2013 Issue

19 professional association dedicated to ad- vancing safe, technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. IEEE and itsmembers inspire a global community through IEEE's highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities. 2 For every engineering discipline, there is a professional society that has similar tools, standards and rules of conduct that guide engineers in their various capacities and assignments. The Utah Engineers Council (UEC) is an organization that brings together 17 professional engineering societies. A representative from each of these profes- sional engineering societies is invited to sit on the UEC. The council creates a col- laborative, synergistic group who meets on a regular basis to promote the art of engineering in the state of Utah. The UEC is a non-profit organization which devotes most of its resource and time in honoring individual engineers. The UEC recognizes the outstanding achievements of engineers by hosting an annual awards banquet. Engineers, old and young alike, are hon- ored for their contribution to the culture of engineering. Educators in engineering are also honored including the MESA Teacher of the Year award. Scholarships are awarded to deserving engineering students in each of the accredited engineering schools in Utah. The UEC also honors engineers by publishing an annual magazine, Utah Engineers Council Journal . This magazine has articles written by engineers which showcase the talents of Utah engineers. In a sense, these activities give thanks to deserving engineers. Please visit the UEC website at utahengineerscouncil.org . Speaking of educators, engineers come from the finest accredited institutions of higher learning, and Utah has some of the finest. Every engineer I know will willingly discuss their professors and the delightful quirks in their way of teaching. This may dateme, but I will never forget Asst. Profes- sor WadimKomkov inmy engineering class at the University of Utah. He would draw on the board a rudimentary river with a boat on it sayingwith a delightful Russian accent, "Here you have the Volga River with a boat going upstream 3 kilometers per hour..." At one critical point in my schooling, I re- member being in the office of Gary Sanquist giving understanding on a difficult concept and encouragingme to stay with engineer- ing. These educators are pivotal in the lives of young engineering minds, not only scholastically, but with life enhancing advice. On behalf of all successful engineers, may I offer a trite, but sincere, "THANK YOU" to all engineering educators for helping us achieve our positions in the technical world. Engineers also have an ethical code in their work. Some engi- neers get licenses and become Professional Engineers; adhering to ethical standards of excel- lence. As a whole, engineers are a creative, dedicated group of individuals who go about their work developing innovative contraptions and services that enhance the daily life and safety of our community. The thanks of the community to the engi- neer usually goes unrewarded and is exhibited in a quiet trust. However, engineers are satisfied with knowing that they give their best in their professional pursuits. And now and again, someone will marvel and say "oh yeah" to a new and innovative device that makes life more enjoyable and safe. Engineers feel a sense of pride in their work. People may not know what an engineer does with his or her computer, lab and electron microscope, but most likely, the final product is something that significantly affects the lives of those who use an engi- neered product. People will communicate faster, go faster, be safer, play better, be healthier and enjoy an increased standard of living. These are rewarding to the engineer, knowing they played a major part in some- one's increased or sustained health, safety and standard of living. Sometimes, that is thanks enough to a deserving engineer. 1. http://www.asme.org/about-asme 2. http://www.ieee.org/about/index.html HOW DO YOU SAY THANKS | continued from page 17