I think we can all agree: We need to recruit more students into the metalcasting programs at our network of FEF colleges and universities. We need to keep the pipeline fully stocked with future employees. But how do we do that? How can we show potential students what they have to look forward to if they choose one of our engineering programs, and ultimately, metalcasting as their vocation? 

Here’s an idea.

Each April, Alan Druschitz, FEF Key Professor at Virginia Tech, and his students, participate in the VA Tech Women’s Preview Weekend. 

Women’s Preview Weekend is an event for students who have been offered admission to the College of Engineering––they are invited to visit the campus and make an informed decision about attending Virginia Tech. Last year, about 150 future students took advantage of the event to meet current students and faculty and get a first-hand look at the school and its metalcasting program. 

At the weekend dinner event this year, Professors Druschitz and Whittington and MSE undergrad student, Victoria Rambo, spoke with seven young women who were interested in chemical engineering and materials science and engineering. The students asked questions about what chemical and materials engineers do and what the program at Virginia Tech was like. According to Druschitz, “They liked the idea of hands-on classes and the potential for doing undergraduate research.” 

The following day, five VA Tech students (Rambo, Nikki Powell, Lily Coussens, Helen Murray, and Ashley Lacy) hosted 18 female high school students at the foundry. After watching a short MSE and metalcasting presentation, the high schoolers made scratch plate molds, watched as the molds were poured in gray iron, and then finished their castings. After spending time with the VA Tech students, the young people mentioned how “impressed they were with the knowledge and skills” that the college students demonstrated.

“When I first started in Materials Science and Engineering, I didn’t even know metalcasting existed—I initially wanted to work with polymers,” said Lacy. “But after just one day in my first metalcasting lab, I quickly changed my focus, and I’ve never looked back.” 

Lacy wanted to participate in this event because it exposes students to metalcasting earlier in their academic journey. “The high school students seemed to really enjoy the event, especially when it came to pouring the scratch plates,” she added. “You could see the amazement in their eyes, which is exactly what first drew me to metalcasting. Seeing their excitement and getting to show them what opportunities were available to them was incredibly rewarding.”

Events like these are just some of the methods that FEF professors and students use to help make sure younger students are aware of the opportunities in metalcasting. Druschitz reported that they usually gain at least two female students as a result of the Women’s Preview Weekend and at least one female student due to the College of Engineering Freshman Research Seminar. Although adding three students to a program doesn’t sound impressive, that is an increase of 8%. Imagine if all 37 FEF schools were able to increase their student base by 8% for each incoming class!