Huntsville Center employees show local students how engineers make a difference

By Jo Anita MileyFebruary 21, 2014

National Engineers Week
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville celebrated National Engineers Week by meeting with more than 225 sophomores, juniors and seniors at S.R. Butler High School in north Huntsville Feb. 20.

"Engineers solve problems. We make the world a better place for everyone. We are here to encourage each of you to consider a career in science, technology, engineering or math," said Wesley Turner, division chief for Huntsville Center's Medical Repair and Renewal Program.

"It's important for people like me and the Corps of Engineers to come and talk to students like you," Turner said. "Lots of folks are retiring from the workforce and we need to replace them. Some of you will be a part of the next generation of engineers at organizations like ours."

National Engineer Week is observed by the engineering community during the third week of February to call attention to engineers contributions to society, and the Center used the opportunity to reinforce its Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM, program with a local high school.

After the students listened to four short presentations from Center employees, each explaining how they got in to their respective technical fields, their attention quickly turned to real life application.

Students were shown videos of STEM professionals on USACE projects were introduced to engineering tools and handled artifacts from the field environment.

Mentors from Huntsville Center offered little bits of advice about future classes to the students, often reinforcing how important engineers are in our society and let the students talk about what STEM classes they are taking on their own.

Marcus Crumbly, a 16-year-old sophomore at the school said he was excited about having an opportunity to see and hear about some of the various technical and engineering fields at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"This is one of the best career events we've had at our school," he said. "It's important that we get an opportunity to learn as much as we can about career options -- I can be a mechanical or electrical engineer or a civil or structural engineer - even a cost engineer like them one day if I want."

"I always looked at engineers as people who put things together until one of the speakers showed us a blast video. The speakers allowed me see that there many engineering options that I haven't thought of yet. I want to serve our nation and help others to have a safe environment. The Corps of Engineers seems like a great place to achieve this after I complete my college studies - I'm sold."

The presentations and training tools were designed to help students see how everyday tasks like crossing a bridge or talking on a cell phone are possible because of the contributions of engineers. After the presentation were over, each student was given merchandise from Huntsville Center's Ordnance and Explosives Directorate's safety education outreach program and ask more questions.

Huntsville Center speakers said they enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the students.

"Young people have to begin planning their lives so early these days in order to be successful," said Chris Cochrane, an engineer in Huntsville Center's Ordnance and Explosive's Directorate. "This type outreach gives them an opportunity to learn more about STEM careers. I want them to relay the message, 'you can make enough money to live your dream, have enough time to live your dream and working in the engineering professional can be very exciting'."

Crystal Wright, a counselor at the school said opportunities for her students to receive this type mentoring from actual engineers are rare. She will find ways for her students to build on this mentoring experience. She is pleased with the Corps' visit to the school.

"Many of our students say they want to become engineers but don't know about the different types of engineers or what an engineer does. They were given lots of information about the different types of STEM professionals and options to consider when preparing for a career in engineering. Having the group from the Center there to share their experience was a good way to help students make informed decisions about their future."