WYOMING – Third-grade students from Pinedale and Big Piney are among those to celebrate National Engineers week with the University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Since 2015, the CEAS, Wyoming Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors, Wyoming Engineering Society and DiscoverE have all collaborated on a free program that brings professional and college-level engineers into third-grade classrooms throughout the state. The program is meant to raise awareness about the field of engineering and Wyoming students get to partake in hands-on engineering activity.

The theme to this year’s project is “Reimagining the Possible.”

The program’s stated goal is to inspire problem solving and innovative thinking among students who participate in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“One of the most important goals of this office is to inspire the next generation of engineers. Wyoming’s professional engineers give so much of their time and their efforts definitely make a difference in the students’ lives,” Cindy Jones, CEAS K-12 outreach coordinator, said. “This program would not be possible without the generous scholarship of UW alumni Andy and Kim Krieger and Union Telephone of Wyoming. The CEAS wishes to extend our sincerest appreciation for supporting this important outreach effort.”

During National Engineers Week (Feb. 21-25), a total of 3,123 of Wyoming’s third-grade students participated in various activities led by engineers. That’s approximately 45 percent of the state’s third graders.

Gov. Mark Gordon read the State of Wyoming’s professional Engineers Week proclamation last week in anticipation for this week’s festivities.

“I’m thrilled that the governor, through this proclamation, highlights the positive impact that engineering has on the state of Wyoming,” Cameron Wright, CEAS dean, said. “Our own Cindy Jones has tirelessly worked to reach out to so many Wyoming third graders; her work is quite impressive.”

Third-grade students from a total of 34 different towns and communities in Wyoming were scheduled to participate.