Marquette engineering student will speak at engineering awards luncheon Friday A member of the Will Steger Foundation's Expedition Copenhagen will be the guest speaker at the School of Engineering and Mines National Engineers Week awards luncheon Friday. Chalie Nevarez, who was part of the Foundation's Midwest youth delegation to the 2009 international climate negotiations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, will speak at noon Friday, Feb. 26, in the River Valley Room, Memorial Union. At the luncheon, the North Dakota chapter of the National Society of Professional Engineers will present top student awards to Max Mellmer, senior in chemical engineering; Amy Boyer and Benjamin Jones, both chemical engineering juniors; and Paul Johnson, a sophomore in electrical engineering. Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, will also award scholarships and name the outstanding faculty member, elected by the engineering student body. Nevarez earned a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from Marquette University and is pursuing a master's there in environmental engineering. She plans to continue her education at the University of Colorado Boulder with a focus in engineering for developing communities. She has been a Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) since August 2008 and holds a long-standing internship at MillerCoors in the sustainability, environmental health and safety department. Her academic and professional work focuses primarily on water pollution and management, air pollution, and sustainable practices. A native of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, she came to the United States in 2004 to begin her collegiate career. Nevarez will share her experiences at the Copenhagen Summit and discuss trying to achieve a more sustainable future for the United States. Established in January 2006 by polar explorer Will Steger, the Will Steger Foundation, located in Minneapolis, is dedicated to creating programs that foster international leadership and cooperation through environmental education and policy development. The Foundation seeks to inspire and be a catalyst for international environmental leadership to stop global warming through exploration, education and action. -- Cheryl Osowski, Outreach Coordinator, School of Engineering and Mines, cherylosowski@mail.und.edu, 777-3390