Futures 11 helps prepare high school juniors

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - More than 500 11th-graders from Harford County Public Schools' magnet programs got a glimpse at life after high school during the fifth annual Futures 11 conference at Harford Community College March 26.

Harford County Government, the Harford Chamber of Commerce and the Susquehanna Workforce Network teamed with HCPS and HCC to host the conference. Students had a chance to attend workshops and network with professionals, including several government civilians from APG.

Workshop topics included entrepreneurship, internships and apprenticeships, security clearances, creative problem solving, STEM opportunities, college admissions, SAT/ACT preparation, financing college and 3D printing.

Robert Limpert, the HCPS supervisor of business technology and magnet programs, said the junior year is a critical time in student?'s lives as they are starting to make decisions about internships, majors and colleges,.

"I challenged the students to make connections, by networking," he said. "Hopefully attending this conference will give them lots to think about."

Tim McNamara, the chief of Infrastructure, Security, Installation & Community Relations with the Joint Project Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense talked about applying for government jobs and career opportunities available at APG during a "Hot Jobs in Your Own Backyard" presentation.

"APG is the largest employer in Harford County," McNamara said. ?"Currently forty percent of the entire APG workforce is eligible to retire. Thirty percent of the federal government workforce will be eligible to retire in 2018. This means there will be many opportunities available for these students in the future."

Daniel Billings, a construction technology student from Harford Technical High School, said he was excited to hear about all the local job prospects. He said he plans to pursue a career in architecture or engineering.

"These jobs are literally within five [to] 10 miles of my own house," Billings said.

Anthony Lambert, an engineer with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, talked to students about creative problem solving and teamwork. They were told that the ability to look at a unique problem and derive a solution is a critical skill in a rapidly changing world. During this session, teams made up of two to four students were challenged to use a robotic arm to remove paper clips, cotton balls or marbles from a paper bag. Finally, CERDEC engineers discussed the work they do and offered insight into the creative process.

"They came up with solutions I haven?'t considered, they were very creative," Lambert said.

Nicole McKew, a strategic engagements in STEM educational outreach program manager from the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center and Rick Moore, the branch chief of rapid technologies at ECBC, talked to students about internships and other learning opportunities offered through the Army Education Outreach Program. At APG, high school students are able to learn science in a real laboratory setting through the Gains in Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS) program, funded by AEOP.

Moore explained how his team works with cutting edge technology, like 3D printing, to support the Warfighter.

"Most students have no idea what goes on behind the gate," he said. "We have to reach out to them."

Alyssa Chalmin, a student from Aberdeen High School's Science and Mathematics Academy, remarked that the event helped her meet professionals that she might work with during her senior Capstone Project when SMA students work with mentors from STEM career fields to present research projects. Chalmin plans to study biology in college.

"I hope to get a mentor who works on APG," she said. "I could see myself in an APG laboratory in the future."