Dear Formula SAE Community,
As we embark on another thrilling journey towards the Victorian Formula SAE competition this December, we're excited to bring you along with us every step of the way. After being honored with the 2023 Club Engagement of the Year award, we've been reflecting on ways to further improve our engagement with the entire community, and I’m thrilled to introduce the weekly update!
But first, as everyone settles into their first week back at university, I want to extend best wishes for a successful semester ahead. We're gearing up for an action-packed few months, filled with innovation, collaboration, and plenty of exciting challenges.
Recapping Welcome Week:
The teams Welcome Week initiatives kicked off the semester with a bang, marking our most impactful Welcome Week to date. I was honored to have been invited to speak at the orientation for engineering alongside Linh Trinh of RAM and Nina Walters of Solar Car. The response was phenomenal at Welcome Week, with 73 individuals entering our giveaway for a customized carbon fiber steering wheel and a whopping 45 applications to join our team!
We're thrilled to welcome 16 new applicants since Welcome Week, bringing our total count to an impressive 61. A big thank you to Communications Lead, Lidya Rivai, Design Lead, Kilian Doyle and Manufacturing Lead, Morgan Jones for successfully planning and managing the days.
Boosting Engagement:
Despite it being the first week of the academic year, in a new area and with new members on board, our Events Lead, Jade D’Souza with Lidya Rivai saw to have Boosted Juices climb to a staggering 65 check-ins, setting a new record for engagement. We're committed to building on this momentum and expanding our presence to other campuses, aiming for even greater engagement than last year and further collaborating with the Inclusive Communities team in doing so.
Celebrating International Women's Day:
Today, as we celebrate International Women's Day, we also celebrate the incredible achievements of women in STEM. We're proud to highlight the talent and leadership of three of our outstanding members, Electrical Lead, Riya Kattady, Suspension Lead, Jacinta Bell, and Autonomous member Chekwube Ogugua, who will be speaking at the WiSE Mingle Event hosted by Mandii Carr from Women in STEM Education (WiSE). The event provides a platform to share experiences, insights, and aspirations for women in STEM.
Riya, Jacinta, and Chekwube will inspire and empower others with their stories, highlighting the importance of representation and support for women in traditionally male-dominated industries.
Information Session and Team Growth:
A significant portion of this week has been dedicated to organizing our team's information session, scheduled to induct all new members on Wednesday, March 20th. It's a crucial step in welcoming and integrating our new members into the team, ensuring that everyone is equipped to contribute effectively to our collective success.
If you are interested in understanding what is required in being a competing team member, you can complete the Expression of Interest and a member of the team will be in contact.
Changes in Executive Team:
We'd like to extend our gratitude to Morgan Jones, our former Manufacturing Lead, and Lidya Rivai, our former Communications Lead, for their invaluable contributions to the team. Both have opted for reduced workloads and responsibilities following improved employment positions. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors and are confident that their expertise will continue to benefit us in new ways.
Upcoming Events:
Don't forget to mark your calendars for the Engineers Australia Elevation career expo on Thursday, March 21st. It's an excellent opportunity to explore internship and graduate role options, network with industry professionals, and gain valuable insights into the engineering field.
As we look ahead to the weeks and months to come, we're energized by the enthusiasm and dedication of our team members and supporters. Together, we're poised to achieve great things, and we can't wait to see what the future holds.
Stay tuned for more updates in next week's update!
Best Regards,
Bowen Fucile
Western Sydney Formula SAE | Team Lead
