EGL Leads Trip to Toronto
3/16/2009 --

EGL-Organized Toronto Trip is Equal Parts Fun and Function

Ann Arbor, Mich.—The term “road trip” conjures up images of freedom and traveling the open road with expectations for new experiences along the way. Building on a successful 2008 road trip, the Engineering Global Leadership Honors Society (EGL) at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering organized a return to Toronto, Ontario for an exciting and beneficial weekend adventure on March 6-8, 2009.

In collaboration with the Tauber Institute for Global Operations, the student-driven trip included a stop at BorgWarner's Powertrain Tech Center in Auburn Hills where students experienced an insiders’ look at a world-class research and development facility.

Key organizer Rob Mersereau, a 2008-09 Tauber Fellow, said that the EGL -- with additional support from the College of Engineering Office of Student Affairs -- extended trip invitations to the entire CoE this year. “We wanted people to meet others from different organizations, and use those connections to plan more collaborative events in the future,” said Mersereau.

The trip had many goals, on several different levels. The first was to create an enjoyable and memorable experience for the participants. Moreover, we hoped that the weekend's activities would build stronger relationships among the students. By including students in different years from the Tauber and EGL programs, newly admitted sophomore EGLs could converse with graduating second year Tauber students. These connections among members make up the Tauber network, which is one of the program's greatest strengths,” said Mersereau.

First Stop: Auburn Hills
Plant tours are not new to Tauber students, who go on an average of 4 per year, but this trip provided an additional opportunity to visit a BorgWarner facility in Auburn Hills. The BorgWarner plant tour introduced students to automotive engineers and company executives at a Tier One automotive supplier facility doing cutting edge research and development. BorgWarner CEO Tim Manganello, a U-M alum, and several of his corporate vice presidents took the time to talk with the students during the visit. Following the tour, students re-boarded the vans bound for Toronto.

Amazing Blue Race
The social interaction among students was heightened this year, due to the addition of an “Amazing Race”-style scavenger hunt in downtown Toronto designed to enhance teamwork, leadership, problem solving and communication. By giving the students an unusual and humorous challenge, motivated by a little competition, organizers delicately led them out of their comfort zones and into some rather unusual leadership roles.

The scavenger hunt also led the students on a self-guided tour across the city from landmark to landmark, asking them to complete tasks along the way. Each clue required the team members to ask a passer-by for directions to a landmark or trivia information about local culture. They were forced to ask the locals such questions as “What’s a Tim Bit?”, and, “Where can I find a toque?” Eventually, all 22 of the student travelers found their way to the Bright Pearl restaurant for dim sum and story sharing.

“In this way, the hunt was extremely practical. It introduced the students to the city and its major attractions, while forcing them to learn the layout of the city, and find their way through the subways and streetcars. For the rest of the weekend, they all knew how to get around town, what activities and sights they were interested in, and had new friends to go with,” said Mersereau.

Following lunch, the U-M contingent split up to enjoy a diverse array of pastimes in Toronto. One group watched the USA defeat Canada in the World Baseball Classic while another visited the Art Gallery of Toronto while others simply toured the city by foot.

The weekend also included a taste of the vibrant Toronto nightlife and a cultural dinner on Saturday evening. “We had free time on Saturday night and Sunday morning for sightseeing in Chinatown, Little Italy, the CN tower and the NHL Hall of Fame, or to visit museums or go shopping,” he said. The group found out that no evening in Toronto is complete without a late-night serving of poutine – a plate of French fries covered in cheese curds and gravy.



In all, 22 students attended the trip which presented them with a unique opportunity for networking and socializing with peers in an exciting international city. Rob Mersereau hopes that the weekend road trip becomes a can’t-miss annual tradition among EGL, Tauber, and other engineering students. For more information about the EGL Honors Program, visit www.engin.umich.edu/egl.

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Written by Nancy Davis, Erik Barbara, and Paula Baker
Photos courtesy of Brian Rumao (BSE-IOE/MSE-IOE '10)