New Kids on the Block

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20140919_120801I am very pleased to introduce Austin Laniosz and Kevin Hauger to the SOLIDWORKS Community.  Austin and Kevin have formed the first student-run SOLIDWORKS User Group, the Illini SOLIDWORKS User Group at the University of Illinois.  I attended their first meeting on September 13th, along with 25 or so engineering students, and their passion for learning (especially SOLIDWORKS) was more than evident.

I first heard from Kevin back in April of this year when he sent me an email stating his interest in starting a SOLIDWORKS User Group for “students and the surrounding communities”.  That phrase really caught my attention because I saw the potential for mixing students with our professional community – a win-win all around.  I could sense Kevin’s passion from his words, and I was not at all surprised that he seemed even more passionate about the group when I got to meet him in person.  Both Austin and Kevin smiled their way through the entire meeting.

The group plans one more meeting for this year, and then at least four meetings per year.  When I asked Kevin what will happen to the group when he graduates, his answer was perfect:

“I am just finishing Sophomore year so I think leading the group for two years and then passing it down to a committed member shouldn’t be a problem.”

Judging from some of the other students I met, there will be a long line of successors willing to take the mantle.

Congratulations guys for setting the stage for what we hope will be many more “student-run” SOLIDWORKS User Groups.

Richard Doyle

Richard Doyle

My official title is Senior User Advocacy & SolidWorks User Groups - but most people just call me "The User Group Guy". I've been a SolidWorks user since 1997, and was one of the founding members of the SWUGN Committee. Since starting the Central Texas SolidWorks User Group in 1999, my career path has led me to DS SolidWorks and a dream job supporting the SolidWorks User Group Network worldwide.
Richard Doyle

@https://twitter.com/swugn

Richard Doyle