K-State multicultural engineering program to host fall speaker

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Source: LaVerne Bitsie-Baldwin, 785-532-5949, lbaldwin@k-state.edu
Editor's note: John Segovia is a graduate of Liberal High School.
News release prepared by: Mary Rankin, 785-532-6715, mrankin@k-state.edu

Friday, October 27, 2006

K-STATE MULTICULTURAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM TO HOST FALL SPEAKER

MANHATTAN -- The Kansas State University Multicultural Engineering Program will host John Segovia, propulsion/process engineer for General Electric Aviation, as the first public lecturer of the Cargill Multicultural Engineering Mentor Program and Lecture Series for the 2006-2007 academic year.

Segovia, a 2003 K-State graduate in mechanical engineering, will speak at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, in 1066 Rathbone Hall of the College of Engineering Complex. His lecture is open to the public.

In his three years at GE Aviation, Strother Field, Kan., he has earned Green Belt Certification and completed five green belt projects, resulting in shop savings of more than $500,000. As lead engineer for the CT7-8 program, Segovia oversaw his shop being the first to successfully overhaul a CT7-8 engine and return it to the customer in a timely manner.

While at K-State, Segovia was active in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Professional Engineers and the Hispanic American Leadership Organization.

"We are happy to have Mr. Segovia as the inaugural speaker of this year's lecture series," said LaVerne Bitsie-Baldwin, director of the K-State Multicultural Engineering Program, "and are pleased to partner with Cargill in this joint effort of strengthening participation of minorities in the field of engineering."

The K-State Multicultural Engineering Program employs a comprehensive agenda to identify, recruit, educate and graduate African-American, Latino and Native American students who have an aptitude for math or science. The program provides a support base to foster academic and social growth, and assists students in transitioning to professional careers.