Student Career TREK
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
What is it?
The College of Engineering and Physical Sciencese is proud to support the Student
Career
TREK program. Career
TREKs connect current students with prominent UW alumni and provide opportunities to see
business and industry in action.
TREKs include company site visits, networking with UW alumni, and travel to various locations
in the U.S. to learn about engineering and applied science work and career opportunities
from an insider’s perspective - that of UW graduates and professionals in the work
world. Each
TREK spans three or four days, depending upon location and city-of-departure. The traveling
group generally consists of several CEPS students, a UW Foundation representative,
and CEPS faculty/staff members for an overall group of no more than 14. Small groups
allow for more direct conversations at site meetings and alumni dinners, easier access
into company buildings for tours, and modes of transportation.
Participation
As each
TREK is arranged, a “Call for Applications” is sent via email to all students in the CEPS
and to faculty/staff to announce in classes/programs. Students generally have two
weeks to complete an application essay and follow the directions put forth in the
“Call” announcement. Applications received before the deadline are reviewed by a
TREK selection committee and selected students are notified
within a couple days of the committee meeting. Selected students are required to attend
a pre-
TREK meeting to meet fellow TREKker’s and learn as much about the
TREK as is available at the time of the meeting. All participants are fully expected to
maintain professional behavior while on the trip and to dress in business-casual attire.
Although the trip is FREE to students, a $250 deposit (check/money order/cash) is
required at the time of the meeting to show overall commitment to the travel experience;
and, students should plan to bring some personal pocket-money for their own needs
or when open time occurs. Deposits are fully refunded once students show-up the day
of travel. For more information, email Ann Jones at
aljones@uwyo.edu.
Past TREKs
(2) San Jose/Silicon Valley, Calif.: Site visits to Twitter, AutoDesk, NASA, J. Lohr
Vineyard & Winery, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Google, Safeway, Computer
Science Museum; and breakfast/lunch/dinner with alums from Electa, and Apple
(2) Houston, Texas: Site visits to Hess, BP, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, ExxonMobil;
and reception/dinner with alums from BP, Marathon, and Noble Energy
Upcoming TREK
The September 2017
TREK group will go to Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla., to learn about a variety of industries,
including visits with Devon Energy, Chesapeake Energy, Baker Hughes-GE, Williams
Companies, and UW alums from Continental Resources. It is likely another
TREK will be organized for January 2018, prior to classes beginning Jan. 22.
What Students Are Saying About Student Career TREK
“There are some amazing people who came from our university. We only saw a handful
of graduates, but the few we saw held employment in many large and successful companies.
I got so much value out of the short conversations with alumni. The time these people
gave and the willingness they had to help was invaluable to me." - Jacob Streett, senior computer science major
"I found the trip to be very beneficial because it provided me with insight into the
oil industry. I also learned about the applications of my field and the proposed applications
of Artificial Intelligence in the oil industry. I am really glad that I got to interact
with UW alumni and gained insight of the work atmosphere in general. It served as
a great opportunity to build networks and improve on my networking skills." - Aisha Balogun, freshman computer engineering major
"At the end of this, I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity I had to really
get a look into a world I had previously not considered. I thoroughly enjoyed the
amount of time the alumni were willing to give us undergraduates. I couldn't have
asked for better hosts, or been surrounded by better classmates and chaperones. This
was an excellent trip." - Megan Richter, senior mechanical engineering major
"As a future alumnus, this experience was great because it allowed me to see successful
and influential UW alumni. It is an elite crowd that remain in contact with the university
and maintaining that alumni relationship gives people the opportunity to stay connected
within the UW community. I think there is lots of value in that relationship and it
is inspiring to meet these people who have been very successful in many different
ways." - William (Sandy) Duncan, M.S. student in chemical engineering with minors in math and
computer science
