Repository: UIHistories Project: SWE - News Clippings Book [PAGE 2]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

B-4

THE CHAMPAIGN-URBANA NEWS-GAZETTE

Sunday, July 16, 1978

She's An Active Emeritus

By ANGEL MYERS News-Gazette Staff Writer Whether Grace Wilson, professor emeritis of engineering at the University of Illinois, really is an engineer could be questioned. But the inspiration she has given to countless women in the UI College of Engineering cannot. Actually Prof. Wilson is an architect, but she was in the last class of architects to graduate from the College of Engineering before architecture became part of the College of Fine Arts. And she started as a teacher's assistant in engineering drawing more than 30 years ago when 'World War II veterans flocked to the College of Engineering in such great ;riumbers that classes were overflowing. She has become so much , i a part of the college that / each, year the Grace Wilson Award is presented to : the outstanding woman ; student in the College of '. Engineering. Although only 10 percent of the students in the col'- lege are women even now, this is more than there were when Prof. Wilson started college in 1925. In her freshman architecture class she was one of only six women students. But Prof. Wilson did have a lot of encouragement. Her father was also a professor of engineering at the UI, and her brother became an engineer. Her mother was a homemaker, she said, "But said, "I thought I had back when she was in high!, something to contribute." school, much to gay • She was working on the amazement she took man- Small Homes Research ual training'." Council at the UI when she When Prof. Wilson en- was asked to join the staff tered Urbana High School of the College of Engineershe Was not sure what she ing, becoming a teacher in would study. She was sure spite of her resolutions to what she would not study. the contrary. She did NOT like home Although Prof. Wilson economics, she said em- said she never experienced phatically, and always any real difficulties beswore she would never cause she is a woman arteach. chitect, she has seen many Her interest in architec- social changes take place ture developed while she in the years since her was doing a physics pro- graduation. Now, she said, ject in which she designed women who conduct thema heating plant for a selves professionally are house. She had to draw her recognized as engineers, own house plan and place not just as women enthe heating units in it. She gineers. enjoyed the project so At first, she admitted, much that her father women were too often suggested she study ar- hired simply to fill quotas. chitecture. But now, "They are beginBut when she graduated ning to recognize women from college she disco- as engineers and they are vered there weren't many hiring them as engineers jobs for a woman ar- instead of as women." chitect. While she was in And they CAN succeed, school the country had en- she said, if they are willing tered the Depression. to accept the responsibility "I had two strikes that comes with this recagainst me," she said. ognition. "One, I am a woman. And She noted however that two, there were very few if she is still a little irked by any jobs available. That the fact that in profeswas the worst one, and sional organizations the ofthat was the one the men fice women engineers most had against them too.'* often fill is that of secretAs the economy im- ary. proved she worked as a Prof. Wilson makes it draftsman and architect plain that she is very much and taught in Champaign against stereotyping of High School. During World anyone, men as well as War II she served a hitch women. Changing attitudes as a PFC in the Air Trans- brought about by the woport Service because, she men's movement have allowed more men and women to explore their real interests and talents instead of filling a role that society has selected for them. These changes have been good for everyone, she thinks, and particularly for women. That Prof. Wilson has encouraged many women to start or continue engineering careers is undeniable. From the young high school student who was encouraged to take drawing because a woman was teaching it and went on to become an architect to the women who have competed each year, for the Grace Wilson award, all. have been inspired by her example. And Prof. Wilson is, in turn, inspired by the women she sees competing for the award that bears her name. "This year there were about 10 girls and we interviewed about seven of them. They were just wonderful. It was very difficult to make a choice." But a choice had to be made. The women are selected by a committee on the basis of their contribution to the school and community as well as scholarship. This year the award went to Paula Traynor, Rockford. Prof. Wilson, now retired, continues to work in her small office in the Transportation Building. A drawing is attached to the huge drawing board that.