Annual Events

Engineering at Illinois Engineering at Illinois

Morrill Engineering Program

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Annual Events

System of Survival (S.O.S.) Retreat at Allerton - September 19-20, 2008
The MEP alumni plan and conduct the annual retreat at the Robert Allerton Park and Conference Center near Monticello, Illinois, called the System of Survival (S.O.S.) Retreat. It is usually held on the fourth Friday-Saturday in September.

This overnight retreat provides information sessions on communicating, entrepreneurship, time management, interviewing skills, team building, campus involvement, alternative careers, and résumé writing. S.O.S. is supported by corporate friends of MEP including Quaker Oats, Ford Motor Co., and Procter & Gamble. Approximately 50 students and 25 to 30 alumni attend along with the MEP staff.

An MEP alumnus serves as chairperson of the event and arranges several workshops in which students participate. This retreat helps MEP students and alumni create mentoring-type relationships.

Presentations from the 2006 S.O.S. Retreat (September 22-23, 2006)

MEP Awards Banquet
The annual MEP Awards Banquet recognizes the outstanding academic and leadership achievements of students involved in the Morrill Engineering Program. Approximately 350 students, alumni, corporate representatives, and Illinois faculty and staff attend this event. This year's banquet will be held on April 25, 2008.

MEP Chicago Alumni Reception
Each year, the MEP staff hosts an evening reception with its alumni in the Chicago area at the Illini Center (200 S Wacker Drive). This year, the event will take place on July 18, 2008; MEP alumni wishing to participate in any of the annual events should contact Jonné Brown, 217/333-2280, or email, mep-coe@uiuc.edu.