< About us

2015 – Website is migrated to the headquarters format.

2014 – “SWE-SD is Making Connections, Building Alliances, Engaging the San Diego STEM Community”.  Grew to 270+ members with 750 on distribution. Held 5 Outreach Programs, 17 Member Events, Fellow Alice Anderson turned 100.

2013 – Region Conference held in San Diego. Section grows to 200 members.  Sandi Wong McKellips chairs Engineers Week San Diego.

2012 - Leia Guccione wins the San Diego Science Alliance Volunteer of the Year for chairing the STEP-UP (Service Through Engineering Program) for SWE San Diego. Sandi Wong McKellips wins the Engineers Week San Diego Outstanding Service Award from the San Diego County Engineers Council. Chris Deckard wins the Girl Scouts Thanks Badge Service Award. Debra Kimberling becomes a SWE Fellow.

2011 – SWE SD reinvigorates the “Open House” concept introducing the new fiscal year officers, committee chairs and their goals and plans. Event was hosted by SDG&E.  San Diego City College hosted its first “STEM Academe for Success” (With Sandi Wong McKellips, Leia Guccione).

2010 – Section wins Society bid to host “Wow! That’s Engineering” with 300 middle school girls and a separate 120 attendee parents program. First Book Club. First behind the scenes tour of the USS Midway bringing in several past officers, Moms and their daughters to tour along.

2006 – 25th Anniversary Celebration brought in SWE dignitary, Fran Stocking (Region Governor) as keynote. SWE SD gave out SWE pins commemorating our 25th anniversary.  Elizabeth Zureic chair's the Engineers Week San Diego banquet.  Heather Kane, Raytheon WIN found and SWE Speaker Bureau Chair, wins the Engineers Week Outstanding Service Award from the San Diego County Engineering Council.

2005 – Region B Conference “SWE by the Sea” held in San Diego March 3-6, 2005 at Handlery Hotel. Vi Brown (Society President) was keynote speaker. San Diego students Renee Tagulao (USD) and Susie Martinez Kirkland (SDSU) co-chaired the event. On the board were Nancy Huelsmann – treasurer, Jheswin Montoya – activities, Joan Fisher – tours, Adrianna Zammit – Corporate, Christine Nishiyama – Career Fair, Lisa Mesia – speakers, Carolyn DeGuzman – Registration.

2002 – First large scale hands-on girl centric engineering outreach program called “Engineering Egypt” held; led by co-chairs Karen May Newman and Nancy Dewees. Major funding from local companies including Qualcomm, Cymer, Hewlett Packard, Raytheon, Exxon Mobil, and Solar Turbines/CAT raised $10k for the Industry Outreach Partnership.

2002 – SWE San Diego participates in Expanding Your Horizons; the new girl centric hands out outreach event for 6th through 12th grade girls.  Laura Meldrum wins the Engineers Week Outstanding Service Award from the San Diego County Engineering Council for her efforts in SWE and BEWiSE (Better Education for Women in Sciences and Engineering).

2001 – Industry Outreach Partnership established with a $5k grant from Caterpillar & Solar Turbines. Karen May-Newman, Ph.D, Chair, wins the Engineers Week Outstanding Service Award from the San Diego County Engineering Council for establishing the SWE Industrial Outreach Program.

1997 – First website – Established by Louise Julig

1996 – SWE San Diego HOTLINE established to allow members to call in and find out about current section events.  First Student Leadership Summit held with all four local San Diego SWE Sections in attendance.

1996 – 42 Participating companies in the Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund. Larson Memorial Scholarship Fund was awarded.

1996 – Section Membership was at 145.  Over 24% of members were Electrical, 22% Civil, 14% Mechanical, 11% Computer Software, 9% Industrial/Manufacturing, 6% Environmental, 3% Chemical, 3% Structural, 1% Aerospace, 6% Non-Technical. 3% Retired.

1994 – SWE SD recognized nationally with the “Best Overall Continuing Development” program for large sections (over 100 members).  Section membership was 127.

1993 – The first Civil Engineer joins SWE San Diego as an officer. She later became president and inspired the Civil Engineering Scholarship fund

1993 – Awarded 58 Certificates to 38 High Schools and 20 Junior High Schools. Sponsored an all-day seminar with an expert in Workplace Diversity (Martin Cano).

1992 – The Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund was established by section past president, Andi Corrao, by joining 15 local civil engineering firms with the SWE San Diego scholarship program to award $3k to three civil engineering students. Founding members were Barrett Consulting, Boyle Engineering, Brown & Caldwell, Camp Dresser & McKee, Corrao Group, Dudek & Assoc, Engineering-Science, HYA Consulting, John Powell & Assoc, Lee & Ro Consulting, Malcolm Pirnie, Montgomery Watson, Ninyo & Moore, Pountney & Assoc, RBF/Shoulders & Sanford. Barbara Hernly chairs Engineers Week San Diego.

1991 – San Diego broke national records when it hosted its first society Conference with over 200 people in attendance. Conference Co-Chair was Alice Anderson (San Diego) and Sharon Cascadden (Orange County). Alice became a fellow in 1993.

1991 – SWE San Diego earns the right to two Section Representatives as a large section. Section bylaws were approved to include two vice presidents: VP of Member Services and VP of Student Services. Open House sets a new record with 70 in attendance. First student of many successful nominations is accepted to the US Space Camp.

1990 – First year for awarding “Certificate of Achievement” to Junior High School Students. Certificates of Achievement are awarded to three students at each participating junior high in recognition for their interest and potential to excel in math and science. Introduced the theme “Just Do It” complete with motivational t-shirts and awards. Section membership 110 earning the right to be defined as a ‘large section’ the following year.  Open House established to introduce the new officers, committee chairs, their goals and plans.

1989 – Sales of “SWE Kool Kan” Wraps begin

1988 – Section membership was 62

1987 – Tour of the San Onofre Power Plant. UCSD Hosted the Sonora Region Conference. First scholarship awarded to high school students.

1986 – Tour of the Water Utilities Aquaculture Facility. Started the Speakers Bureau program. Hosted the Joint A-B Region Meeting. Bid planning begins to host the 1991 SWE National Conference.

1985 – SWE led the National Engineers Week Banquet with 450 people in attendance. Keynote speaker was Katherine Sullivan – first female astronaut to walk on the moon. Barbara Hernley chaired the event.

1985 – Began the “Certificate of Merit” program awarding 117 certificates to 42 local high schools for their merit in math and science. Region B becomes the “Sonora” Region. Section membership was 51.

1984 – Tour of the US Navy destroyer USS Fife.

1983 – First outreach program begun by Laura Meldrum; SWE gave out its first SWE awards to the local Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair winners.

1982 – June 12th – SWE San Diego County Section is Chartered with a membership of 24. First Corporate Sponsors were General Dynamics / Convair Division, ITT Defense Communications Division, SDG&E

1979 – Local San Diegans start the process of organizing a new section. Our founding members held monthly meetings, social events, and science fair judging. First banquet was during a Region Conference at UCSD.