Photo by Andrea Benjamin

Students Enjoy Engineering Program

A group of St. Joseph’s Academy juniors and seniors enjoyed a special program at The Shaw Group Inc. in celebration of Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, held February 23. The program was the centerpiece of National Engineers Week, designed to encourage underrepresented groups to consider a career in engineering.

“I enjoyed hearing them talk about what it’s really like to be an engineer...” Sam Graves '06

The Shaw Group was among approximately 125 engineering firms from across the country that participated in the sixth annual outreach program. Currently, only one in 10 engineers in America is a woman. Introduce A Girl to Engineering Day provides girls and young women with a firsthand experience in the engineering arena.

The SJA girls joined students from Southern Lab School, Episcopal High and Dutchtown High at the Shaw Group, where they learned about different types of engineering and the variety of jobs available in each field. Included in the presentation was information about current Shaw projects, salary ranges, contributions to society and the history of engineering. Speaking to the group were a project engineer with a chemical engineering background, several mechanical engineers and civil, electrical and environmental engineers. Participants toured Shaw headquarters, then enjoyed lunch with Shaw employees.

“When we arrived at the Shaw Group, we were greeted with name badges, a welcome sign and smiling engineers,” said senior Courtney Maxson. “Before long, they led us to an amazing, high-tech meeting room, where we enjoyed a presentation about engineering. I learned that engineers are people who ‘use scientific knowledge to solve practical problems’ and that engineering is an applied science that turns ideas into reality. I also learned that being an engineer would open up many job opportunities, from roller coaster design to space exploration to aircraft design. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and am now seriously considering becoming an engineer.”
 
Junior Rachelle Kusch said the outing was highly informative. “We had a great time listening to different types of engineers talk about what they do to help to improve society and the way we live,” she said. “I enjoyed getting to know what it is like to be an engineer. I learned that engineers are flexible because you do not have to stay in the field of chemical engineering for your whole career. You can work on different projects that may not have anything to do with chemical engineering. This visit to Shaw makes me consider studying engineering in college and possibly to pursue a profession in this field. This was a great experience.”

Junior Allison Davis said she especially enjoyed learning about the wide range of projects undertaken by engineering professionals. “It was really cool to find out that there were so many different branches of engineering and to see how ambitious these projects are,” she said. “Some included a bubble-looking indoor swimming pool for the 2008 Olympics and a 400-foot tall roller coaster. It was very exciting to see so many young girls, like me, who were interested in possibly pursuing a career in engineering. Engineering is currently such a male-dominated field, and it was encouraging to hear from some of the women who are involved in it.” 

Senior Sam Graves said she had already considered a career in engineering and that the program reaffirmed her interest. “I enjoyed hearing them talk about what it’s really like to be an engineer and about all the opportunities that are open to engineers,” she said. “I also enjoyed hearing about the fun things that engineers get to do: Some engineers design the roller coasters at Disney World. You can be in a professional office one day and in a plant the next day. It all depends on what you want to do.”

Junior Lauren Bradberry said hearing from and talking to women in the engineering field was particularly meaningful. “Engineering is what I want to do, so meeting women who are in this field just gives me even more encouragement to reach my goals,” she said. “Engineering is my passion, and the presentations at The Shaw Group sealed the deal. I love everything about engineering: the diverseness, the prestige, the hard work. If I am going to be spending 40 or so years of my life doing something, I want it to be something I don’t just enjoy doing, but something I love doing. I have known exactly ‘what I wanted to be when I get older’ since I was in fifth grade, and becoming an engineer has been my dream as long as I can remember.”