I am pleased to report on my first “visit with our students” that I promised at the Student Summit in October. When Justin Stepanchick – chair of Virginia Tech section suggested to Chesapeake chair Paul Cojeen that the Section’s regular technical meeting on Tuesday, December 6 could also be used as a road trip to Washington – for a student event – I agreed immediately to join their event. In spite of a snowstorm on the East Coast on Monday night, the meeting happened, and what an excellent session it was!!

The event started just after 4:00. Introductions included ASNE Executive Director, Dennis Kruse (Dennis was filling in for ASNE President Rick Hepburn, who was not able to attend, as he was sick), and Justin Stepanchick, Chair of the VPI&SU Section, and Midn 1/C Drew Perciballi, Chair of the Naval Academy Section. One never knows how an interactive group meeting will turn out, but this went very well; it was a truly interactive conversation. There were 16 students and the same numbers from Chesapeake and ASNE Flagship sections.

You will have read about Matt Unger, the chair of the SSC (Student Steering Committee) and the Student Summit he organized on Saturday morning in Houston. All of us who attended that session are now focused on the student member / retention / benefits issues. One of the suggestions from the Summit was that student sections should “spend some time” with their “parent” section. That is just what Justin Stepanchick brought into action.

The event schedule and timetable was organized by the chairs of the three sections. The venue was informal with all of us sitting around a large table; no PowerPoint presentations, just a few handouts for the students to carry back to school. We then went around the table for introductions. It was important for the Chesapeake and Flagship attendees to note their career activities, and their company affiliations. Chesapeake then outlined their support for their two student sections – which represents a significant amount of money. Justin and Drew gave short discussion of how their sections were organized stressing their views on visits from industry and section seminars. “Few presentations” was the key word; most of the time was allotted to question and answer discussions.

It was the questions/suggestions portion of the two-hour event that was so productive. A number of Chesapeake members are VT graduates, and one of them came straight out and asked the students if the Chesapeake policy that includes buying textbooks was all that mattered. Well, nearly every student answered him; yes, that is a good “starter” they said, but most felt that SNAME section affiliation was much deeper. Numerous other VT grads shared their experiences from an “I have been there” and I know “what you are thinking” perspective. Another significant experience came for the technical director of one of the largest support naval architecture companies; in making a decision between two seemingly “equal” candidates for a single job opening the candidate who is an officer and participant in student section activities will have the edge.

Chesapeake is a fortunate section as it has two very different student sections; I watched the interactions between VT and USNA students and I liked what I saw. It was this event that brought the two together. I believe that some VT students will attend the “other Chesapeake student event” at the Naval Academy that is planned by Chesapeake this month.

Finally I thank Justin and the 12 VT students who by climbing into vans for the 5-hour drive to the Washington Navy Yard, demonstrated your keen interest and concern for our technical society. Thank you Drew and your members for joining us – I know exactly what it takes to process a Navy movement order. I was pleased with the openness of all participants, and I think we heard from every student who attended. I reiterate my view that SNAME places a highest priority to the needs of the student population – as Matt and the SSC have shown us - for the health of our society. Clearly, officers from sections fortunate enough to have student sections, must provide this kind of support to student sections.

Roger Compton

See links:
Student Event, December 6 – VT and USNA – schedule and timetable
http://www.sname.org/sections/chesapeake/papers/students.html

Report of the SSC Student Summit, October 22, 2005
http://www.sname.org/newsletter/StudentSummitReport1205mid.pdf