Ford PAS News and Events

University of Detroit Mercy Ford PAS schools are doing GREAT things to prepare their students for success not only in the classroom, and in their future work environments. Take a look at the kinds opportunities being provided for our students:

University of Detroit Mercy Technology Discovery Day

Over 700 future scientists and engineers from 18 high schools throughout metro Detroit attend this annual event, hosted by the University of Detroit Mercy on the McNichols campus. There are a variety of activities from the College of Engineering and Science and local companies exposing students to engineering and science.

Competitions are meant to expand and challenge the minds of students interested in fields of science and engineering. This is an opportunity for those students to learn and to generate stronger interest in the engineering and science curriculum, by proving to them that science is more fun than "most of us think."

Student Competitions include the following:

• Catapult, How far can you fling it?
• Egg Drop, How far can it fall before it breaks?
• Jeopardy, Move over Alex...Teams compete on math, physics, chemistry, computers, biology and general science questions. Moderated by former UDM Professor Kevin Olmstead, winner of $2.18 million on ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"
• King of the Hill, Makes its debut!
• Rube Goldberg, You invent the perfect machine!
• Screaming Contest, How loud can you scream?
• Straw Tower, How high can you build it?
• Toothpick Bridge, How much weight can it hold?

Other Tech Day activities include the annual Chemistry Magic Show, sponsored by the students and faculty of the University's Chemistry Club, as well as an array of displays from local companies and departments throughout the College of Engineering and Science and Chemistry buildings and Calihan Hall.

An awards presentation wraps up the day’s activities in Calihan Hall to award winners of the various competitions. All registered school students also receive a free Tech Day t-shirt for participating in the event.

2007’s Tech Day was generously sponsored by Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, BASF, DENSO, and Continental.

YES Expo

Universities and corporations come together to show middle and high school students the fascinating world of engineering, science, and technology. In a hands-on setting, corporate exhibitors inspire students to consider exciting science and engineering careers.

Universities and community colleges showcase the educational pathways to these careers and demonstrate the interesting things students can do in college within these fields.

A live professionally produced show also takes place demonstrates that there’s lots of "cool" in technology. The show also features the people behind the technology; the engineers and scientists that make life better for all of us.

Piquette Plant Tour

The Ford Piquette Avenue plant is well preserved and largely unchanged from its original 1904 appearance. The exterior of the building is immediately recognizable as the same building shown in early photographs - still in its original red brick, complete with original fire escapes and windows.

A visit to the third floor is like stepping back in time. One is immediately impressed by how much it resembles the operating plant of 1905. It is virtually unchanged. The third floor has never been painted since Ford Motor Company left in 1910.

The original sliding fire doors remain attached to the firewalls, still bearing the same "Positively No Smoking" signs that were stenciled on them in 1904. Even the flooring is original. It is the same floor on which every one of the first 12,000 Model Ts were built.

Located in the back corner of the third floor is the secret Experimental Room where Ford developed the innovative Model T. Another exhibit spans five bays on the third floor showing the Model T during various stages of assembly. This exhibit explains the stationary assembly process with which cars were produced before the moving assembly line.

Various Model Ts and other Piquette-era Fords are on display throughout the second and third floor. Several dozen interpretive panels explain the history of the building and the people who worked there.