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Show 0':og DlflcKl: SeEiolcp She does not carry a brief- case around campus. She doesn't wear glasses or read Plato for fun. YET according to her advisor ad-visor at Utah State University, she is indisputably a scholar. She is Susan Willhard, the 1978 outstanding senior in the College of Engineering, and the first woman ever to receive the honor. The third of eight children. Miss Willhard is the daughter of Wallace and Eleanor Willhard of Bountiful. Although her father is an electronics engineer, he didn't push her into the field, according to Susan. "WHEN I was growing up an engineer wasn't something I wanted to be," she said. But when her high school advisor noticed how well Susan was doing in her math and science courses, he advised ad-vised her to visit USU and talk to Elliott Rich, associate dean of the College of Engineering. En-gineering. ALTHOUGH Susan began her freshman year in liberal studies, she soon decided on an engineering major. An easy-going person with a good sense of humor, Susan is liked as well as respected in the College of Engineering. "SHE has the ability to draw out the best in others," said Alma Moser, head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Susan's advisor. ad-visor. "Students and faculty have noticed how Susan is willing to take time to help others." Although those others tend to be males, Susan has not found it difficult to feel comfortable com-fortable in a typically man's world and profession. "WELL, a woman sticks out a little," she admitted. "Once in a while a professor might say, 'AH right, you guysand Susan too,' but I haven't noticed anyone not "being nice." Susan has been active in the Society of Women Engineers, - although she said it is a little hard to tell exactly how many women engineers there are on the campus because most are too busy to attend the meetings. meet-ings. THE College of Engineering Engineer-ing at USU reports it has about 60 women enrolled. That select group should really feel fortunate, according accord-ing to Susan. "ALTHOUGH there are still a few firms or engineers who don't want to work with women, most are very concerned con-cerned to find qualified women for their staffs," she said. Kathy Baker, executive secretary in the office of the dean of engineering, confirms this. "Opportunities are more than good-they're fabulous, if you are good," she says. SUSAN plans to accept a job right after graduation. She plans to work on a master's degree while working full-time. She also plans to be married in June to Pat Dingman, a pharmaceutical pharmaceu-tical salesman. But Susan is used to a busy schedule. "COMING from a large family, it's necessary for all of us to finance our own educations," she said. Susan has worked summers as an engineering assistant for Sperry Univac in Salt Lake City, determining panel layouts for test equipment and floor plans for test facilities. facili-ties. FREE TIME? "I watch TV," said Susan. "I don't get involved in too much. But it's money more than time." How has her family reacted to Susan's success? "I think my Dad's just glad someone's finally gone through school," said the diffident dif-fident scholar, although she admitted that her 16 year old sister is now considering a career in engineering. |