Contact: Bob Ratliff
By Earnest W. Deavenport Jr.
The following is an editorial written by Earnest W. Deavenport Jr., honorary chair of the 1999 National Engineers Week celebration at Mississippi State University. Chairman and chief executive officer of the Eastman Chemical Co. in Kingsport, Tenn., he is a Macon native and 1960 MSU chemical engineering graduate.
Pie charts are used to illustrate everything from how family expenses should be budgeted to how non-profit organizations are funded, from how corporations allocate capital expenses to how many sixth graders are in a school.
Our nation's economy--which is today built increasingly on knowledge and skills--can also be illustrated with pie charts made up of the various professions and occupations. Engineering makes up the second largest piece of that pie, behind only teaching. Throughout the centuries, engineers have used their creativity and problem-solving skills to benefit our country and, indeed, all of humankind in myriad ways.
I believe engineers will make even greater contributions to America's economic well-being in the 21st century. But as we face not only the challenges of the unknown future, we also face what I consider to be a disturbing shortage of graduating engineers. We're all familiar with the need for more computer programmers and software engineers. But the shortages don't stop there.
There's a real lack of skilled workers throughout America. A recent study found that nearly nine out of 10 manufacturers reported a shortage of qualified employees. Many employees were deficient in basic math, writing and comprehension skills.
As engineers, we have an obligation to help ensure that we have a sufficient number of new engineers and other highly skilled workers coming along to take our places. To continue our research. To further improve our processes and products. To create new processes and products. To lead our companies in the 21st century. And to see that America's economy stays competitive in the global marketplace.
To ensure engineering's legacy of being a major piece of America's economic pie, thousands of engineers will visit classrooms Feb. 21-27 during National Engineers Week. They will tell students how engineers helped put a man on the moon. How engineers design high-speed roller coasters. How tissue engineering creates human tissues to repair or replace damaged ones.
They also will tell students we need them--and their creativity--to carry us into the next century. And that is why it's so very critical for students to take math and science, as well as writing and communications classes today. Their future--and ours--depends on it.