Coaches' Corner—
Resources for Educators

Applications are NOW being accepted for the Next Generation Scholarship Fund! Click here for an application.

Students: Thinking about a career in engineering? Maybe you're thinking about getting a degree in chemical, electrical, mechanical, materials, or nuclear engineering. Did you know that with any of those degrees you can pursue a career in the power industry?

Now is a great time to consider a career that helps run the world! Power generation is the backbone of what makes our economy and society function. Electricity, in some way, impacts nearly every aspect of our lives. From our homes, our businesses, our cars, to our health and safety, our critical infrastructure requires a dependable and economic supply of electricity.

Quick Facts:

• Over the next 15 years, it is estimated that more than 300,000 people will retire from the power industry.
• The International Energy Agency estimates world electricity demand will double by 2030—only 24 years from now!
• The US Department of Energy projects national demand will increase 45% in 20 years.

JETS and Power Engineering Magazine are offering a new scholarship to help make your pursuit of a power engineering career possible. The Next Generation Scholarship is now taking applications! This $5,000 academic scholarship is open to all currently enrolled United States 12th grade students. Students expressing an engineering career interest in the power industry and planning to enroll in a four-year engineering program should apply. Click here to download the application guidelines and essay requirements. Entries must be submitted to JETS by March 2, 2007. Contact JETS for more information.

JETS is launching the 5th edition of the signature assessment tool, aptly renamed, ASSESS on February 1st! Formerly known as the NEAS+ assessment tool, the newly updated and revised ASSESS will feature three parts: explore, assess, and next steps.

This academic self-assessment tool is designed to help high school students identify their strengths and weaknesses in subject areas important for success in college engineering and technology programs such as mathematical understanding, science reading and reasoning, and practical understanding.

Students can take ASSESS individually and at their convenience or through a program offered by their high school, a university, college or professional organization. ASSESS is being offered at an introductory price of just $12 now through April 1st. After April 1st, the price will return to its usual amount of $20, with quantity discounts available.

JETS Clubs has reached over 1000 registered members!

JETS Clubs makes all of JETS resources and benefits available to students, parents, teachers and club leaders in a new package. JETS Clubs members received their first monthly club only email. It included three JETS Challenge problems, a TEAMS problem, two activities courtesy of The Engineering Pathway Portal, and several discussion topics. Members are also sent a preformatted lesson plan.

In addition, JETS Clubs members also receive a subscription to the Pre-Engineering Times, special discounts at the JETS Store, TEAMS and NEDC updates and registration fee promotions, and much more. Best of all it's free! There is no fee to participate during the inaugural year. For more information contact us at clubs@jets.org or (703) 548-5387 x 104.

Don't wait! Sign up today and start receiving your JETS Club Benefits.

TEAMS COMPETITIONS ARE LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY…

…but it's not too late to register to participate in this year's competition! Here's your chance to challenge yourself, work as a team, and have fun while learning how to solve real world engineering scenarios. Nearly 1,000 teams have registered already, representing over 450 high schools, setting up this year's competition to be the biggest to date.

New to TEAMS? Request a free copy of the TEAMS DVD and learn some of the benefits of hosting, coaching and participating in a TEAMS competition. To request your copy, follow the link on the TEAMS homepage.

Think you're up to the challenge? You're just a few clicks away… Registration is easy and only requires you to fill out an online registration form. Find the host site nearest you or participate at your own high school and be apart of TEAMS 2007!

Round II of the JWOD/JETS National Engineering Design Challenge entries have been submitted and are currently being reviewed by a panel of judges from across the country.

Teams selected to participate in Round II completed steps one through seven of the Engineering Design Process (EDP). These talented students not only identified and researched their problem and developed and selected a possible solution, but also constructed a working prototype to help an individual with a disability enter or advance in the workforce. The challenge did not end there. The students then went on to test and evaluate their solution and documented their findings in a final report!

From these entries, five talented teams will advance to the National Finals held in Washington, DC, February 15-17th. Finalists will display and present their final designs and reports on Friday. The event will conclude on Saturday, February 17th at EWeek's Family Day at the National Building Museum.

JETS would like to wish all of the teams good luck in the next phase, and thank everyone who participated in this year's JWOD/JETS NEDC.

Design Squad, a new television show coming to PBS in February 2007, is part reality competition, all engineering, and major fun. Design Squad follows eight high school students as they compete to design and build fantastic, whimsical, fully operational engineering projects. Projects include everything from a machine that automatically makes pancakes to a motorized red wagon that can reach speeds up to 20mph. In the final episode, the two top-scorers battle for the Grand Prize-a college scholarship provided by the Intel Foundation. Visit http://pbskidsgo.org/designsquad and watch a clip from the show, meet the cast, and take a sneak peek inside the set.