VP External Nominations: Matt

Hello, my name is Matt Mitchell.

I’m a 2B Mechatronics Engineering student, and I am running for the position of VP External of the Engineering Society. What I believe is the most important role of your VP Ex is outreach and charities activities. As your VP External, there are a few tasks I would like to accomplish:

• Expand charity events to be more enjoyable for all students
• Improve the public opinion of Waterloo Engineering students by publicizing our outreach and charity efforts
• Better utilize connections with industry and Professional Engineers Ontario to create networking and career opportunities
• Establish a faculty co-curricular program to recognize extracurricular volunteer work on student teams, charity events, etc.
• Provide resources to encourage student innovation such as PEO/Industry mentor workshops & development of a knowledge library

Not everyone is passionate about outreach, but there are events and services we can run or offer that help the community and YOU! The new Engineering a Difference program is an excellent example of this, offering side projects to improve the community and build your technical skills and resume. Better publicizing of these and other charity efforts will help improve our reputation significantly within the community and make Waterloo Engineering students stand out as the best in Canada. Other events such as technical workshops with PEO or industry mentors will also build your skills and potentially create job connections.

In the past, I have been both the EngSoc and Frosh Week Charities Director where I organized several successful charity events. I was also the Shadow Day Director when we reformed the program to the new structure and began the initial phases of the Engineering Ambassador Program with the Outreach Commissioner. I also have several terms experience working in the EngSoc office and have held many other directorships including POETS Manager and Genius Bowl this term. As far as the very basic duty of attending conferences, I have attended PEO-SC 2011, CFES Congress 2012, and ESSCO AGM 2012, so I’m quite familiar with those procedures.

Many students spend their valuable hours outside of class working hard on a student team or volunteering on campus. A co-curricular program recognized by the faculty will be a way to reward students for their extra dedication and to stand out among career candidates. It’s one thing to get passing grades, but to spend 20 hours a week on a student team and get the same marks is an accomplishment that deserves recognition.

If you have any questions about my experience or platform, stop me in the halls or email me at mrmitche@uwaterloo.ca.

Improve your student life with outreach that makes a difference to the community and YOU! Vote Matt Mitchell for EngSoc VP External between November 3rd and 6th.