The Official Online Newsletter of Pilipino Americans in Science and Engineering
at UC Davis
Table of Contents
A Better Mouse Trap? A Better Mouse?
Let There Be PASE!
Let There Be PASE!
By Barbra Villamor
There is always a beginning. 1980. The Associate Dean of the College of Engineering responds to an increasing need for engineering support for minorities. Enter Jane Elliot. She was responsible for recruiting Filipino engineers and seemed like the perfect candidate to advise a potential Filipino engineering club . . . The Pilipino American Society of Engineers, endearingly referred to by its members as PASE (for life!).
From the start PASE had a purpose. Created within the College of Engineering, the club was established to unite the small but evident Filipino American engineering population at the UC Davis campus. From two students in the late 70’s to nearly two hundred today, the number of Filipino American engineering students and faculty members at UCD continue to grow, and with it the club that provides a home away from home.
PASE initially had 5-6 members, less than the number of PASErs on the present board. It was social at first, complete with ski trips and other field trips sponsored by the club. Then, PASE began to fulfill the needs of the students in an academic and professional level as well. By providing various workshops, internship information and an alumni panel, PASE has matured into a well-rounded club, much like the student it caters to.
As we look toward the future of PASE, now as the Pilipino Americans in Science and Engineering, we find that it still provides the friendly atmosphere that brought students together more than two decades ago. The next big step for PASE will be the Engineering Conference held in the year 2001. It is only fitting that PASE celebrates it’s 20th Anniversary by coordinating an event that offers still another unique opportunity for UCD Filipino-American scientists and engineers to learn and grow from their UCD college experience.