At Mead & Hunt, I’ve enjoyed the flexibility to get involved at my daughter’s school, N.E.W. Lutheran High School in Green Bay, WI, as a track and field coach. Last year, as the school completed construction of a new wing on their building, I saw an opportunity to get more involved and teach the students a little about stormwater management and careers in the AEC industry.
As part of any new construction in the City of Green Bay, the site was required to get stormwater permits, including the design and construction of permanent stormwater treatment facilities. I knew that I could lend my expertise to the project, and so I applied for the Mead & Hunt Cares grant. Ultimately, the company assisted in the purchase of the planning material for the stormwater facility, and I was given time off of work to teach a stormwater class at the school.
Out of the office and into the classroom
Teachers and staff at the school were excited about the idea. They provided me a few class periods to present the material, and we even went on a little site visit to show the students the partially completed project.
In a few short sessions, we covered:
- The need for stormwater treatment and the advantages of green infrastructure
- The permitting process
- The design process
- Construction considerations
- Maintenance
- Career ideas in STEM-related fields
If you’re considering working with students, remember to keep your presentations light. It’s easy to get too deep into something you’re excited about, but the kids will tune it out. In the end, simply introducing them to the field and getting them to imagine the possibilities could change the trajectory of their future careers and make an enormous impact.
I’m thankful for the Mead & Hunt Cares Grant program that made this project possible. I love working with this age group and am hopeful to see some of them pursue a career in engineering soon.
