Students of Masconomet math teacher Jennifer Reyes have told her their parents are engineers. They also have told her they have no idea what they really do for a living.

Reyes tried to put an end to that last week when she had 20 engineering professionals speak to Masconomet high school juniors for the school's first engineering day.

"I think some kids are afraid of engineering," Reyes said. "It's important for kids to know what's out there, and the bridge between math and science (in the classroom) and the business world."

The engineers — easy to spot in suits, ties, polo shirts with company logos and pens sticking out of shirt pockets — gave seminars to the junior class at Masco about what exactly engineers do, and why they love their jobs.

"It was really interesting. I didn't realize there were so many types of engineers," said Krissy Dibenedetto, a Masco junior from Topsfield. "Engineering uses more than math. They do so much for the community, civil and through the government. They build roads, help the environment. ... I heard an environmental engineer (Russell Davis) speak, and he said he had traveled to 32 countries with his job."

The 20 engineers who participated — many of them tri-town residents — were from varying fields, including aerospace, civil, electrical, mechanical and chemical engineering.

Engineering day events also included a talk by Greg Brown, a representative from the college of engineering at University of Massachusetts Amherst, on "why a career in engineering?" His talk was followed by a college fair, where a dozen local colleges visited the school to chat with juniors and distribute information not just on engineering, but all subjects of study.

Reyes said she purposely invited engineers from a variety of fields to show juniors that engineering isn't only about math and science. She's found that very few students know about engineering, even those students whose fathers are engineers, she said.

Engineers are in high demand, Reyes said, especially through the U.S. government, which can only hire U.S.-born engineers.

Scott Reed, an engineer with General Electric, talked to students about what it takes to build a helicopter engine, bringing in diagrams and parts from an engine for students to see.

"If you can get one kid interested, or one not interested, so they know this is not for them, it's worth it," Reed said, as he watched the class fly folded paper helicopters they had designed as part of his lesson.

The trick is getting the design to fly, but also fly accurately, and land where you want it to, he said.

John-Eric White, an engineer with Borrego Solar Systems, brought a solar panel and hooked it up in the school's courtyard. Students were impressed that the panel — tipped toward the ground, away from the sun — produced enough power to run a small motor to the point that it would overheat.

Borrego is a California-based company that recently opened a branch in Chelmsford, where White works. Solar engineering is a booming business, he said, and they can't manufacture supplies or hire engineers fast enough.

"In your lifetime, you'll always be able to get a job in solar," he said, as he showed students a slideshow of how solar panels work and how they're easily installed on most buildings and homes.

In designing solar systems, math and methods that might seem boring in a classroom come to life, he said.

When talking about Ohm's law (a physics principle that states voltage equals current multiplied by resistance), he said, "This thing is awesome. We use it like everyday."

Reyes had been planning the school's engineering day since last October, she said, and was thankful for the "enormous support" she received from Masco colleagues including Denise Tenanty, head of Masco's math department; writing tutor Patti Hughes; and house secretary Sandy Crete. Twenty-five students also volunteered as "engineering assistants," showing the professionals around the building and keeping the day running smoothly.

"Everyone was so helpful, getting all the rooms set up with equipment. The auditorium, library, field house all needed technical equipment like projection screens and Internet access. We had it all, and the staff worked late and came early to have it all ready," Reyes said.

Masco's engineering day also received corporate support from Microsoft and Siemens. Lunch for the engineers was donated by Siemens, and the company also pledged to provide a scholarship for a Masco junior who plans to study engineering.

Reyes said she hopes to make engineering day an annual event at Masco.

Engineers who visited Masconomet to talk with students for engineering day

r Bill Porteous of Siemens

r Dr. CJ Pinzone of Ahura Scientific,

r Anthony Brogna and Erik Nordhausen of Raytheon

r Mark and Colleen Pitts of Danvers Electric

r John Dold from the town of Boxford

r Greg Williamson of Walsh Bros.

r Paul LaRosa of Anchor Environmental

r John-Eric White of Borrego Solar

r Russell Davis and John Pelak of Microsoft

r Dave Wall of United Hospital Services

r Bill Bode of Gloucester Engineering

r Pat Splinter of Axcelis Technologies

r George Fischer of Belcan

r Alex Lachmayer and Scott Reed of General Electric

r Gregory Thronson and Scott Nickerson of Varian Semiconductor

r Elizabeth Mullard of the American Council of Engineering Cos. of New York's education committee.