The University of Houston Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) student chapter held its 27th Annual Chili Cook-Off on Thursday, March 9. More than 250 Cullen College of Engineering faculty, staff, students, alumni and local company sponsors gathered outside the Y-Building to participate in a host of events including several competitions, an auction, plenty of chili tasting and great music.
IEEE hosts the annual event in an effort to create a social atmosphere for engineering faculty and students. In fact, several engineering faculty members volunteered to sit in the dunking booth, which inevitably drew large crowds of students wanting to see their favorite professor take the plunge. The event also gives engineering student organizations an opportunity to recruit new members, as well as interact with one another while attempting to take top honors in the student chili cook-off competition. This year, student organizations attending the event included ASCE, Tau Beta Pi, MAES, NSBE, SHPE, SWE, ASME, BMES, The Triangle Fraternity and Phi Sigma Rho Sorority. First place for the best student chili was given to MAES.
The event also served as a venue for company sponsors and recruiters to interact with students. Companies like Schlumberger, HP, BP and Centerpoint Energy participated this year, with BP capturing first place in the company chili cook-off challenge.
Overall, the cook-off provide an excellent atmosphere for students heading into spring break, while ultimately affording IEEE an opportunity to raise money for the Region 5 conference and for facility improvements.