Philadelphia Society of Women Engineers Sponsorship Information
Our History
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), founded in 1950, is a not-for-profit educational and service organization. SWE is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in those aspirations and be recognized for their life-changing contributions and achievements as engineers and leaders.
Mission
- Encourage women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders
- Expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life
- Demonstrate the value of diversity
Objectives
- Inform young women, their parents, counselors and the public in general of the qualifications and achievements of women engineers open to them
- Assist women engineers in readying themselves for a return to active work after temporary retirement
- Serve as a center of information on women in engineering
- Encourage women engineers to attain high levels of educational and professional achievement
SWE aims to provide opportunities for members to develop leadership and management skills to enable them to achieve their maximum potential and further their ability to attain increasingly important positions of responsibility. Also, SWE establishes programs to encourage girls and women to enter engineer and encourage members to attain high levels of achievement in their fields. SWE aims to increase visibility of SWE and its programs to members, the technical community and the general public. SWE develops programs to encourage and sustain increase participation in the fields of science and engineering reflective of our diverse population. Lastly, SWE additionally uses the Society’s resources for the purpose of supporting high quality programs and services to meet its goals.
Professional Development & Outreach Programs
Outreach Programs
The SWE Philadelphia Section is committed to the women and engineering communities we serve, and is pleased to be involved in worthy causes in those communities. The outreach team provides opportunities for students K-12 though the following events:
- Girl Scout Day
- Transition to College (T2C) Event
- Museum Group Tours
Feel free to contact the VP of Outreach (phila_outreach@swe.org) with any opportunities.
Annually, our section is involved in a number of recurring activities:
- Widener University High School Engineering Mini-Camp
- University of Pennsylvania GEARS (Girls in Engineering And Related Sciences) Day
- Philadelphia Science Carnival
- Philadelphia SWE Certificate of Merit Program
Scholarships
Every year the Philadelphia Section awards scholarships to provide financial assistance to full-time undergraduate or graduate students majoring in an engineering, engineering technology, or computer science discipline. The scholarship amounts have typically been $1000 or $2000 each. Previous winners of SWE Philadelphia Scholarships, SWE Headquarters, or other SWE scholarships are also eligible for this year’s awards.
The Philadelphia Section scholarship program provides tuition assistance to deserving applicants who identify as a woman and are enrolled in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) programs at a local university or college. The criteria for selection are science/math/engineering activities, teamwork, leadership, scholarship, and an essay on the student’s personal motivations for pursuing engineering. Judging will be conducted by members of the Scholarship Committee of the SWE Philadelphia section.
For a donation of $1000 or more, the scholarship award will be named after the donor. For more information on how to donate, please contact our Scholarship Chair at philaswescholarships@gmail.com.
For information on the scholarships that are offered by the Society on an international level, please see the Scholarships Webpage.
Thank you to Saint-Gobain for their generous donation of five scholarships for FY24!
Professional Development
In addition to participating in the community through the outreach program, the Philadelphia Professional Society of Women Engineers Section engages members through professional development workshops and events. Previous workshops have included the following:
- Obtaining a Professional Engineer License
- The Science Behind Personal Care Products
- Effective Networking
- Investment Strategies for Women
Companies in the area have provided speakers, facilities, and refreshments for these workshops in the past. While the focus should be on a topic of general interest to our membership, hosting a workshop can allow for your organization to network with our members.
In addition, corporate sponsors in the past have had the opportunity to lead a tour of their facility, such as a manufacturing site or community sites. This provides our members a behind-the-scenes look at the application of engineering and technology in various fields and industries.
If you would like to host a workshop or tour, please contact the vice president of professional development at phila_provdev@swe.org.
Thank you to KSM Technology Partners LLC, Pennoni Associates, Precision Systems, Inc and Urban Engineers for hosting our section at their facilities for events in FY19!
Conclusion
As a national nonprofit educational and service organization, SWE has supported women in engineering for over 50 years. SWE’s mission is to stimulate women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, to expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and to demonstrate the value of diversity. To that end, the Philadelphia section has planned several exciting events both for the professional development of our members, as well as for student outreach. Your sponsorship will go a long way in supporting these activities.
Additionally, partnering with SWE will allow you to:
- Showcase your organization as a diversity advocate
- Further your community outreach efforts
- Network with a pool of skilled, local engineering professionals
- Reach engineering students from area colleges and universities such as Temple, Drexel, University of Pennsylvania, Widener, Villanova, and more.
- Support the retention and advancement of women engineers in your organization
- Receive acknowledgement on our website and in the section newsletter
Engaging female students of all ages in math, science, and technology is one of the most important factors in creating tomorrow’s workforce. Similarly, supporting the development of female engineering professionals fosters diversity in today’s workforce. With these shared goals in mind, we are writing to encourage your company to partner with the Philadelphia section of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Your support will contribute greatly to our successful scholarship program and SWE-Philadelphia section activities, and we would especially appreciate your continued support of these programs.
As a national nonprofit educational and service organization, SWE has supported women in engineering for over 60 years. SWE’s mission is to stimulate women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, to expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and to demonstrate the value of diversity.
If you are interested in sponsoring the SWE Philadelphia Section, please email our treasurer at phila_treasurer@swe.org. For collaboration opportunities, please email either the Vice President of Outreach at phila_outreach@swe.org or the Vice President of Professional Development at phila_provdev@swe.org We greatly appreciate your consideration of our endeavors!
Thank you for your consideration!
