Students in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers at K-State now have award-winning advisers.
The group offers engineering students many opportunities to network and learn about the industry, and Jeremy Dreiling, graduate student in architectural engineering and construction science, said he credits the group’s success to its two advisers, who were recently named advisers of the year.
Dreiling was the president of the group last year and submitted the recommendation for Julia Keen and Fred Hasler to receive the award.
“I nominated them mainly because of their guidance as advisers,” he said.
Keen, assistant professor of architecture engineering and construction science, said the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers is a professional international society.
She said K-State’s chapter has about 60 members composed of both undergraduates and graduates.
Dreiling said both Keen and Hasler were always willing to help the students organize events and were active in creating opportunities to network.
“They were involved just like a student,” he said. “It wasn’t like an adviser was there just delegating. Our advisers were actually involved with our activities and planning.”
Fred Hasler, instructor of architectural engineering and construction science, is the other adviser for the organization.
“Our role is really just as a facilitator,” he said. “We help them make their goals happen.”
Hasler said the students decide what activities they would like to do and what they would like to learn, and then the advisers find the resources.
He said the members of the organization do several activities throughout the year, including going to conferences, arranging outside speakers to come to campus to talk to them, going to technical presentations and arranging social activities like barbecues.
“We’ve had a lot of fun doing this,” Hasler said.
Hasler said there is an annual kick-off meeting in September, and then later in the semester the members on the executive board present the chapter’s goals.
Keen said the organization is open to all majors.
She said the group usually travels to a national meeting in January, and they do community service and other activities throughout the semester.
“The students always have the opportunity to do professional networking, and the national meeting gives them exposure to a professional atmosphere,” Keen said.