ASME President Speaks at Grain Valley High School

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2010 – The president ofASME today delivered a talk at Grain Valley High School in Missouri, promoting the rewards of an engineering career and inspiring students to play a role in meeting the pressing challenges facing the nation and the world.

Amos E. Holt, Ph.D., made a 90-minute presentation, in which the mechanical engineer discussed the career outlook for engineers and outlined the opportunities for the high school students to be tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, visionaries, and contributors to the social good.

“Learn and lead,” said Holt to the assembly of about 150 students and faculty. “Be curious.”

The presentation, titled “Engineering the World You Want,” covered the skills and aptitude that the coming generation of engineers will require for success in the field and also to exert a meaningful impact in the areas of energy development, transportation, and water management.

Invoking the names of U.S. Senator Edward Kaufman, New York Yankees baseball manager Joe Girardi, and other public figures with degrees inengineering, Holt said engineers are men and women who “make a difference” and “turn ideas into reality.”

ASME is committed to developing the future engineering workforce and advocates programs that steer young people to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). ASME, along with other groups, believes that an increase in STEM education will spur innovation and economic competitiveness.

In the speech at Grain Valley High, Holt outlined the industries and businesses that employ engineers, including those in the Kansas City area. “Kansas City is a world-class engineering hub and home to companies such as Black and Veatch, Sprint Nextel, and TranSystems Corp,” he said.

Beyond Kansas City, said Holt, a primary challenge for engineers is global sustainable development and meeting the essential needs of people at the base of the world’s economic pyramid.

Amos Holt is vice president of Environmental, Safety and Quality Systems for Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas. He is a technical expert in the areas of nondestructive evaluation and advanced engineering materials.

About ASME ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.

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ASME Contact: John Varrasi varrasij@asme.org or 212.591.8158

Media contact: Regina Nisita rnisita@affectstrategies.com or 212.398.9680 ext 145