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Pie on
Ya
APEGGA President Ron Tenove,
P.Eng., takes
one in the face for the cause.
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The first of their kind at the University of
Alberta, celebratory activities took place to observe National
Engineering Week March 1-9. Not to be confused with the annual
engineering clubs' competition, held the second week back
from Christmas, this engineering week focused on, charity,
employment opportunities and general engineering awareness.
Activities of the week included multiple first-year nights
explaining available second year programs, an APEGGA tech
mixer, a mechanical engineering project display, an Engineers
Without Borders awareness day and the National p Throw, 2003.
National 
Throw 2003
Throwing pies at your best friends, your professors, and even
your employers to raise money for charity is by no means a
new initiative, but this is the first year for its occurrence
here at the U of A. Now a new initiative of the Canadian Federation
of Engineering Students to see this become a national event,
the pie throw raises money for local charities and increases
engineering pride - as you cover your friends with whipped
cream.
During a trip to the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students
Congress held in January, Wade Penner, Engineering Students'
Society events coordinator, learned of the benefits and successes
that the pie throw event earned at other universities, such
as the University of Calgary and the University of Victoria.
Seeing an annual event in the making, ESS and the Faculty
of Engineering teamed up to bring the National
Throw to the U of A.
The general idea was, if you wanted to send a pie to someone,
a donation of $10 was required. Then, the recipient was told
who sent the pie and was given four choices: take the pie
in the face for free; buy the pie for p3 dollars (about $31);
redirect the pie to someone else for $10; or choose not to
participate, as it was a volunteer event.
With about 40 people getting a pie in the face, 50 pies bought,
and 50 pies redirected, a total more than $1,000 was raised
for charity. This year, the money went to Habitat for Humanity
Edmonton, which helps needy families build their own homes
with volunteer labour and donated money and materials.
U of A engineering students can be proud because around half
of the total amount of money raised was from student involvement.
Two corporate entities also took part in this event: Focus
Corporation and the downtown Edmonton APEGGA office.
Among those who received a pie in the face were Wade Penner,
lead organizer of the pie throw, Kyle Kasawski, U of A recruitment
and student liaison officer, and Ron Tenove, P.Eng., president
of APEGGA and also an executive with Focus.
When asked what some expectations were for next year, Mr.
Penner explained to me that organizers want more involvement
from local companies. "We're looking to triple the amount
raised at least."
This year's results of the national pie throw have proven
promising, and so next year you better look out because the
pie throw will be coming to a business near you.
Engineers Without Borders Awareness
Day
Engineers Without Borders, which exists to help people in
developing communities gain access to technologies that will
improve their lives, held an awareness day during National
Engineering Week. One of the main events was Kangaroo Kourt,
held in the Students' Union Building.
Two cases were reviewed, each prosecuting a student and looking
into the resource wastefulness in the average Canadian's life.
The first dipped into the impact that each person has on the
environment, his or her "ecological footprint."
Though the student was found not guilty, each Canadian was
charged with over-consuming this world's short supply of natural
resources. This case delivered a pointed message of Canada's
need to find more efficient ways of using our quickly depleting
natural resources.
The second case was similar in its message, declaring the
need for Canadians to be more prudent in their consumption
of water.
MORE INFO
Videos of pie victims
www.ess.ualberta.ca/pithrow
Information on Habitat for Humanity Edmonton
www.HFH.org
Information on Engineers Without Borders
www.ualberta.ca/~ewbuofa/
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