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SAVANNAH, Ga. – Canvassing for the nation's future engineering
talent starts through community outreach programs, and the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers seized the opportunity to showcase a variety of
its missions to approximately 160 engineering students at Jenkins
High School in Savannah, GA.
Corps volunteers participated as
part of National Engineers Week, held Feb. 22-28, 2015, intended to
promote technical education and the pursuit of engineering careers
to create a diverse and robust engineering workforce.
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Savannah District Corps of Engineers employees showcase a variety of
Corps missions Feb. 25, 2015 to approximately 160 engineering
students at Jenkins High School in Savannah, Ga. Corps volunteers
participated as part of National Engineers Week, held Feb. 22-28,
intended to promote technical education and the pursuit of
engineering careers to create a diverse and robust engineering
workforce. The district partners with the school's engineering
academy to foster interest in the science, technology, engineering
and math fields, also called STEM. (USACE photo by Chelsea Smith)
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The district partners with the school's engineering
academy to foster interest in the science, technology,
engineering and math fields, also called STEM.
This
year, students encountered Corps employees holding degrees
in a variety of scientific and engineering disciplines. The
sample of professions represented a microcosm of the entire
workforce whose individual efforts contribute to the Corps'
overall mission.
Students scribbled notes while
rotating through four stations. Small groups learned about
environmental missions at Corps dam and lake projects, safe
ammunition disposal, environmental uses of wetlands and
dredging operations occurring in the Savannah Harbor and
surrounding areas.
“Some of the tasks the Corps does
are relatively unique and require an engineering or
scientific background,” said Ed Krolikowski, deputy chief of
engineering. “Outreach helps to inspire the children so they
can see and understand what we do and aspire to follow in
our career paths.”
The Corps' participation
contributed to the academy's overall mission to expose
students to industry professionals and discover how
coursework concepts have real-world applications, said
Krolikowski.
“It's beneficial for the students
because they hear first-hand accounts from engineers working
in the industry,” said Tom Maty, Jenkins High School
engineering teacher. “It also reinforces what they learn in
the classroom.”
Besides National E-Week, the Corps
remains actively involved in promoting STEM careers
throughout the year. The Corps supports other STEM-related
events at the school, such as Energy Week, typically held in
October. They also provide volunteers to serve on judging
panels for projects completed by students at Jenkins and
other local schools, said Krolikowski.
The close
relationship between the Corps and Jenkins High School
requires Krolikowski to keep the program fresh, he said.
This year, he recruited an assorted group of volunteers who
work on separate, often unrelated projects from all corners
of the district.
Joseph Melton, natural resource
program manager and a second-year participate, used his
booth to display wildlife specimens found at Corps-operated
sites such as turkey feathers, snake skins and various
animal skulls.
“The kids may not know all of the
components of science and engineering,” he said. “A lot of
the engineering involves an understanding of our natural
resources. I'm here to let them know that it's not just
concrete and steel, but it's also water and wood.”
Kevin Haborak, a geophysicist, and Hank Counts, an explosive
ordnance technician, manned an explosive ordnance disposal
display lined with inert ammunition, ranging from rifle
grenades to slugs and fuses.
“EOD is an area that the
students may not consider to be an engineering field but
definitely needs engineers in it,” said Haborak.
Additionally, Regulatory Division members used a flood plain
model to demonstrate how wetlands protect the environment.
Civil engineer Stan Simpson educated students on dredging
operations by discussing the recent renourishment project on
Tybee Island beach.
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Regulatory Division members demonstrate their flood plains model at Jenkins High School for National Engineers Week Feb. 25,
2015. The district partners with the school's engineering academy to foster interest in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields, also called STEM. (USACE photo by Chelsea Smith)
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Competing In A Global
Market
Krolikowski said he works to
differentiate the Corps from private industries and smaller
organizations by using outreach to convey the Corps'
expansive scope of work.
“We have projects throughout
the Southeast that may include building barracks on military
installations to civil works projects like operating locks
and dams,” he said. “As a large entity, there are a great
number of options and positions we need to fill.”
Though February is typically a busy month, Krolikowski
emphasizes that there's an impetus to support STEM events.
With greater global competition for elite talent in the
engineering and scientific fields, the Corps prioritizes
STEM outreach to target students from approximately grades
three to 12. Through targeted outreach, the Corps aims to
attract its next generation of talent.
Helping to
sustain interests in the heavily demanded fields of STEM is
a strategic pursuit that not only provides students
opportunities, but reaps economic benefits for future
generations, said Krolikowski.
“When we have people
who can invent more efficient processes or products, the
nation is going to benefit through increased jobs and
economic stability,” he said. “If we're not spending our
effort on promoting engineering and technology, the nation
is going to have to rely on foreign services and projects,
and that hurts us economically and strategically.”
Determining whether STEM outreach produces dividends for the
district remains in the future. The awareness campaign has –
at the very least – provided students with contacts to the
district, said Krolikowski.
“I try to emphasize the
advantage they have by attending an engineering academy,” he
said. “Once students transition into the workforce, they can
refer back to their experiences with the Corps when they
start their job search.”
By Chelsea Smith
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2015
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