New London, Conn. — The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has recognized the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) SWE section with the fiscal year 2024 SWE Mission Award Silver Status.
The USCGA section was honored for the commitment to continuous improvement and to the Society’s core values during SWE’s annual conference, WE24, held on October 24 - 26 in Chicago, Ill.
The SWE announced the recipients of its annual recognition program, celebrating the successes of SWE members, SWE groups, and organizations that are enhancing the engineering profession and advocating for women in STEM. Examples of these accomplishments include pioneering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) initiatives, growing or retaining membership levels, increasing exposure to STEM via outreach efforts, or being granted a patent.
“Having a dedicated SWE section at USCGA is crucial for several reasons,” said Cadet Gustava Drew, Vice President of the SWE-USCGA. “It fosters a supportive environment for women pursuing engineering, offering them a sense of belonging and inspiration. SWE also helps bridge the gap between academic studies and real-world engineering applications, providing mentors to new engineers. It also promotes a culture that values diverse perspectives.”
The SWE-USCGA section held a successful “Speed Mentoring” event in February to support cadets in their engineering paths. Thirteen SWE professionals, including civilian, active-duty, and retired Coast Guard engineers, shared insights into different career options and provide mentorship.
This fall, SWE-USCGA also launched a mentoring program, pairing senior cadets and faculty with new cadets during a kickoff lunch to provide guidance and answer questions about their majors in a supportive environment.
In addition, SWE-USCGA hosted professional engineers from Ørsted an energy company, who shared insights on wind farm construction and operations. The section plans on conducting a follow-on tour of the New London Pier in the spring, where wind farm components are staged before being transported to sea.
“SWE has been instrumental in providing me with a deeper understanding of the community of women engineers,” said Drew. “The networking opportunities at SWE events have been invaluable, offering career guidance and connections that I believe will shape my path as a future engineer. Through these events, I’ve been able to connect with mentors both within the USCG and the broader engineering community.