When it comes to designing and running events that truly resonate with students, nothing beats having students themselves lead the charge. The University of Tennessee’s Engineering Professional Practice (EPP) Ambassadors provide a powerful illustration of the insight, energy, and value that student leadership brings to event planning.
At UT, the EPP Ambassadors are engineering students who have completed co-op or internship work assignments. They serve as a bridge between students, employers, and the EPP office. Their duties include:
- Helping peers with career readiness: resume reviews, mock interviews, and cover letters.
- Promoting professional practice programs in classrooms and outreach events.
- Supporting new student orientation and departmental programs.
- Hosting peer office hours to answer questions about co-ops, internships, and degree planning.
- Receiving leadership development and team-building training.
But perhaps their most striking contribution comes in their leadership of one of the college’s signature events—the Engineering/STEM Expo.
Expo Experience Benefits Everyone
Every year, the Engineering/STEM Expo connects hundreds of students with over 200 employers seeking co-op, internship, and full-time candidates. Traditionally, such a large-scale event would be entirely staff-driven, with students assisting on the margins. At UT, however, the EPP Ambassadors take the lead—fully planning, running, and following through on the Expo, with staff providing direction only where needed.
That means they:
- Coordinate directly with employers in the weeks leading up to the event—handling communications, scheduling, and logistics.
- Manage all pre-event planning, including room layouts, signage, schedules, and student-facing resources.
- Run the flow of the event on the day itself, from greeting recruiters and checking in employers to directing student traffic and troubleshooting challenges in real time.
- Serve as professional liaisons between employers, staff, and students, ensuring a seamless experience for all.
- Lead the post-event debrief, gathering feedback from employers and students, and recommending improvements for the following year.
- Innovate and implement new ideas that create a better environment for students and employers. An example for this year is creating an opportunity for students to take headshots while waiting in line for the event to start.
The result is an Expo that is not only professionally executed but also deeply student-centered. Employers gain authentic connections with the student body, the event runs seamlessly, and the Ambassadors walk away with invaluable experience in leadership, project management, and client relations. Even more, their visibility and professionalism give them a clear advantage in their own job searches, with employers seeing firsthand their work ethic, initiative, and ability to deliver at a high level.
Most impressively, EPP Ambassadors execute at a level on par with professional staff. Their maturity, attention to detail, and professionalism consistently earn praise from recruiters and reflect the high caliber of our students.
Why Student Leadership Matters
Higher education research consistently shows that when students are given meaningful responsibility they grow in ways that extend far beyond the classroom. The Ambassadors’ work at the Engineering Expo helps them develop their identity, learn through practice, and grow through engagement.
Empowering students to take ownership of major events isn’t just good for them, it’s good for the entire ecosystem. The UT Engineering/STEM Expo proves that students bring the insight, energy, and leadership needed to elevate events from good to exceptional. And their impact extends far beyond the Expo itself.
In the month leading up to the event, the Ambassadors delivered over 40 presentations, sharing insights, preparing peers, and building momentum for the very event they designed and executed. Their leadership doesn’t just strengthen the community; it showcases the caliber of talent ready to lead in the workplace.
Contact
Ronni Keene (ronni@utk.edu)