RICHLAND, Wash. - Staff from EM Office of River Protection contractor Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) recently took science and engineering on the road to a local middle school as part of the STEM Like Me! program.
Organized by the Washington State STEM Education Foundation, the program illustrates how personal interactions with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) professionals can inspire students to consider a STEM career.
Students rotated through four stations where WRPS staff engaged them in discussions and demonstrations on aerodynamics, hydraulics, electricity, and air movement and filtration.
“The kids need to be able to relate to engineers. Being able to connect with students, here at their school, is going to open up opportunities for them," WRPS President and Project Manager Mark Lindholm said.
WRPS also supports Engineers Week, when WRPS engineers visit local classrooms as part of a national outreach program designed to encourage young people to pursue an education in engineering.
This year, 125 WRPS employees visited 30 area schools to help stir interest in nearly 6,600 local students. WRPS sponsors a particular segment of the broader outreach effort that focuses on third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders. WRPS volunteers taught students what engineers do and how they affect the world. They also led fun, interactive games designed to encourage interest, like building hoop gliders, bridges, and wind meters, and testing which designs work best.
STEM outreach is also a focus at ORP, which collaborated with local primary and secondary schools, universities, contractors, national laboratories, and community leaders to develop the Regional STEM Consortium.
“ORP looks forward to continuing to support our local STEM community," said Robyn Burt, ORP’s STEM coordinator. “Over the past year, we have been working to broaden the relationship with local universities in order to inform, engage, and inspire future generations on the exciting and meaningful careers available at Hanford for STEM graduates."
Regional Business Group Honors WRPS Employee for Service, Leadership
WRPS employee Katie Sterling was recently honored with the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, sponsored by the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes women leaders who demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative, and who serve as personal and professional role models for young women.
Sterling’s dedication as a volunteer for the Washington State STEM Education Foundation was cited in her nomination for the award.
“Katie’s experience and leadership has been invaluable to the design team for the STEM Like ME! program, offering mentoring to local middle and high school students on STEM careers," said Deb Bowen, the foundation’s executive director.
Sterling graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, and served four deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, attaining the rank of major. She led a 120-member team as a company commander in Afghanistan and served as a military transition team advisor in northern Iraq. While serving as a platoon leader, Sterling also deployed stateside on a hurricane relief mission in support of Operation Katrina. Sterling currently serves as board secretary for the local YMCA.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
