university campuses. They needed to leave dorms in the midst of the semester, with some now attending e-learning sessions, while others have unexpected downtime due to cancelled semesters. Many Scholars are also facing unemployment, with companies rescinding Summer internships and issuing hiring freezes.

From student surveys and feedback, Chicago Engineers Foundation introduced online career resources including:

Virtual networking nights to bring Scholars together with fellow students and engineering professionals.
A private LinkedIn group for CEF Scholars and volunteers (engineering professionals) to pose questions, share articles, and post position announcements.
Individualized job searches to help Scholars find internships and full-time engineering positions.
Online resume evaluations and mock interview sessions to prepare Scholars for upcoming interviews.
One-on-one mentoring sessions for students to speak with CEF volunteers about career aspirations and interests.

In addition to resources for Scholars, Chicago Engineers Foundation is scheduling virtual K-12 engineering presentations. Annually, CEF impacts up to 1,000 Chicago students via school visits to discuss engineering careers. These opportunities are now available online, offered to Chicago schools and organizations currently utilizing e-learning platforms. Engineering professionals volunteer their time to “meet” with student groups, virtually, to discuss engineering concepts and their own career paths. To schedule a virtual outreach presentation for K-12 students, contact Debbie Birrell, Executive Director, at [email protected].

Virtual programming is generously supported by the CEF donor community. To continue providing these important student programs, make a donation today.