​This Region C conference was my second ever SWE conference to attend. After attending National Conference this past October, I would have to say that my favorite part of this conference was that it was much smaller and more intimate than National Conference. At Nationals, there were so many people that it was almost harder to talk to and network with the other attendees. However, at Region Conference, I was able to meet many other SWE members from different sections, and I was actually able to learn a lot about them. It was so much fun to see my fellow engineers from different schools that had similar aspirations and career goals. Most importantly, though, I must mention how blessed I am to have such caring friends, family, and my fellow UNT SWE-sters because I would not have been able to attend this conference without their help or support!

My favorite part of the conference was going to the workshops that were held by women who are leaders in engineering. Dr. D'Souza's workshop [UNT SWE Faculty Advisor] gave me a new perspective and strategies to tackle cultural issues that I wasn't even aware happened around me. The internship round table, led by students from the University of Arkansas with great internship experiences, gave everyone advice on how to obtain an internship and impress employers. Overall, the workshops encouraged those who attended to seize opportunity and do as much as we can for our community through engineering.

​Networking and socializing are two of any engineers favorite things to do, and the Region C Conference allowed me to do just that. At the conference I was able to get my name out into the business world through the career fair, and learn about how to become a better leader. The best part was connecting with my fellow SWE-sters. Through regions, I made bonds I don't think can ever be broken.

​The Conference was an amazing experience! I attended workshops about creating an effective elevator pitch and about how to communicate in a more positive attitude. These workshops showed me how to redirect my thought process from finding the benefit of ideas and how to begin enacting them, as well as properly translating my skills and successes into a proper introduction. I was able to network with many professional engineers and hear inspirational speeches from speakers. Then at the end of the Conference UNT SWE won 2 awards! This conference has inspired me put my best foot forward and pursue my goals.

My name is Mandana Hendrickson, I am a PhD student in Material Science and Engineering at University of North Texas. I am a member of Society of Women Engineers (SWE) since June 2014, and I attended the 2016 SWE Region C conference.  
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During the conference, I was able to go to several social events to meet new collegiate and professionals. This conference was a very good opportunity for me to meet current/future engineers and successful women in industries. I practiced networking and got valuable suggestions and tips from senior members. For instance, the Friday Night Networking Event was fun to attend since we could play trivia game in teams and I could learn many new and interesting things which I did not know before about science and technology. Also, I had the chance to talk to an ABB test manager and learn more about the company and their opportunities. The following day, there were informative speeches by ABB and Walmart companies. Two successful women in their businesses shared their knowledge with us and talked about their experiences throughout their professional careers. In addition, I could meet many SWE leaders, SWE professional members and SWE regional officers, and I have got the chance to learn more about the SWE goals and activities. Specifically, as a graduate student, I could meet new graduate SWE members and by attending Graduate students in SWE seminar, I learned more about SWE graduate section and the benefits. Moreover, I could check out the local career fair and talked to different companies to enhance my networks and learn about my future career path. Personally, I enjoyed the talk about the negotiation skills and realized the importance of gaining professional skills in job searching process. At the end, our UNT SWE won two awards in this conference which have made all of us proud of our school and members. All in all, the regional SWE conference provided me professional networking opportunities, and by attending several speeches and workshops, I have learned good tips on how to develop my academic skills and apply them in professional environments.
 
Finally, I would like to take the time to thank UNT SWE and UNT college of engineering for providing us the opportunity to attend this conference and for supporting women in engineering to get more involved in professional activities.