Engineering students tour and network at North American International Auto Show

Wayne State engineering students know how to make the most out of any situation and the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit was no exception. While students experienced VIP treatment and checked out the new cars, they also networked with industry professionals and learned about the upcoming automotive trends.

Students from the College of Engineering and the Ilitch School of Business were invited to as Ford Motor Company's guests to media day. Students met with Ford President and CEO Mark Fields and Hollywood personality Ryan Seacrest. College of Engineering alumnus and Ford engineering supervisor Benny Wong assisted the WSU students with networking.

Several Wayne State students attended the auto show through the Yazaki Student Liaison Program. They worked on an assignment, toured the showroom and gave a small presentation, all while enjoying Yazaki's hospitality suite.

13 students were also recruited by the Schaeffler Group for the NAIAS Industry Preview Days. While enjoying the show, students were able to meet with the group's recruiting team. "I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing the evolution of each brand at the 2016 Auto Show," said mechanical engineering student Austin Bontaz. "The show allowed me to strive forward in my ideas and design aspirations for the future of my career in the industry."

Wayne State's Formula SAE team, Warrior Racing, also participated in NAIAS as part of the SAE International booth. "Our team attends the Auto Show each year to raise awareness for our organization and thank all the sponsors that support the team," said team president Tirath Matharu. "Donations from our sponsors are used directly to design, build, and compete our race car each year. We take this opportunity to thank them for their contributions to the team and share our progress for the new designs."