Skip to content
Mead & Hunt Site Logo
  • Markets
    • Aviation
    • Cultural Resources
    • Education
    • Federal
    • Food & Beverage
    • Justice
    • Renewable Energy
    • State & Local
    • Transportation
    • Water
  • Services
    • Architecture & Interiors
    • Construction Services
    • Engineering
    • Environmental
    • Fabrication & Custom Manufacturing
    • Planning
    • Sustainability & Resilience
    • Technology
  • Portfolio
  • News
  • About
    • Purpose & Values
    • Meet Our Team
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Corporate Responsibility
    • Locations
    • Our History
    • Events
  • Careers
    • Career Opportunities
    • Why Work Here?
    • Scholarship Opportunities
Menu
  • Markets
    • Aviation
    • Cultural Resources
    • Education
    • Federal
    • Food & Beverage
    • Justice
    • Renewable Energy
    • State & Local
    • Transportation
    • Water
  • Services
    • Architecture & Interiors
    • Construction Services
    • Engineering
    • Environmental
    • Fabrication & Custom Manufacturing
    • Planning
    • Sustainability & Resilience
    • Technology
  • Portfolio
  • News
  • About
    • Purpose & Values
    • Meet Our Team
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Corporate Responsibility
    • Locations
    • Our History
    • Events
  • Careers
    • Career Opportunities
    • Why Work Here?
    • Scholarship Opportunities
Mead & Hunt Site Logo
  • Markets
    • Aviation
    • Cultural Resources
    • Education
    • Federal
    • Food & Beverage
    • Justice
    • Renewable Energy
    • State & Local
    • Transportation
    • Water
  • Services
    • Architecture & Interiors
    • Construction Services
    • Engineering
    • Environmental
    • Fabrication & Custom Manufacturing
    • Planning
    • Sustainability & Resilience
    • Technology
  • Portfolio
  • News
  • About
    • Purpose & Values
    • Meet Our Team
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Corporate Responsibility
    • Locations
    • Our History
    • Events
  • Careers
    • Career Opportunities
    • Why Work Here?
    • Scholarship Opportunities
Menu
  • Markets
    • Aviation
    • Cultural Resources
    • Education
    • Federal
    • Food & Beverage
    • Justice
    • Renewable Energy
    • State & Local
    • Transportation
    • Water
  • Services
    • Architecture & Interiors
    • Construction Services
    • Engineering
    • Environmental
    • Fabrication & Custom Manufacturing
    • Planning
    • Sustainability & Resilience
    • Technology
  • Portfolio
  • News
  • About
    • Purpose & Values
    • Meet Our Team
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Corporate Responsibility
    • Locations
    • Our History
    • Events
  • Careers
    • Career Opportunities
    • Why Work Here?
    • Scholarship Opportunities

As engineers, why get involved in mentorship?

  • February 24, 2021
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Email
STARBASE mentorship program

I love being an engineer, and I love sharing that enthusiasm with others—and you will not find a more welcoming, enthusiastic audience than a room full of 5th graders. For the past several years, I have been actively involved in STARBASE, a program dedicated to engaging and encouraging students to get involved in a STEM field. STARBASE is a program in all 50 states run by the National Guard, of which I have been a member for many years. The program reaches out to a wide variety of STEM professionals, and engages them in speaking to classes of students about their experience, one day over a five-day period.

I was approached by one of my military colleagues and asked to speak to the Sacramento program, and once I did, I was hooked—and then I thought of my colleagues in the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). I have been a leader in my local SAME post for years, and I knew there were lots of people who would be great in a mentorship role. Now, I not only am an active speaker and mentor, but I also coordinate other speakers for STARBASE.

To me, it is very rewarding sharing stories from my jobs as a civil engineer and combat engineer, and getting the kids excited and asking questions. It is also fun working with the students, who do STEM-related projects like building robots, running flight simulations, and even launching a rocket. It not only helps you rediscover what got you excited about STEM in the first place; it also serves to put a face and a real person to the abstract concept of a career in STEM.

Beyond that, mentorship is a great way to positively impact your community, and really, our country as well. STEM careers are vital to the health and success of our nation—from doctors nurses, scientists, to engineers, much of what we need every day to live, work, and thrive is created by those in STEM careers. And as my Boomer generation is getting ready to retire, it is critical that we have people who are qualified to replace us in our communities. Mentorship and community outreach are a large part of encouraging people—especially children—to pursue a career in STEM.

Mentorship and community involvement at any level is valuable, but it is especially important to reach kids when they are young. The younger we can engage students, the better—because often, by the time kids are in high school or college, it can be too late to light that fire, or students are already actively pursuing other fields. It is also critical to reach kids who may not have otherwise considered STEM as an option. That’s why STARBASE works with 5th grade students in schools with lower income levels. When it comes to engaging the next generation of community builders, reaching across a wide variety of demographics just makes sense. Diversity in perspectives can only be a strength for our industry.

Of course, not every child we reach will ultimately go on to pursue a career in STEM—but a few will. And that may make all the difference. To me, even inspiring one child who would not otherwise have pursued STEM is worth it.

Michael Herman headshot

Mike Herman

Mike is commander of the Army Component of the California State Guard and a civil engineer and project manager with Mead & Hunt. He has extensive experience collaborating on military projects, especially California Army & Air National Guard; California state projects; and USACE projects. When not at work, Mike is a regular runner and skier, and loves to travel.

Linkedin Envelope
PrevPrevious
NextNext

Most Popular

Pursuing Equity in Transportation
September 27, 2023
EPC/Renewable Energy Group Recognized As Valued Supplier
September 19, 2023
Electric Vehicle Charging Demand Needs: A Comprehensive Approach
September 13, 2023
Pat Carnahan to Head Mead & Hunt’s One Water Group
August 30, 2023

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Markets
  • Services
  • Portfolio
  • News
  • About
  • Careers
  • Home
  • Markets
  • Services
  • Portfolio
  • News
  • About
  • Careers

Useful Links

  • Ebids
  • Equipment & Parts
  • GSA Schedules Program
  • U.S. Government Contract Vehicles
  • Policy for Third-Party Recruiters
  • Transparency in Coverage
  • Ebids
  • Equipment & Parts
  • GSA Schedules Program
  • U.S. Government Contract Vehicles
  • Policy for Third-Party Recruiters
  • Transparency in Coverage

Get in touch

  • Apply Today
  • Contact Us
  • Locations
  • Title VI
  • Apply Today
  • Contact Us
  • Locations
  • Title VI

Connect with us

Linkedin Facebook Instagram Vimeo

© 2023 Mead & Hunt, Inc. All rights reserved.

  • Privacy & CCPA Policy
  • Do Not Sell
  • Site Map
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Read full privacy policy
ACCEPTREJECTSETTINGS
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo